for refusing solo run Driver caught with
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A driver who was sacked after refusing to
tacho trace break
The falsification of a tachograph record, and exceeding the daily driving limit, cost Blackburn lorry driver Kenneth Skilling £220 in fines and costs when he appeared before the Leyland magistrates. Shilling admitted the offences.
John Heaton, prosecuting for the Vehicle Inspectorate, said Shilling had been driving a 38tonne artic belonging to Stuart Taylor International which was stopped during the course of "Operation Eurostar''.
When Skilling produced his current tachograph chart it was seen that there were two breaks in the trace. He had deliberately failed to record 44km, and the time taken to drive that distance, In an unsuccessful attempt to conceal the fact that he had been driving too long.
When interviewed, Skilling had said he had realised that he was going to have a busy day and he had tried to work out how much driving he would he doing by going to Aberdeen and back. He had realised that he could not do it within his hours and he needed to get home that night.
Shilling said he had only been five minutes from home when stopped. His load consisted of high-value fresh fish and he had wanted to park at the company's depot rather than the Forton Service Area, lie had only done 30 minutes extra driving when he was stopped.
Fining Shilling £180 with £40 costs, the magistrates said that the court took a serious view of such offences. The hours regulations were there for the good of everyone.