Dad’s Scania R620 – by Jack Rigby

Posted on March 23, 2013 by truckbloguk

In 2010 my Dad (Tim Rigby) decided that he needed a new ride. He was watching 5 ex Soonius Transport BV Scania R620’s 3 of them were 2007 and the other 2 were 2008. In december 2010 there was one left, Dad decided to bite the bullet and go ahead and buy a 2 year old Scania R620 from VSB Holland.

The truck soon started work, by having the headlights changed from normal ones to xenon headlights. In the new year Dad had the truck in VSB’s workshop to have work done on it, they first started off by cutting the diesel tanks and making them smaller because when we put mega wheels on it the tanks would be dragging on the ground. When VSB put the tanks back on they looked like cheese blocks so we had them curved to the mudguards so it looked flush. Week by week the lorry started to take place, with its new red and cream leather interior, its checker plate over the cat walk to make it all smooth. A big design of the truck was the front grill. When Dad brought it, it had the first R series front grill, but Dad wanted to be different so he decided to have a new shaped front grill fitted to give it that brand new look. So in mid 2011 dad took his Scania 164 and his trailer out to bring the truck home, unfortunately it didn’t quite fit in the trailer, but was it unfortunate? So the lorry had to stay at VSB but Dad thought he would have more work done to it. We added a Swedish spec bumper with more lights than black pool illuminations!!! People who know dad he likes his lights. To finish the truck off we had air horns fitted, but instead of a 6mm air pipe we had a 8mm pipe fitted for extra noise!!, Alcoa wheels and a vision alert light bar, but this wasn’t an ordinary light bar, when you flashed the lights the beacons would come on as well.

Nearly at the end of the year we decided to drive out there and drive the truck back. Dad brought it home to show my mum and the rest of the family, they loved it. It was time to paint it, the truck was white anyway so we decided to go with black and white. We had the grill and other bites and pieces painted white that were green. The writing was in black also the checker plate and some few other things. We had to re register the truck as well because it was on dutch plates. What a job that was, first we had to change the speedo because it was just in miles but they wanted miles and Kilometres, then we had to measure the the wheels bases and other sorts of annoying things. Finally we were ready to roll after nearly 2 years all the hard work we put into it we were ready to hit the road and see the faces turn. One more thing we had it remapped to 700hp and 3000nm of torque, for people who know Dover, we came out of Dover coming up Jubilee Way with 44ton on….we never left the limiter, when you are going along like that you know you have a good truck.

But after 740000km my mum was diagnosed with cancer again, Dad was forced to sell his truck and trailers to send mum to a private clinic in Germany. A quote from Dad:

“I was in a bad way when my wife got cancer again because she had just got the all clear, i had to sell my truck to send her to germany for private treatment, my heart was broken when i had to sell my new lorry because i haven’t even been driving it for a year yet and all the hard work that me and my son and VSB put into it. I was heartbroken. So i phoned up Simon Wilson and offered it to him and sure enough he accepted the offer and that was it, my dream was gone. I bought this lorry because i knew that it would last me 10 years or so and i had designed it the way i wanted it and because of the front air suspension it drove like a car, this was going to be my last truck. But you cant put a price on a life. I am glad my pride and joy went to a good place and i hope that i will see it again”

By Jack Rigby

Peak Truck Show 2012 by James Cartwright

Posted on October 18, 2012 by truckbloguk

Once again I will hand you over to top guest writer and photographer, Mr James Cartwright. If you want to see the rest of Jimbo’s photos from the show, click HERE;

All that was needed after finishing work on the Friday evening was a dry and hold up free run up to the Peaktruck show held at the Uttoxeter racecourse. At a steady 50mph the 143 had no problems covering the distance in under 4 hrs. Even with the late arrival I was still able to get on to the site and park up for the evening, luckily the boys from McGawn Bros had kept me a space on the tarmac and with the bar still open a double result.

A bright start to the Saturday did much to improve the hangover which I always seem to wake up with when I come here! Saturday morning was taken up with giving the old Scania a clean and polish, you think I would’ve learnt to bring something smaller than a 8×4. Still not quite as much work as the trucks entered into the combination class, credit must go these guys. One of the best was the V-reg FH Volvo of MJS from Stoke on Trent along with its powder tanker.

