OTC wants to see drivers first
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Action against two companies over the falsification of tachograph records has been adjourned because Scottish Deputy Traffic Commissioner Richard McFarlane wants to call the drivers before him.
The two companies, William Tottenham, of Coatbridge, and Bellshill Fish Distribution (Dysart), first appeared before the Deputy Commissioner in May. But he adjourned the hearing for managing director William Tottenham to produce tachograph charts he had previously refused to make available.
McFarlane said those records had since been made available and analysis of them and the charts previously produced had revealed a significant number of false records. There was a significant mileage unaccounted for and a number of charts had yet to be produced.
Asked about the nature of the falsifications, traffic examiner James Griffin said there had been discrepancies between the odometer readings entered on the centre field and the distance traces. It could be that drivers had removed the chart from the tachograph head and continued to drive when over the hours limits. Twice the chart had been removed from the head and later reinserted, with the driver scribing manu
ally on the chart to try to conceal his actions.
Tottenham failed to appear this time and, when contacted, he said he had been mistaken about the date of the reconvened hearing.
Adjourning, the Deputy TC said that Tottenham had previously blamed his drivers for wrongdoing. McFarlane wanted the drivers before him to get a balanced picture.
Ordering that both companies' tachograph charts should be checked further, the Deputy TC said that he would require Tottenham to produce the names and addresses of all the drivers associated with the false records.