Major fleet is hit for 181,000 over hours
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II by Pete Swingler
The distribution arm of a major UK company which delivers to supermarkets nationwide has been fined £72,640 with 19,1E0 costs for 227 charges involving drivers hours offences.
Blokes Chilled Distribution, part of the Express Dairies group, appeared before Atherstone and Coleshill magistrates in a two-day trial, Prosecuting for the Vehicle Inspectorate, Helen Bradin said that 11 of the firm's 100-plus truck drivers could have fallen asleep by driving for longer than the law allowed, causing a danger to other road users.
The firm, based at Meriden Business Park, Leicester, admitted 227 charges of failing to produce tachograph records; 217 similar charges were taken into consideration.
The magistrates dismissed 29 counts of permitting drivers not to take the required rest periods after the firm pleaded not guilty, Bradin told the court that 168,000km were missing for one month alone after the firm failed to produce tachograph records for that period.
"It was eventually discovered that some drivers had not taken the required rest periods," said Bradin. "This was due to incompetence." Bradin alleged that Blakes had "shut its eyes" to what the drivers were doing.
Blokes regional manager Stephen MacAuley told the magistrates that checking systems had been improved and a new pay structure involving increases was under negotiation in a bid to recruit more drivers.
The Vehicle Inspectorate is considering an appeal against the decision to dismiss 29 of the charges.