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Totally clean record needed

20th May 1993, Page 16
20th May 1993
Page 16
Page 16, 20th May 1993 — Totally clean record needed
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

• Drivers' hours offences and tachograph falsi fication have resulted in early termination of Norwich-based Machayes International Transport's licence.

The company's 10-vehicle/12trailer licence expires in December and Eastern DeputyLicensing Authority John Stevenson warned that anything short of a completely clean record in the future would make licence

renewal impossible.

In April 1992, the company's drivers were ordered to pay £5,000 in fines and costs by Norwich Magistrates. Managing director Alec Machaye was fined IL000, with £25 casts, for falsifying tachograph charts and the company was fined £1,800 with £662 costs for permitting hours

'Anythi record

offences and failing to produce charts (CM14-20 May 1992).

For the company, Ian Rothera said it delivers food to the Continent, competing with larger operators with much stronger customer bases. Delayed drivers had been pressing on to complete their journeys, in order to take the required weekly rest before setting off again.

Five of the six chart falsifications related to one incident, said Rothera. There were two offences against Alec Machaye and three against a driver named Dalziel who finished a trip at Dover.

Machaye and his wife were returning from holiday by ferry and the plan was that Machaye would take over Dalziel's vehicle at the port. But Mrs Machaye was unwell and she did not want to drive the car herself or travel home with an employee, so Dalziel drove the truck back. Machaye put his name on his charts while driving back to base and then back to Dover.

Rothera said there was no pattern of consistent chart falsification.

The company realised that it had to knuckle down and get tough with drivers. Machaye said that he had dismissed four with a bee in their bonnet about getting home for the weekend. Though it was difficult when they had been away for eight or nine days. they were instructed that they must stay in Dover.

In reply to Stevenson, Machaye said Dalziel had been instructed to stay at base overnight but had driven back to Dover.


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