Police raid discovers false and shredded tacho charts
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• More than 100 false tachograph charts and numerous shredded charts were discovered during a raid last October on the premises of the nowfailed haulier Cowdenbeathbased Taphaul.
At an Edinburgh public inquiry last week Taphaul's failure in February was blamed on the loss of a Tesco contract following the raid by police and Vehicle Inspectorate officials.
Scottish Traffic Commissioner Michael Betts was considering disciplinary action against the company's 40-vehicle/60-trailer licence, and against Taphaurs managing director and transport manager Thomas Malcolm.
He was also considering a new licence application by Malcolm Transport (Fife) for 12 vehicles and 24 trailers.
When Commercial Motor
contacted Janice and Thomas Malcolm following the liquidation of Taphaul. they both denied having any link with Malcolm Transport.
However, in May, Janice Malcolm was listed as a director of Malcolm Transport (Fife).
At the inquiry Graham Wilson, for the company, said Taphaul was now in liquidation— he then withdrew the Malcolm Transport licence application.
Malcolm denied that he had instructed, encouraged, threatened or coerced drivers into breaking the law.
Traffic examiner John Angus said that in October the Vehicle Inspectorate received information that Taphaul was coercing its drivers into driving excessive hours and falsifying tachograph records.
Analysis of the charts revealed that 17 drivers had committed 196 hours and tachograph offences, including 113 involving the falsification of tachograph records.
Licences were also considered for former Taphaul drivers John Fox. trading as 4213 Express, for two vehicles and two trailers; James Muir, trading as J&M Muir Haulage, for two vehicles and four trailers; Scott Crawford, trading as Connor Transport, for two vehicles and two trailers; and Frederick McDonald, trading as F&H McDonald Haulage, for two vehicles and two trailers.
The IC will announce his decision in writing and will consider disciplinary action against the PSV 0-licence held by Malcolm personally, trading as Taphaul Mini Coaches.