Hauliers in the Hands of Drivers
Page 66
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
THE director of a Leicester haulage I concern told Leicester magistrates, last week, that they were completely in the hands of their drivers. "They do just as they like," stated Miss Beatrice Ward, director, Ward and Co. (Leicester), Ltd., who, with seven drivers, were fined a total of £152 on 52 summonses.
The company were summoned on 27 charges of failing to cause drivers to keep records, permitting drivers to work without 10 consecutive hours of rest, and permitting drivers to work for continuous periods amounting, in aggregate, to more than 11 hours a day.
They pleaded not guilty to 10 cases but were fined a total of £81, plus £12 7s. costs, For related offences, the seven drivers were fined a total of £71.
The court heard how the drivers were given overnight subsistence allowances but drove home to spend the night.
"We have fixed clocks to our vehicles in an effort to stop non-compliance with regulations," said Miss Ward. Special clocks had been fitted to the company's vehicles to record the time the engine was running, but drivers used razor blades to stop the mechanism, it was stated.
Asked by Mr. A. H. Headley if she could do anything about the drivers, Miss Ward replied: "1 wish I could. We are in their hands. They do just as they like."
Mr. Headley submitted that morally the concern had committed no offence. They were constrained to plead guilty to some of the summonses by virtue of a previous legal decision. A stay of payment for 28 days, pending consideration of an appeal, was granted.