The Peak shows are always very well supported by the local fleets from names such as Shirley’s, Mike Ponsonby and Stan Robinson. The Peak Truck Show was this year celebrating it’s 10th anniversary over the years shows have been held at a number of places, Belfast was a regular venue along with Carlisle and Penrith this helps to explain why Roy Gill and Sarah Mcgregor have always attracted many trucks from all over the country. Both Roy and Sarah used to run and show trucks one of the most well known was the Queen of Hearts (You must have a picture of this somewhere Ben can find mine think they are in the loft – I can’t find it!!) so with him being one of the judges you know you better have thing done right. You always are made to feel like old friends when you turn up no matter what time of day or night you finally manage to get there Sarah or Roy are always there to greet you this for me is what the truck shows are all about meeting friends new and old.

The weather both days was lovely and sunny which makes a change as we normally have to take cover from the rain at least once during the weekend here, moving the show to later in the year definitely helped with this. The truck of the show went to the T-cab of Bartletts which as the pictures show was as clean out side as it was in with its fully upholstered cab along with painted dash. From fully custom work to the restored 141 with tandem axle trailer you decide what looks the best. One of the nicest trucks for me was the Scania 560 of Dutch owner driver Peter van der Eijk as with most European trucks typically understated but still had plenty of detail.

The Saturday night is another sociable gathering with entertainment in the bar this year with a rock band in full swing. The CF DAF of Massey Feeds was looking spot on sitting next to the big cabbed Toplines and XF’s. There was a strong Scottish contingent with the R-cab from Laurelbank Nurseries, Gordon Steel and John Templeton’s Avatar. One of the furthest travelled must have been Brian McLennan of Peterhead with his brand new Scania. Judging takes place over both days, so there was plenty of cleaning still to be done with the results being given out on the Sunday afternoon.

The Mc Gawn Bros did well this year by taking top spot in a Best Fleet and combination classes to name just a few.

The 105 DAF from Smith of Bury did well in the traditional livery class who says red and green should never be seen! I even got a highly commended in the company owned class for the 143.

A final thanks must go to Sarah and Roy for organising another top show hopefully there will be plenty over the next few years.

Truckfest Original by James Cartwright

Posted on September 11, 2012 by truckbloguk

A misty morning start soon brightened up with sunshine and a quiet run up the A14 and A1 to the showground at Newark. I even managed to park in the exhibitors car park less of a walk to the gate for the old legs! With 400 plus trucks to see there would be plenty of walking left for the day. I was pleased to see the show trucks were all kept together unlike Peterborough where they seemed to be spread all over the showground. Credit must go to all of the drivers who had put in hours of hard work in getting their trucks ready for the weekend, most of which is in their own time at weekends leading up to the event. I have learnt this from previous experience!

There was a small gathering of motors painted by Stewart Bone who sadly died last month. Stewart was responsible for the paint work on many well known fleets from Northern England and Scotland, along with custom paint work on SNT Scania T-cab, Nichol Boilers 143, Longthorn’s T-cab and the last truck to be painted by him the DAF of Gordon Steel. As you can see his work was first class. Stewart will be sadly missed.

In amongst all of the big Swedes was Graham Turners fully restored ERF E series on the ERF revs stand which the family firm ran when it was new and is now a firm favourite on the retro circuit. A little disappointing that Iveco and Mercedes were the only manufacturers in attendance never the less the new Giga Space of Lomas Distribution stood head and shoulders above its predecessor.

The Kelsa stand had its normal high standard of light bars adorning new vehicles from the likes of owner driver Brian Mclennand and also the DAF CF510 from BJ Waters. Also on the stand was a favorite of mine the DAF of Paul Hinchcliffe painted in the same traditional colours of the old family firm with just a hint of custom work. To be honest I didn’t look at anything that was going on in the main arena as it is always the same things year after year. This may say more about me having been around truck shows for to long !!

Away from the main trade stand in amongst the lines of trucks is were the BBQ and partying is done over the weekend but still the lines of fleet trucks were gleaming in the sunshine. Amongst them was the well known DAF from Axminster Carpets which as the pictures show is as clean underneath as it is on top, thanks to the dedication of its driver Tony Moore. By the amount of general public wandering around the show it would have been a success no doubt helped by possibly the first sunny show of the season from the arrivals on Friday afternoon to the departure on the Sunday night. Inside the hall there were many stands selling models and a large area set aside for the radio controlled trucks which the modelers were only to pleased to show you how they worked. All in all a good day, roll on Uttoxeter next weekend!!

