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Drivers falsified records Commissioner Richard McFarlane at a disciplinary inquiry in Edinburgh.

9th April 1998, Page 23
9th April 1998
Page 23
Page 23, 9th April 1998 — Drivers falsified records Commissioner Richard McFarlane at a disciplinary inquiry in Edinburgh.
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DOT traffic examiner Richard Loftus said the company had been convicted of four offences of breaching the London Boroughs Transport Scheme, and 13 of its drivers had been convicted of various offences, including falsifying tachograph records, failing to produce records, and breaching the drivers' hours rules.

The Bathgate-based company holds a licence authorising 116 vehicles and 159 trailers.

During an investigation which led to several drivers being prosecuted for falsifying charts, those who were no longer with the firm were open about the fact that they had been coerced into breaking the law, claimed Loftus.

When drivers who were still employed by MRS were interviewed, someone else from the company was always present, he added.

In reply to Michael Whiteford, for the company, Loftus agreed that there were no convictions against MRS for drivers' hours or tachograph offences. He confirmed that the London Boroughs Transport Scheme convictions were the only ones recorded against the company.

Loftus accepted that, during his investigation, he examined more than 4,000 charts which resulted in five drivers being prosecuted for a total of eight offences.

Whiteford pointed out that the offences had been committed over a period of two years by 13 of the 120 drivers employed by the company. He maintained that the company had proper systems in place for the control of tachograph records.

General manager Donald Carmichael said there was no gain to MRS if the distance was missing from a chart. Drivers were given written warnings when convictions came to the company's attention. One driver, who used a false name on a chart after disobeying instructions to park up, had been dismissed. No one had been coerced by anyone at MRS to break the law and the drivers had acted for their own ends.

After the Deputy Commissioner commented that there were now a significant number of convictions against the company's drivers, Carmichael said they were mainly for technical offences. The hearing was adjourned.


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