Twelve former drivers of M&M Howden Haulage have had their licences revoked and been disqualified after falsifying their tachograph charts and compromising road safety. North Eastern Traffic Commissioner Tom Macartney also suspended the licences of another three drivers from the Tyne and Wear company.
The TC's decision follows the jailing of company director and transport manager Mark Howden after he pleaded guilty to conspiring with the company's office manager Philip Appleby and 20 of the company's former drivers to falsify tachograph charts.
Two drivers were also jailed - Michael Birkley and Garry Thwaites - for four months and three months respectively after pleading guilty to 30 offences. Appleby and 12 drivers were given community punishment orders varying between 50 and 180 hours and four received fines totalling £2,650. All the defendants not receiving prison sentences were ordered to pay £500 towards the prosecution costs.
The TC said 
the personal situation of each of the drivers was irrelevant in reaching his decision and that he had to consider the fitness to continue holding vocational driving licences. Macartney said any attempt to produce false records was consistent with a driver who was prepared to drive while tired and that he or she was therefore prepared to compromise road safety, putting at risk their own lives and also other road users.
However, he said he would take no action against Appleby, stating that he was satisfied his role was largely clerical and he had made no contribution to the tachograph falsification.