Driver assault charge after Knowles inqui
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by Mike Jewell
s CM went to press one of yriI Knowles' former drivers, erek Terry, was due to appear efore Cardiff magistrates ccused of assaulting the cornany's general manager after le first day of a public inquiry. The incident is alleged to eve happened after the iquiry before Welsh Deputy 'attic Commissioner Alan ourlet ended.
The company and a number F its drivers had been called afore Bourlet after more than 0 drivers had been found to be reaking the drivers' hours ules. Knowles, which operates .em a base at Llanwern teelworks, Newport, was ini tially fined £53,800, which was cut to £15,450 on appeal. The drivers were fined a total of 121,050.
Traffic examiner Robert Trainer told the hearing that he believed a bonus pay scheme which depended on loads carried and distance covered might have tempted the drivers to break the rules. He claimed that the pay scheme operated by the company was in contravention of European regulations, but said that no domestic law existed to prosecute the company.
The investigation was triggered after one driver was stopped in Folkestone and was found to have pulled a fuse to disable his vehicle's speed limiter. He allegedly told traffic examiners that he did It to make more money.
But general manager Ian Wildish maintained that any bonus payment system was acceptable, providing it was properly policed.
"We have leaked at implementing a new pay scheme but it has met with some resistance," he added.
The new plans would mean a higher basic pay with less emphasis on bonuses, Wildish said, claiming that the drivers threatened strike action 24 hours before Its launch.
The DTC will announce his decision in writing.