If you want to see the rest of James Newark photos then click HERE. Hopefully James will be up for doing a review of his Uttoxeter Show trip, I know he is taking something a little special so keep your fingers crossed.

Financial Standing – Twist, Stick or Bust? by Laura Hadzik

Posted on June 6, 2012 by truckbloguk

The recent Transport Tribunal decision, upholding the revocation of the Operator’s Licence of Reading-based operator, Truckit 247, by Western Traffic Commissioner, Sarah Bell, in November 2011, provides a stark reminder for operators of the potentially devastating consequences for their business should they be unable to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Traffic Commissioners, that they are the appropriate financial standing. Truckit 247 was granted an Operator’s Licence, authorising the use of 1 vehicle and 1 trailer, in April 2010, subject to it demonstrating, by the production of 3 months’ bank statements, that it had access to £8,100 (and therefore satisfied the requirement to be of the appropriate financial standing) by October 2010. Truckit 247 provided bank statements in December 2010; however, these did not show access to the required sum. Then, in June 2011, the Office of the Traffic Commissioner requested original bank statements for the period from March until June 2011; however, the average balance over the 3 month period was £6,690 (not the £8,100 required). Truckit 247’s Operator’s Licence was therefore revoked on the basis that it had failed to demonstrate that it satisfied the requirement to be of the appropriate financial standing

The law is clear – the requirement to be of the appropriate financial standing is a prerequisite for obtaining, or retaining, any Operator’s Licence and availability of finance is a continuing obligation; the purpose being to ensure that the operator has sufficient financial resources available to maintain its vehicles in a fit and roadworthy condition, safeguard road safety and compete fairly with other operators, within the constraints of the regulatory regime. All applicants for, and holders of, Operator’s Licences must therefore be able to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Traffic Commissioners, that they are of the appropriate financial standing at the application, variation, Public Inquiry or five-yearly review stage and on an on-going basis. For some operators, this may mean the difference between obtaining, and retaining, an Operator’s Licence or not, or restrict the number of vehicles that can be operated. It is therefore essential that operators fully understand the requirements and how they can demonstrate that they satisfy them.

The key test is whether the applicant for, or holder of, the Operator’s Licence has available capital and reserves of an amount equal to the sum specified. With effect from 1 January 2012, the financial standing levels are as follows:

Standard National & International Licences
First vehicle	£7,700 (previously £8,100)
Each subsequent vehicle	£4,200 (previously £4,500)
Restricted Licences
First vehicle	£3,100 (previously £3,100)
Each subsequent vehicle	£1,700 (previously £1,700)

“Available” is defined as “capable of being used, at one’s disposal, within one’s reach, obtainable or easy to get”. The key questions to be answered are therefore: “How much money can the operator find?” “How quickly?” “Where from?”

What may be accepted as evidence of financial standing?
EC Regulation 1071/2009, which was implemented in the UK on 4 December 2011, initially allows three ways in which operators can satisfy the financial standing requirements:

Certified annual accounts comprising balance sheet, profit and loss accounts and notes on accounts;
Certified opening balance for new operators – a properly accredited person can provide a statement of assets and liabilities before they started trading;
Financial guarantee.

However, the UK has afforded greater flexibility to operators and the following table provides examples of the evidence
(which the Traffic Commissioners have, historically, taken into account) that may be taken into account for the purposes of demonstrating appropriate financial standing:

Cash in the Bank	Perhaps, unsurprisingly, one of the most reliable ways of demonstrating financial standing is, and has historically been, cash held in a bank account over a period of time. Historically, applicants/operators have been required to submit bank statements for a three month period.
Opening Balance	It is recognised that, if the applicant is a new business, they may not be in a position to produce bank statements for a three month period. In such circumstances, an opening balance showing access to the required sum will suffice; however, the Operator’s Licence will be granted subject to a finance condition.
Overdraft Facility	i.e. if there is a balance undrawn before the overdraft limit is reached. NB an offer of an overdraft facility will not suffice.
Invoice Finance Agreements	These will only be accepted if accompanied by confirmation of the available balances not drawn down averaged over a three month period.
Credit Card Account	NB where a credit card account is the only source of evidence, the Traffic Commissioner is entitled to question why there is no other evidence of banking facilities available.
Debts	which are obtainable because they are due and likely to be easy to collect;
Assets	such as property, plant and machinery, which can be readily sold without any adverse effect on the ability of the operator to operate efficiently and profitably.
Latest Annual Accounts	These will only be accepted as a substitute for bank statements where they have been certified, generally only for established and substantial companies with a turnover of more than £5.6 million.

