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IN THE EASTERN TRAFFIC AREA

KNIGHT LINE LTD - PF2082044

CONFIRMATION OF THE TRAFFIC COMMISSIONER’S DECISION

[TO BE REDACTED]

Background

Knight Line Ltd seeks a Standard National Public Service Vehicle Operator’s Licence authorising 2 vehicles only. The Director is Glen Knight. Adab Hussain was proposed as the Transport Manager.

There was one proposed Operating Centre At Three Star Luton Ltd, Unit 25a Park Avenue Industrial Estate, Sundon Park Road, Luton LU3 3BP. Preventative Maintenance Inspections were to be carried out by at Podington Commercials Ltd6-weekly intervals.

The applicant had agreed to standard restrictions relating to the type and size of vehicle to be operated. It also proposed an undertaking for a finance review and for Mr Knight to attend relevant training. He attended Operator Licence Awareness Training with MDR Training on 23 April 2026.

Mr Knight was the Director who pursued a previous application (PF2076411), which was withdrawn in 2024. It was said that applicant wanted to learn more and re-apply in future. That similarly named entity was dissolved in December 2024.

The current applicant was incorporated on 18 April 2025. Companies House records the nature of its business as: ‘Other passenger land transport.’ The Director is also the Person with significant control.

Mr Hussain gained his Certificate of Professional Competence in May 2018. He was named as the Transport Manager on PB2028018, held by Tariq Mahmood, from 8 January 2020 to 13 January 2021; and PB2021400, held by Armaan Travel Ltd, from 29 April 2019 to 20 August 2020.

He was also the Transport Manager on PB2001550, held by Faredeal Coaches Ltd from 29 August 2018 to 4 April 2024. It was issued with a warning letter on 25 August 2022 in respect of adverse findings from a DVSA investigation in June 2022, including an ‘S’ marked prohibition indicating a significant failure in maintenance. That operator attended Public Inquiry on 4 April 2024. Mr Hussain resigned as Transport Manager and gave an undertaking that he would not offer himself as a Transport Manager before the expiry of 3 months (to 3 July 2024); allowing him opportunity to work with a consultant firm, to learn the role.

Mr Hussain attended 1 day of refresher training on 16 March 2024. He has suggested that he will devote 8 hours a week to this licence. He declared other employment as a coach driver for Tates Coaches, taking 20 hours on weekends. His previous history was not declared in the application. It was claimed that the failure to make an accurate declaration was not an attempt to mis-lead but demonstrated ignorance on the part of Mr Knight. However, there was a similar oversight when Drive25 Ltd nominated him on application PF2076668 in September 2024). His name was subsequently withdrawn from that application.

Hearing

The Public Inquiry was listed for today, 23 June 2026, in Tribunal Room 1 of the Office of the Traffic Commissioner in Cambridge. The applicant was present in the form of Mr Knight, Director, but Mr Hussain was not in attendance, despite the indication in the call up letter. I was told that he had caring responsibilities but still proposed to work for this applicant every Friday and to drive for the other operator (as required) at weekends.

Issues

The public inquiry was called to give the applicant further opportunity to satisfy me that the statutory criteria were met and specifically by reference to the following sections of the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981:

• 14ZA(2)(b) and Schedule 3 of the 1981 Act – that the applicant be of good repute.
  • 14ZA(2)(c) - to have the appropriate financial standing.
• 14ZA(2)(d) and Schedule 3 of the 1981 Act –professional competence,
• 14ZC(1)(a) - to have satisfactory facilities and arrangements for maintaining the vehicles in a fit and serviceable condition,
• 14ZC(1)(b) – to have satisfactory arrangements to comply with the law regarding the driving and operation of the vehicles.

The operator was directed to lodge evidence in support with my office by 9 June 2026. The financial standing requirement is £12,500. The applicant provided a statement and transaction list for a [REDACTED] account covering 28 October to 16 December 2025. [REDACTED.]

Determination

This would be Mr Knight’s first time in charge of a PSV licence. He acknowledged his inexperience and offered an undertaking to complete an OLAT course within 3 months, with booking confirmation already provided. He has been working in the PSV industry on and off for the past 16 years.

Mr Knight is a driver for various operators including:

• PF1128546 Premier Minibus & Car Hire Ltd
• PF2008285 A1 Minibus & Coach Ltd
• PF1030687 Tates Coaches Limited
• PF1003444 Three Star (Luton) Ltd
• PF0001633 Carline Limited

It was identified that he assisted in the establishment of another linked business ‘First Choice Tours Ltd’, which offers day trips and holidays. As such he was appointed as a director alongside Carla Sharp from June 2023 to July 2024. He was unaware that he had been removed as a director until he decided to pursue this application. Carla Sharp is also an active Director of Premier Minibus & Car Hire Ltd and Tates Coaches Ltd.

It is a matter of public record that Tates Coaches Ltd (PF1030687) and Premier Minibus & Car Hire Ltd (PF1128646) were at a Preliminary Hearing before me on 3 December 2025 I found that they had employed a construct intended to deliver a more tax advantageous situation for drivers, thereby offering them more attractive terms of engagement. Mr Knight thought he was subject to the LLP arrangements but did not feel in control of the entity. In adopting those arrangements, the operators had diluted the controls necessary to allow for effective management of the transport operation. They were formally warned as to the potential consequences for the relevant operator licences should they continue to engage drivers in a manner which did not allow for effective Transport Manager control. The Transport Managers were similarly warned as to the risk to their Certificates of Professional Competence.

Glenn Knight was booked on to a Transport Manager CPC course commencing at the end of May 2026  with the intention of becoming Transport Manager on this licence. At the date of the hearing, he was unable to be nominated as a Transport Manager.

The applicant was required to address the previous history of the nominated CPC holder, Adab Hussain. Mr Hussain was said to have completed home studies and was given training materials when he completed refresher training which he ‘continues to use for reference.’  He was said to have reflected on his past mistakes and learned from that experience. He now understands the importance of strict compliance and effective management. Mr Hussain was apparently prepared to complete further Transport Manager refresher training and to shadow a ‘Senior TM’ to ensure he is doing everything correctly. No details were provided to explain who/what the Senior TM would be. However, he failed to attend to allow me opportunity to ask questions Mr Knight also told me that he had been unaware of Mr Hussain’s past history until it was disclosed in the run up to the hearing.

Following the matters identified above, whilst Mr Knight attended and was able to satisfy me as to his personal intention, I was unable to assess the nominated CPC holder in the same. There were clearly areas which he needed to address were I to be satisfied of his ability to meet the responsibilities of a Transport Manager. In his absence the applicant failed to satisfy me against section 14ZA(2)(d) and by reference to Schedule 3 and sections 14ZC(1)(a) and (b). I refused on those grounds but explained that Mr Knight could renew the application.

R Turfitt

Traffic Commissioner

23 June 2026