News

Peterhead-based BNJ Transport has had its licence suspended for four weeks, with authorisation cut, thereafter, from 12 vehicles and 18 trailers, to eight vehicles and 18 trailers, for a period of three months.

At an Aberdeen disciplinary inquiry, Scottish Traffic Commissioner Joan Aitken heard that tachograph charts for January to April 2007 showed that the company was not using timesheets and its knowledge of the Working Time Directive was poor.

Analysis of the charts disclosed  23,904 missing kilometres. On numerous occasions the mileage figures from one chart ending to another starting matched, but the distance traces did not, which showed that the vehicle had been moved without a chart in the head.

A number of drivers admitted running with the tachograph fuse out. Director Bryan Greig said that the drivers were left to do their own thing. Asked by the TC why they had not sacked any drivers for pulling fuses, Greig said that it was hard to find decent drivers and since the traffic examiner's visit, things had changed.

Asked if he knew what was going on, he said not to the extent it was, although he knew there was "fuelling off the card".

Transport manager Jane Greig said that she was appalled at what had been going on and since then had met with all the drivers and sent them letters. She now looked at the tachograph charts every week and checked them against the fuel receipts.

The TC was of the view that Bryan Greig knew what  was going on and that Jane Greig had neglected her duties as transport manager. However, it appeared that the company had taken heed of the traffic examiner's findings and had mended its ways. By a gossamer thread she held back from revocation of the licence.

The suspension and curtailment would mean the loss of certain contracts, but the TC said so be it, for then those contracts would become available to other operators in the area who had been compliant and whose drivers had obeyed drivers' hours rules.