JMW’s road transport specialists have unrivalled expertise guiding operators through the financial standing process (whether it be at the initial application, variation, Public Inquiry or five-yearly review stage) and providing innovative solutions to enable operators to demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Traffic Commissioners, that they satisfy the requirement to be of the appropriate financial standing.

For pragmatic advice and assistance in relation to financial standing, or any other aspect of road transport law, contact Laura Hadzik, a solicitor specialising solely in road transport law at JMW Solicitors LLP, Manchester on 0161 828 1849 or email her at laura.hadzik@jmw.co.uk

F1 Trip with Lotus Renault – Part 2

Posted on May 12, 2012 by truckbloguk

As it’s the weekend I thought it would be good timing for Part 2 of Ian Harpers Monaco F1 experience. In Part 1 we left Ian back in the “Dust bowl” above Monaco where all the trucks park up. Enjoy Part2 and some more cracking photo’s;

The morning after and my phone rings morning can you bring the box down we will see you when you get down so I sets off into Monaco which is as bad and as slow as getting into London city at 8 in the morning. Just over an hour later I’m on the harbour behind the start finish line by the motor homes, this is one busy area all the GP teams trying to set up all at the same time and a lot of them with little sleep as they came straight from Barcelona the night before.

Box off I was trapped in with other trucks so a little wander about, I saw a couple of Procar lads I knew who work for Ferrari and they were shattered but getting on with the job of building the motor homes.

I’m out and away calls made but no backload the may be one near Milan “Ok I’ll head that way then”. Back on the motorway by Ventigmillia the overhead signs are saying 38 degrees and it was luckily the air con was making it more bearable. My phone rings out with a text message “ Go to Curno details to follow “ I had a good idea where I was loading….I was right I was loading in Brembo Brakes, 2 pallets of brakes for Bentley at Crewe. Pallets loaded CMR sorted I’m away up the Brennero not a lot of time left on the day so into the big truck stop at Sadobre by the Italian tolls. Away in the morning over the fernpass , into Germany and there was a huge queue of traffic around the airport at Stuttgart. 2 and a half hours later we move, there had been an accident, a Romanian truck hit a car and flipped it over .

I made it to Luxembourg the queue for fuel was massive so went and parked up for the night and will do it in the morning, shower stock up with coffee and a dvd then bed early start. Fuelled up and away 6 hrs and I was back in the UK, I knew I wasn’t going to make it to Crewe so started the drive up and got as far as Derby cattle market. Into Bentley Motors in Crewe security say to me “Oh you should have rang us to say you were coming” on asking why these were some new development ceramic brakes and had to go to the R&D building and they wanted to know when they would be here. 15 minutes later tipped CMR signed delivery notes signed and I was heading back for Manchester and home.

Another good trip with the little Renault Midlum.

Miss Lowra’s Law 4 Lorries – Taxing Issues!!

Posted on May 11, 2012 by truckbloguk

Are all of your LGVs and PCVs Insured or SORN’d? Laura Hadzik from JMW Solicitors gives a little advice;

Since 20 June 2011, it has been an offence to keep an uninsured vehicle (as well as to drive an uninsured vehicle). The new rules mean that any vehicle in your fleet i.e. those in use and those not in use (even if they are parked off-road at the operating centre) must either be insured or declared to be the subject of a Statutory Off Road Notification (“SORN”).

The Motor Insurers’ Bureau (“MIB”) and the DVLA work in partnership to identify uninsured vehicles by comparing DVLA records against those held on the Motor Insurance Database. If it appears that a vehicle has no insurance and is not declared to be the subject of a SORN, the MIB will issue an Insurance Advisory Letter (“IAL”) to the registered keeper, advising them that their vehicle appears to have no insurance and advising them of the steps they must take to avoid a penalty.

If the IAL is ignored and the registered keeper of the vehicle takes no action, they face:

• A fixed penalty of £100 (which will be reduced to £50 if paid within 21 days);
• Prosecution (if the offence continues), where the penalty upon conviction is a potential maximum fine of £1000;
• The vehicle being immobilised, seized or destroyed.

