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Sandy Kydd loses 0-licence after probe

16th April 2009, Page 7
16th April 2009
Page 7
Page 7, 16th April 2009 — Sandy Kydd loses 0-licence after probe
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By Dominic Perry FORFAR, AN G US-BASED haulier Sandy Kydd Road Transport has had its 0-licence revoked after a VOSA probe uncovered a widespread tacho fraud motivated by "greed'.'

In addition, owner Sandy Kydd has been banned from obtaining an 0-licence for the next five years, and seven drivers, including Kydd, have had their HGV licences revoked.

It emerged that drivers at the agricultural machinery transport specialist broke drivers' hours rules, pulled tacho fuses and falsified tacho charts including persuading the firm's mechanic and Kydd to put their names on the chart to boost earnings.

They did so "aided and abetted" by Kydd who set them work that could not be completed within the law, Richard McFarlane, the Scottish Deputy Traffic Commissioner (DTC), concluded.

The VOSA investigation began after driver Graeme Smith was stopped at a police check in Doncaster in March 2007 for alleged speeding; he was later prosecuted for a number of hours offences and fined 11,000. When traffic examiners studied charts from a two-month period in 2007, they found that 85% of them had been falsified.The drivers later admitted they were fiddling charts "in order to get on': Although their evidence on how they were paid varied wildly, the DTC concluded the firm's hourly pay scheme was a major reason for their lawbreaking. He adds: "The financial rewards were so significant they were prepared to break the law for their own financial gain."

Drivers Graeme Smith, James Mowatt, Stuart Johnston, Dennis Smith and Philip Smith had their HGV licences revoked for periods ranging from 24 months to 30 months; mechanic Philip Ogilvy and owner Kydd had their HGV licences revoked for four weeks each.


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