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'Good conduct' bonuses stilt paid, despite missing charts

25th February 2010
Page 8
Page 8, 25th February 2010 — 'Good conduct' bonuses stilt paid, despite missing charts
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rogerbrowararbi.co.uk THE RECONVENED public inquiry into the conduct of 'Branslact and Taymix has heard how drivers at the businesses who failed to hand in their tachograph charts still received bonuses for "good conduct".

Rory Taylor, managing director of the related firms, based in Pi rriperne, Dorset, told the hearing in Salisbury that drivers could be paid an extra sum of up to £100 per year based on criteria such as keeping their paperwork in order, fuel efficiency and the cleanliness of their trucks.

Sarah Bell, Western Traffic Commissioner, highlighted the case of one driver who received a £49 bonus in July 2005, despite having several tacho charts missing from his files.

Bell said: "I find it extraordinary that drivers who fail to return their charts are paid a penny.

"People who don't hand in their charts for months still get a bonus. What sort of message does this send out?"

Taylor admitted he had failed to "keep on top" of the business during this period, hut the driver in question had received the additional payment because of his "good fuel consumption record".

The company Translact and two of its directors had charges of manslaughter thrown out at Winchester Crown Court following a fatal accident in 2007 involving one of their trucks.

They were later fined for health and safety offences.

Felicity Hine, for VOSA, told the hearing that of the 39 drivers prosecuted, only six of these had training records.

Taylor did go on to outline improvements that had been made, including a system where the business sent its tacho charts to the Freight Transport Association for analysis, and the intention to appoint an additional transport manager Taymix had also brought forward Driver CPC training and carried out an audit of its routes to determine if they could be carried out within the drivers' hours rules. TC Bell will issue a written decision shortly.

hly sport.=


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