Haulier who fiddled tacho chart has O-licence revoked
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roger.brown@rbi.co.uk
HEREFORDSHIRE haulier MA Bullock and Sons has had its O-licence revoked following a VOSA investigation into tachograph chart offences and use of an unspecified site.
In a written decision, following a public inquiry held in January, West Midland Deputy Traffic Comissioner (DTC) Miles Dorrington revoked the O-licence of the Kington-based business with effect from 30 April and said that the company’s boss Martin Bullock had lost his repute.
VOSA traffic examiner Annmarie Morgan had conducted an investigation into the business, authorised for one vehicle and one trailer, for the inquiry. Her report included details about a case at Hereford Magistrates Court, in November 2010, at which Bullock had been convicted of 10 offences, including four offences of knowingly making a false tachograph chart record.
These offences had not been notified to the TC within the required 28-day period.
Bullock had also used a quarry as an unauthorised operating centre for a significant length of time, at an address that was in a different traffic area.
According to Bullock, there had been problems with a driver who did not show up for work on time. As a result he had driven the vehicle and filled in the tacho chart in the name of this other driver, which he knew was wrong.
Bullock had used the unspecified operating centre until November 2010, but at the date of the in quiry was using only the site specified on his O-licence.
However, the DTC said: “The non-compliant conduct of this operator was serious, deliberate and prolonged. There was little evidence to show that compliance had been, or could be, restored.” The DTC also ruled that the repute of Thomas Morgan, nominated transport manager, had been tarnished by his failure to identify from the tacho records that an unauthorised operating centre was being used.