iiggest-ever' tack, trial ould take 10 weeks
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'EN-WEEK trial, reputed le the largest case involvthe falsification of tachoth records so far, of three !ctors and two traffic 'ks of two Lancashire age companies has begun remit) Crown Court.
Graham of Forton Preston: Gordon Greenad of Clitheroe, both ectors of Charter iidways; and Gordon "-cod of Blackpool, former eral iiimager of Charter .dways of liamber Bridge a director of Sableglow; I traffic clerks Phillip asdale of C:Ilorley and ?id Lindley of Bispham, y conspiring Together to r.e false entries on tachoah charts.
.odney Kleban QC, proserig. • said the case Was about tachographs, length of time FIGV drivshould he behind the and the amounts of rest should take.
was also about greed and fit. There had been a conracy between the detains and their drivers to ak the law.
'he drivers had broken the in order to remain in rk, driving more hours they should and failing take the required rest. y were encouraged by the Tanks management who were interlocked in the scheme.
It was known that the drivers could not complete their journeys in nine and had to run over their hours, The drivers were a hazard to other road users. In addition to these large vehicles becoming potentially lethal, because of the iver fatigue, the haulage company gained a dishonest advantage Over its competitors in rendering for contracts.
There were hundreds of cases where vehicles were driven and no recordings were made on the tachographs. Many of the drivers had set their mode switches at rest when loading. Many drivers had pulled the fuses out of electronic tachographs and driven their vehicles while their tachographs recorded that they were at rest.
The defendants were the directors and office staff of Charter Roadways. The drivers of the company had pleaded guilty to vi riot's offences of falsification.
'Told to run bent'
The drivers had not been on a frolic of their own. They were directed and encouraged to "run bent'', it being the practice and policy of the company and the men who directed its affairs and organised its operation..
The company. licensed to operate 20 vehicles and 15 trailers, had primarily carried containers for I3+I Line, that work in 1983 being worth just under Il I million.
The drivers were initially employed on a casual basis. They subsequently were selfeniployed, being charged for the hire of their vehicles.
"[he drivers also had to .pay For their own fuel at a cost above market price, plus a weekly amount for tyres, oil and a bleeper system..
Charter Roadways also took a commission froni the drivers for the -B+1 work passed•to them.
It emerged that Graham was a working director in a small office. It was his company and the prosecution said that he had overall knowledge of what was going. on. .
Greenwood was also a working director. When interviewed, he had denied that he knew or had encouraged the falsification of charts but he did admit telling drivers to record loading and unloading as "rest-.
The prosecution said that all five defendants conspired with the drivers to make false entries throughout 1983 and the early part of 1984.
The case continues.