The owner of a chilled food transport firm has been disqualified from holding an O-licence after two of his drivers were sent to prison for creating false tachograph records.
West of England traffic commissioner (TC) Kevin Rooney found that Bristol-based Adam Pawelczyk had committed “widespread and deeply serious” offending by allowing his drivers to fabricate drivers’ hours records.
One driver was convicted for 45 offences, while another had committed 17 offences.
The business had also been discovered using an O-licence that had been issued to another company, Mike 1 (Bristol), to increase the size of its operation.
The DVSA found that drivers Karol Brzykcy and Tadeusz Dabrowski had made use of Pawelczyk’s card, which he had misplaced, to extend their driving time and avoid taking breaks.
Brzykcy was once on duty for 46 hours and 26 minutes, with his longest recorded rest period being four hours and 41 minutes.
The owner claimed he had not been aware that drivers were using his card and had no procedures in place to check.
Transport manager Antoni Pawelczyk had failed to undertake any of his duties and was banned from undertaking the role in any EU member state for three years.
The business did not provide evidence of financial standing at public inquiry last month and its O-licence was revoked on the day of the hearing, 30 October.
The TC intended to pass his decision onto the Polish authorities, where Pawelczyk also operates a haulage business. He also refused to grant permission to AdamP Transport, which has Pawelczyk’s wife listed as a director.
