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Boss to return for inquiry
Page 14
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A public inquiry hears that drivers' ignorance resulted in offences, but is adjourned to allow the boss to
attend. Mike Jewell reports.
THE BOSS of a Lancashire haulage company faces a grilling from North Western TC Beverley Bell over hours and tacho breaches.
The public inquiry examining the case at Skelmersdale-based Ken Abram was adjourned in order to allow Abram to attend.
After traffic examiner Neil Vosper had said that the offending had been due to the drivers' ignorance of the regulations, theTC said she was concerned to know why the offences had been committed and why, in two cases, tachograph records had been falsified.
For the company, Michael Cunningham said that there was no severe criticism in the reports from the traffic and vehicle examiners. However, there was reference to a Customs & Excise investigation, and if that was to he considered he wished to make representations in that regard in private, as he said it was not something that had been contained in the calling-in letter.
The TC said she was aware of that matter and of suggestions that further investigation was needed. Min fact, it was a matter that would affect the company's repute, she would adjourn the proceedings for the calling-in letter to be revised.
On learning that Ken Abram was away, the TC said she would have considered an adjournment, had she been informed earlier. Cunningham said that when he had sought adjournments in the past for similar reasons they had always been refused.
The TC said she always dealt with requests for adjournments on their merits in each individual case. She did not see how the company could establish professional competence when one of the two transport managers was not present.
Cunningham said that Ken Abram was semi-retired and the transport manager who carried out that function was present, as were the other directors.
Asked what was meant by semiretirement, Cunningham said: "40 hours a week rather than 80 to 90." He added that Abram lived close to the depot and like many company "owners" tended to drop in.