Registered keepers should, however, note that payment of any penalty imposed does not replace the need for the vehicle to be insured or declared to be the subject of a SORN.

What should operators do?

• If your vehicle and/or fleet is taxed and insured, you do not need to do anything until the tax and insurance expire. You should, however, check that your motor insurance details are recorded correctly on the Motor Insurance Database (www.askmid.com). If your details are incorrect, or not recorded, contact your insurance provider to update these details immediately.
• If your vehicle and/or fleet is taxed but not insured and is in use, you are already committing an offence – get insurance immediately.
• If your vehicle and/or fleet is taxed but not insured and is not in use (whether this be for a short period of time for, for example, maintenance or repair, or for a longer period of time whilst, for example, the vehicle is held in reserve), you must either; get insurance immediately OR submit a SORN declaration (together with a refund application in respect of the tax) to the DVLA.

For passionate and pragmatic advice in relation to any aspect of road transport law, contact Laura Hadzik on 0161 828 1849 or 07831 291538 or email her at laura.hadzik@jmw.co.uk

Ozzie Big Macks – by Huppo

Posted on May 10, 2012 by truckbloguk

A quick bit of Ozzie history. A few nicely restored Mack’s, bought to us by one of the blogs roving reporters from Australia, Joe Hupp;

This is a Mack B-61 (6 cylinder) – seen here dressed up in the fleet colours of Jeffsan Plant Hire of Agnes Banks, NSW, Australia…..”Misty Blue”, as she is known, is a very popular truck for truck photographers like myself.

Next is of a Mack B-615RS (V8) – this one belongs to a one eyed and very fastidious Mack-man, Fred Goldspring of Rutherford, NSW, Australia. Fred has done a marvellous job in restoring this truck and I am proud to say that I have met him – he has every receipt for the truck from the time the truck was first delivered through to restoration receipts and many more!

Finally an iconic truck in Australia….this is the legendary Mack SuperLiner MkII (depicted by the square headlights) – there’s only one truck even more legendary here than a standard SuperLiner and that is the BiCentennial SuperLiner! There were 16 BiCentennial SuperLiners built in 1988 to celebrate 200 years of Australia – the man who owned Room 500 has a few of them!

F1 Trip with Lotus Renault – Part 1

Posted on May 4, 2012 by truckbloguk

Here we go, another Guest Writer spot on the blog. Not so long ago Ian Harper shared his diary of a trip to Rhodes. This time round he is back in the saddle of the little Renault Midlum heading off to a posh date with the Lotus F1 Team in Monaco. Nice work if you can get it! As it goes if you do fancy it, get yourself on Ian Harper’s books at Manchester PDS. Ian’s company specialise in supplying drivers to these teams and the concert trucking companies. Over to Ian;

On a rather warm sunny May 19th 2011 the phone rings;
“Fancy a trip to the South of France mate?”
“OK what when where?”
“Can you load some promo gear for the Lotus Renault F1 team and get it to Monaco for Monday morning?”

20th May the little Renault fires up and down to Heathrow to pick up some promo gear including clothing, caps, etc etc and a full size replica of the Grand Prix car (which I did not know what it was as it was in a big wooden box).
Loaded, strapped up, stop bars in and away we go as there was no big rush across on the train and then Belgium, Luxembourg, fuel up and into France. It was a gorgeous day, roads were lovely and quiet so the French motorways were replaced by some more scenic routes. A bit of shopping on the way and eventually pulled into Macon Truck Stop , I know this is not the greatest of places to stop but it was somewhere to park grab my bike out the back and ride into town and meet up with and old mate that lives there.

Parked up I sorted everything out made a call and couple of hours later, sat alongside the river having my tea and a few beers with my owd pal Dave. As I had half expected those few beers ended up as a lot of beers and on coming round on Sunday morning with the sun shining through on my face, dry gob and a mahoosive headache. I knew Sunday afternoon was going to be one of sleeping. Back at the Truck Stop there were a few usual Brits there, S&K from Wales, Stobarts (running to Monaco with the catering) and next to me a little DAF 7.5 ton of Kentvale Transport. His cab is the same as our Renault but has the Hatcher cab conversion on it and it makes the cab 3 times bigger, we had a natter brew and I was fading so to bed I went.

