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Mercers warned over tours deal
Page 22
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• North Western Traffic Commissioner Martin Albu has taken no action against the PSV Operator's Licence held by Mercers (Longridge), but stressed that he did not condone the drivers' hours offences committed by the company (CM 29 June-5 July),
For Mercers, John Backhouse said that most offences related to breaches of the 41/2hour driving rule on a contract for a holiday company.
The holiday company had been responsible for scheduling the whole operation. The drivers had problems keeping to the timetable. Mercers had instructed its drivers to ignore the timetable and comply with the hours regulations, but the drivers continued to commit offences because of pressure from passengers.
When the contract came up for tender again, Mercers submitted a figure that took account of extra vehicles and drivers which would enable it to operate within the regulations. The contract went to another operator, which subsequently got into difficulties and Mercers had to help out.
Managing director Andrew McLaughlin said the company's operations had now been split between coaches and buses, each with its own transport manager who had more time to pay attention to drivers' hours and to monitor tachographs.