FedEx drivers fined for breaks
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• A total of 39 drivers employed by Federal Express were ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £2,880, after they admitted a series of drivers' hours and tachograph offences, before Rochdale Magistrates.
The drivers pleaded guilty to either exceeding 41/2 hours' driving without taking the required amount of break, or of failing to use the mode switch
correctly. Stephen Sargent, prosecuting, said the drivers had failed to take breaks when required to do so, or failed to record what they had done. There was no suggestion that the drivers had gained financially from the offences. They took shorter breaks than the required 45 minutes because of pressure of work.
For the drivers, Jack Thornley said Federal Express was in a very competitive field, offering door-to-door guaranteed-time deliveries. The drivers were extremely well motivated and, like the managers, took the guaranteed deliveries very seriously. As the company grew, it had not paid such close attention to the regulations. The company should have been checking the drivers' tachograph charts, so it could point out any offences to the drivers. With closer attention from management, these matters could have been put right a long time ago.
Driver Lee Allen said he had only worked for Federal Express for three weeks when he realised he could not do the work within the time given, and he left the company.
Each of the drivers was ordered to pay £10 costs.
The company denies permitting the offences by the drivers and the case is listed for trial before magistrates later this month.