Last chance for Gilmour
Page 17
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A haulier was sent away with a stern warning after a discipli nary inquiry was told how one of his vehicles had been caught twice for tachograph offences.
Scottish Traffic Commissioner Michael Betts warned James Gilmour, trading as JWG Haulage of Newton Stewart, that he could not afford to be caught flouting the law again— and could expect serious consequences if he was.
Vehicle examiner Malcolm McNabb told the hearing in Dumfries that Gilmour had been granted a licence for two vehicles and two trailers in November 2000.
During a roadside check in March this year, Gilmour's vehicle was given a delayed prohibition because the tachograph head was incorrectly calibrated and had apparently been interfered with.
A delayed prohibition had been issued to the same vehicle in October, while Gilmour was operating under interim authority, for a tachograph seal that was broken and loose. McNabb accepted that a wire seal could break at any time, but there was evidence to suggest in the March incident that the tachograph had actually been tampered with.
Michael Whiteford, representing Gilmour, said that the haulier only operated one vehicle and was essentially an owner-driver—the vehicle concerned in the prohibitions had since been replaced.
In March the vehicle was being driven by a part-time driver who had only worked for Gilmour for two weeks and had been instantly dismissed as a result of the incident.
Gilmour was unable to say how the tachograph seal had become broken last October. He had had no knowledge that the tachograph had been tampered with in March. There was no evidence on the charts to indicate any tampering, and the driver in question had been unable to explain himself, he said.
Taking no action other than to issue a warning, the TC made it clear that Gilmour could find himself in serious trouble if the incident was repeated.
"One thing I can assure you is that you cannot afford to get caught out again," he warned.