3am that morning up and away. The Stobart lads were just pulling out at the same time. I was away, the little truck plodding away on the quiet roads, sun coming up it was a rather pleasant morning. Breaks taken and on to the coast, the roads were busier but flowing but the amount of tolls along the way start to get on your nerves. My Instructions were to pull off and head towards Monaco and pull into the holding area aptly called the “Dust Bowl” which with all the trucks it definitely was!

I tucked myself into a corner in the shade and made a call I had 2 drops one at a hotel and one the day after in the paddock. I was on the phone as one of the Lotus trucks pulls in and the man on the phone asked if I would bring him down, as he needed a lift and he knew I was going to the hotel anyway.

All the promo gear was taken off and I was kindly given a press pack with a few goodies in it. Back to the dust bowl for me tonight with some of the other drivers. I tried taking some pics but they are not to happy if your snapping away so didn’t get to many.

Part 3: Manchester to Manchester Via Rhodes, Greece

Posted on April 6, 2012 by truckbloguk

Now as it’s Easter weekend it’s time for the third and final installment of Ian Harpers recent road trip to Rhodes in Greece with a little Renault Midlum 7.5 tonner on removal duties. Over to Ian for the final installment;

Day 10
I arrive back in Piraeus not a bright sunny morn but mild and misty. I depart the ferry and take to the road traffics relatively light 30 minutes and I’m on the motorway. Stop at the first toll €8•10 its gone up 20 cents, oh well. I trundle along the 3 lane motorway until the road splits for either Tripoli or Patras , through the second toll which was still the old price of €7•90 then into Patras. I still come in the old way pass the BP right and down to the waterfront as all the immigrants have moved to the new way in there are the odd few this way but whichever way you will come across them. At a set of roadwork’s they all popped out, 2 jumped on the tail lift and onto the roof in full view of a police car with 2 officers watching, fag in one hand and a frappe in the other. I looked over and they say €100 and we will get them!! I just laughed. Pull into the marina and they jumped off and onto the port passing a few more along the way. In the port, ticket collected catch up with emails etc on the free wifi and wait for the Superfast XII to arrive, load and set sail.

Day 11
Once all the rattles and squeaks were either suppressed or eliminated, shower, food, internet then quick look at Ingoumenista, mainly freight getting on Turks, Bulgarians and Greeks. Woke up not to bad a nights kip quick shower and see what kind of day it is, warm but foggy my phone springs into life with a message from the Croatian tourist board so at least I have an idea where I am. Off the ferry normally it takes around an hour and a half to get off and out of the port as the port is way too small for the amount of vehicles that use it, anyway as I’m one of the last off not too fussed, Surprise! No queue so by 17:00 I’m out the port on the autostrada adriatica heading all points north. I get to Dirkendorf Germany for 04:00 in 9:25 and call it a day.

Day 12
Woke up about 09:00 freezing night heater on and must of nodded off I get up go for a shower and coffee time is going so slow I’ve started to get that “just want to get home” feeling. 13:00 eventually comes around and I’m away through Stuttgart just before it starts to build up with evening traffic. I pass a Davis International, we wave he flashes me in and I’m gone. I pull into the Standehoft total garage and guest house, As I’m getting out the cab “Mr Davis” pulls in and asks “You going for something to eat?” my reply prompted him to park and follow me in. A beautiful curried schnitzel with onions and potatoes and a coffee to swill down we departed, only to catch each other up at Capellen Luxembourg in the queue for fuel, 1hr 20 it took for me to get fuel and away will I make it to the tunnel / All4trucks?

No! I didn’t with the combination of wind rain and heavy sleet that slowed me down the as I pull on to the A8 around Tournai. Traffics stopped. Luckily we all reversed down the road and took another junction to get round the hold up , which was a wide load that had wedged himself between the concrete barriers in the roadwork’s. 01:16 bed.

