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Owner-driver awaits it's decision 011 59 alleged tachograph offences
Page 33
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AN OWNER-DRIVER who was said to pose a real threat to road safety must wait to learn what action West Midland Traffic Commissioner David Dixon is to take over 59 allegations of falsifying tachograph records. The TC is to announce his decision in writing at a future date.
Heath Jukes Transport, of Stoke on Trent, was called before the TC at a Birmingham disciplinary inquiry. The company holds a licence for one vehicle and one trailer; it works principally as a subcontractor for a Cheshire operator.
The alleged offences came to light during a major investigation into that operator and its subcontractors.
Traffic examiner Peter Ilsley said an examination of 226 tachograph records for the period 21 October 2002 to 10 October 2003 revealed 59 apparent false records.
Fuel receipts and gatehouse records suggested that the tachograph equipment had somehow been interfered with.
Isley alleged that sole director Heath Jukes had habitually falsified tachograph records and breached the drivers' hours rules. He maintained that Jukes posed a real threat to road safety as he had been seriously in breach of the daily rest rules, as well as gaining an unfair advantage over other hauliers.
In reply to the TC Ilsley said that in his experience the majority of fuel receipt times were totally accurate; probably 90%, if not more. Where there were discrepancies it was never more than half an hour.
Questioned by Andrew Woolfall, for the company and Jukes, Ilsley said Jukes' vehicle was examined by a colleague in September 2004, who found nothing amiss. However, be believed that some sort of device had been fitted at the time Traffic examiner Christopher Howarth Summary told the inquiry that drivers could remove interrupter switches in a matter of seconds.
Jukes did not give evidence on legal advice because of pending prosecutions being brought against him.