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Troubled firm wins accolade
Page 8
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From threats of legal action to a national award — it's been a busy month for Whitkirk Produce Company. David Harris reports.
THE JUDGES of a major trucking competition apparently ignored disciplinary problems at a Yorkshire firm when they awarded it the top prize.
The title Shell National Operator of the Year 2004 caps a rollercoaster September for Garforth -based Whitkirk Produce Company; earlier this month it was told by a judge that it should be considered for prosecution for aiding and abetting its drivers to commit tacho offences.
Two of its drivers have already been committed to crown court for sentencing for tacho offences (CM, 2 September). Two others have been fined and one was given a conditional discharge. A further 11 drivers face tacho charges, while another driver and another member of staff received suspended prison sentences after admitting conspiring to pervert the course of justice.
The company itself came under threat of prosecution when judge Roy Anderson. speaking at Leeds Magistrates Court during the tacho cases, said it should he considered for prosecution.
It is unclear if Shell was aware of these problems before it made the award, the oil company refuses to comment.
But a spokesman for Whitk irk says the firm was open about the convictions and court appearances: "Whitkirk made it absolutely clear to the organisers that we had some issues pending from 2003 and offered not to continue if they thought it appropriate, but [Shell] asked them to carry on." Shell's judge was impressed by other aspects of the company, highlighting its achievement as an Investor in People; its excellent kitchen, rest, shower and training facilities for drivers and the "stateof-the-art vehicle workshop".