Forfar, Angus haulier Sandy Kydd Road Transport has had its O-licence revoked after a VOSA investigation uncovered a widespread tacho fraud at the business motivated by "financial greed".
In addition, owner Sandy Kydd has been banned from obtaining a licence for the next five years and seven drivers, including Kydd, have had their HGV licences revoked.
Drivers at the agricultural machinery transport specialist frequently broke the drivers' hours rules, pulled tacho fuses and falsified tacho charts - including persuading the firm's mechanic and Kydd to put their names on the charts - in order to boost their earnings. They did so "aided and abetted" by Kydd, Scottish Deputy Traffic Commissioner (DTC) Richard McFarlane concluded, as he set them work that was unable to be completed within the law.
The VOSA investigation began after driver Graeme Smith was stopped at a police check in Doncaster in March 2007 for alleged speeding; he was later prosecuted for a number of hours offences and fined £1,000.
When traffic examiners analysed charts from a two-month period in 2007, they found that 85% of the charts had been falsified.
The drivers later admitted that they were fiddling charts "in order to get on".
Although their evidence on how they were paid varied wildly, the DTC concluded that the firm's hourly pay scheme was a major reason for their lawbreaking.
He adds: "The financial rewards were so significant that they were prepared to break the law for their own financial gain.
"I have no doubt that Mr Kydd has also benefitted financially to a significant extent. The sole motivating factor in this case is financial greed."
McFarlane said that Kydd had knowingly given his drivers work that he knew could not be completed within the limitations of the law.
Drivers Graeme Smith, James Mowatt, Stuart Johnston, Dennis Smith and Philip Smith had their HGV licences revoked for periods ranging from 24 months to 30 months; mechanic Philip Ogilvy and owner Kydd had their HGV licences revoked for four weeks each.
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