White Arrow drivers in driver's mate con
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Eleven more drivers employed by a leading haulier have been fined a total of t2,500 with £990 costs for working a "trucker's mate" tachograph scam.
Drivers working for Worcester-based White Arrow Express pretended to share the driving time with their mates to make it appear that they were taking their statutory breaks.
Liz Jack, prosecuting for the Vehicle Inspectorate. told Worcester Magistrates Court on Monday: The drivers' mates did not have driving licences and had been engaged merely to help load and unload the trucks."
She added that false entries were discovered on the tacho charts when White Arrow called in VI officials to carry out an investigation after suspecting that something was going on.
The drivers' mates admitted they had not driven the lorries and that the authorised drivers had exceeded their permitted driving time without the necessary breaks to enable them to get home early," said Jack.
Five White Arrow drivers were fined a total of £1,000 with £420 costs at Oroitwich Magistrates Court last month after they admitted making false entries on tack charts.
Ian Willis, representing the 11 drivers, said they had been under pressure at the time and had not been given suitable tachograph training.