"building, strong, honest, B2B relationships nationwide"

Flex-Able Travel is warning customers to check that private hire firms are properly licensed, adequately insured and all vehicles thoroughly maintained before enlisting their services. According to the Alconbury-based chauffeur drive company, new and increased responsibilities under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, which was introduced in April 2008 in response to the Potters Bar accident in 2001, are not being met by some transport companies. Alongside the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions Act) 1976, the new legislation demands that all chauffeur drive and private hire operators who drive for ‘hire and reward’ are fully licensed and their vehicles thoroughly and regularly checked. However, according to Flex-Able Travel, not all companies are as transparent as others whenit comes to vehicle licensing and maintenance checks. Richard Vanbergen, Director of Flex-Able Travel, said: “Before now some firms have used the ‘seven day ruling’ to claim exemption from licensing requirements, which meant that they did not license their drivers or cars to trade as they had accounts. But now it’s simple - if you drive for hire and reward, you and your vehicle must be licensed, you must have an operator’s license and trade from premises that have planning permission, drivers must complete CRB checks and vehicles a rigorous MOT test. These requirements are all in place to protect the customer but it is to be expected that some less reputable firms ignore the legal requirements and cut corners in order to save money. That is why it is so important that the customer takes responsibility for ensuring their carrier is managing their business responsibility. Richard continued: “There are so many questions that customers need to be asking when they are choosing a private hire firm, particularly if it is going to be used to transport clients on your behalf. Not only do you want them to be professional, you want to know that they are correctly insured with third party liability insurance and comprehensive hire and reward insurance, not just insurance for business use. Customers also need to ask about the maintenance procedures, as companies like Flex-Able will employ a dedicated Fleet Manager who is responsible for ensuring that the maintenance is fully audited so that the company knows exactly when and where every last repair was carried out, even down to the very last light bulb. In terms of working hours there is no obligation on firms to ensure that drivers are properly rested and work within the limits set within the working time directive. Whether a company, as Flex-Able does, chooses to work within these guidelines is completely voluntarily.” Finally, and perhaps, most importantly, companies must be aware that failing to ensure that the company it chooses to transport people or goods is properly licensed and regulated, could result in corporate manslaughter charges being directed at themselves.