Drivers Who Falsify Their Logs
Page 18
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
SAFETY regulations formulated by the Interstate Commerce Commission of America require that drivers of commercial vehicles shall keep true log sheets. In this connection there has been a number of violations of these rules. For example, not long ago at Chicago, a haulage concern was fined some £240 for failing to make certain that its drivers kept such logs. At the same court two men were fined nearly £40 each for falsifying their Journey records.
We refer to this point because an increasing number of such cases is occurring in Britain, Some have already been mentioned in our columns. We are of the opinion that drivers do not usually realize the risk 'they take when they enter wrong details of their journeys in their log books.
This is apparently sometimes done in cases where a driver, finding himself within reasonable distance of his home or of some other comfortable billet, accepts the responsibility of driving home or to this other place to spend the night. In doing so he may be committing three grave offences— wasting fuel, falsifying his log and obtaining subsistence money under false pretences. He may also be exceeding his hours of diving, although this,_ in these times, is not quite such an important point.
Probably his sole wish is not to defraud his employer, but merely to ensure a more comfortable night, but, unfortunately, he cannot avoid the onus of the "incidentals," and if he refuses to accept the subsistence money there would naturally be an inquiry as to his reason for this uncalledfor solicitude for his employer.
The men concerned should, therefore, pay great heed to this matter, whilst employers should impress upon them the grave danger of manipulations of this nature, which may result in comparatively heavy penalties, as fines in particular instances in Britain have ranged as high as £10.
We are sure that no conscientious roan would wish to be stigmatized as being what almost• amounts to a thief, when his real object has been the obtaining of a little more home life or comfort.