Drivers employed by Glastonbury haulage company C Sparkes and Sons
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blamed striking by Italian truck drivers for their drivers' hours offences.
A public inquiry in Bristol heard that some of the company's drivers had failed to take sufficient rest breaks in a 24hour period.
Traffic examiner Brian Livings said that he examined 1,600 tachograph charts covering 24 April-25 July and found nine which gave cause for concern. Director David Sparkes blamed the Italian drivers' strike for the extra driving hours, which were forced on his employees when Italian police told them to move their vehicles to avoid the dispute.
The hearing was told that drivers endorsed the back of their charts to explain these extenuating circumstances.
Sparkes said: "The company has 44 vehicles used on OK and European operations. Drivers are not put under any pressure to complete jobs on time. The company has dismissed drivers for breaches—the company doesn't tolerate any breaches in the legislation."
Western Traffic Commissioner Philip Brown said: -Clearly on the face of this there appeared to be much more to this case than met the eye."
He said he had considered the goad reputation and record of the company and had decided to take no formal action.