Judge warns hauliers to check tack charts
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by Mike Jewel
• Comprehensive tacho chart analysis, including specific checks for possible offences by drivers, must be undertaken by hauliers if they want to avoid permitting charges.
Judge Simon Fawcus stated this when Kevin Charlton, the former transport manager of Lovers Lane Transport, lost his appeal last week against convic tions for permitting the firm's drivers to drive excess hours (CM June 2-8).
Judge Fawcus decided Charlton had been reckless because his system for examining tachograph charts was not thorough enough. The judge also said that cost was no excuse for failing to send tacho charts out for professional analysis. He added that Charlton had seemed to be mainly concerned with drivers' wages when checking the charts.
Charlton gave evidence that he used the charts to work out the hours the drivers should be paid for. In most cases he looked to see that they had taken sufficient breaks.