Father helped with driving
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Two drivers with Bridgend-based Carline Transport have been cleared of allegations that they had falsified tachograph records. Wolverhampton magistrates accepted evidence from their father that he had travelled with them on night trunk runs and done some of the driving.
Martin Stallard denied five falsification offences; John Stallard denied seven offences and one of exceeding the daily drving Prosecuting for the Vehicle Inspectorate, Beverley Bell said that in all but one instance, as the Stallards were getting near the end of their hours they had made use of a "ghost driver" by entering the name of their father on a second chart to hide the fact that they were still driving.
One of John Stallard's charts showed a full scale deflection when the electrical supply to the tachograph had been interrupted, said Bell. She alleged this had been done to hide the fact that he had not taken a weekly rest period.
Two tachograph charts dated 26 November appeared to show Brian Stallard driving two different vehicles at the same time, Bell added, and Martin Stallard had admitted that he had written his fathers name on a chart for that date. The defendants had claimed the periods when their father was said to be driving on their time sheets.
Traffic examiner Patricia Earp said that when enquiries were made of Carline, she had been told that the company did not employ Brian Stallard; it had never paid him; and he had never driven any of its vehicles.
Martin Stallard said his father would take over and drive when he was running out of hours. On two occasions he had asked Carline director Carlton Hobbs if it would be all right for his father to drive.
John Stallard denied falsely using his father's name. He had filled in the centre field for his father as his father "left a lot to be desired in the writing department'. Asked about the chart with the full scale deflection, John Stallard said it was not possible to operate that type of ERF with any fuses blown or missing: the lorry would become virtually undriveable because it was computer controlled. Brian Stallard confirmed that he used to go for the ride with his two sons and would sometimes drive the vehicle.
Acquitting the two men, the magistrates said that despite suspicions, they could not be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the charts had been falsified.
Martin Stallard pleaded guilty to three offences of falsification and two of taking insufficient weekly rest. He was fined £950 with £100 costs.
John Stallard pleaded guilty to three offences of taking insufficient weekly rest, one offence of taking insufficient daily rest and one centre-field offence. He was fined £600 with £100 costs.