Tougher line on tachos
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• The number of hauliers being prosecuted for missing the mandatory two-year tachograph check has rocketed, says the Road Haulage Association — and hauliers are paying increased fines of up to 2200.
But many operators say they have been misled by the vehicle manufacturer and are being prosecuted because of a misunderstanding. "Often a vehicle is bought and not delivered for two or three months," says Liam Boyle, deputy manager of the RHA's Eastern district. "The tachograph may have been calibrated a couple of months before but the haulier assumes it's got the full two years to run."
While stressing that any offence is potentially serious, Boyle points out that missing a tacho check "could be described as being at the minor end of offences — but defective brakes can sometimes only result in a .2150 fine".