Day 13
I woke up to some inconsiderate Belgian with his radio on full pelt playing euro pop! 10:30 comes and I’m away, only to make it as far the other end of the car park and one of the Belgian douanes flag me down quick check of passport load and manifest I’m away again, Lille is pretty quiet and up the A16 then again! a French douane flags me down into the lay-by near the house with the WW2 memorabilia all painted in pshycadellic colours. 10 minutes I’m away after explaining I was removals so didn’t need a CMR. On pulling into the tunnel the queue started at the roundabout by the x-ray machine 20 minutes and was in a lane waiting 51 minutes after that onto the train we go. Back in Blighty Woo Hoo!! I ring the customers to see if they will be in today one was in Bentley NR Ipswich and the other North Elmham just outside Dereham.
20:30ish the drops off will I make it back to Manchester? it will be close, as I’m crossing the A17 heading for Newark the trucks owner rings ” how’s it all going” and I said “I’ll be 30 minutes short of getting back to the yard,” no worries ring me and I’ll come and meet you”, with that I’m on my way A1, A57 Sheffield and then the snake pass. I had mentioned earlier in the week that I kept getting the whiff of diesel and when the truck go’s for its 10 week check see if there’s a leak. I prefer the snake pass it’s a lot quieter than Wood Head, so trundling along and I hear a different tone to the truck. The exhaust was blowing “there’s the fumes issue solved”! As I drove as quietly as I could through Glossop the meeting point was arranged at the McDonalds at the M67 we grabbed a brew and then on our way into the yard. By 00:30 that morning shower and in my own bed.

Excellent Ian, thank you very much. I hope everyone else enjoyed it as much as I did. It’s a good read and some great photo’s as well. If you didn’t get them, please use the links to go to the other parts of the story. Just to let you know I Have another of Ian’s stories ready an waiting to show itself on the blog, so keep checking back, it’ll be here soon.

Part 1 – Click HERE.
Part 2 – Click HERE.

Miss Lowra’s Law 4 Lorries – Falsifying Tachograph Records

Posted on April 2, 2012 by truckbloguk

Something informative for you to browse through during this week. Keep coming back if you want to read a bit more, as I know some of you weren’t impressed with the lack of photo’s in this feature, but all I can say is tough. This stuff will help you out, so it’s up to you. The help comes in the form of transport law solicitor Laura Hadzik (twitter: @LittleMissLowra), from Manchester solicitors JMW. Laura specialises solely in road transport law and regulation, good news for you lot!

11 HGV Drivers Lose Their Vocational Driving Entitlements
For Falsifying Tachograph Records

Scottish Traffic Commissioner, Joan Aitken, has revoked the vocational driving entitlements of 11 HGV drivers who worked for Boyle Transport Limited (“the Company”), one of Northern Ireland’s largest haulage companies, for falsifying tachograph records. One driver has been disqualified from holding, or obtaining, a vocational driving entitlement indefinitely and the others for between 18 months and 3 years. This follows Operation Cadillac, one of the largest ever joint investigations by Cumbria’s Road Policing Unit and VOSA, which began in October 2008 when 8 of the Company’s vehicles were stopped in Cumbria on a journey from Glasgow. 5 of the vehicles were seized and found to have modified wiring systems and further investigations revealed that each had had their tachograph equipment interfered with. This led to the seizure of a further 7 of the Company’s vehicles and a search warrant being executed on the Company’s offices in Newry. Each digital tachograph owned by the Company had been interfered with and the Company’s drivers had been driving for up to 22 hours per day (up to 12 hours longer than the law permits) and failing to take the minimum required breaks and rest periods.

On 18 February 2011:

Patrick James Boyle, 65, and his son, Mark Anthony Boyle, 36, directors of the Company, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to create false tachograph records, admitting that they manipulated and encouraged 15 of the Company’s drivers to falsify their tachograph records. They were sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court to 2 years’ and 18 months’ imprisonment, respectively, and both were disqualified from acting as a company director, which includes having any management position within a company, for 5 years;
15 of the Company’s drivers received suspended custodial sentences and orders to carry out unpaid work after pleading guilty to creating false tachograph records. During sentencing, the Court made it clear that, had it not been for the drivers’ assistance of the prosecution, the starting point for their sentences would have been 12 months in custody.

The legislation imposes maximum permitted driving periods and minimum break and rest requirements to protect road safety and provide a level playing field for operators. False tachograph records (which, at the lesser end of the scale, prevent enforcement authorities from establishing whether or not the particular driver has complied with the driver’s hours and tachograph rules, and, at their most serious, will have been created with the express intention of hiding breaches of the driver’s hours and tachograph rules), are therefore viewed by VOSA, the Police and the Traffic Commissioners as extremely serious! Drivers who falsify their tachograph records will be prosecuted and called before the Traffic Commissioner for regulatory action to be taken against their vocational driving entitlement. Operators whose drivers flout the rules, or who encourage their drivers to falsify their tachograph records, will also face prosecution and regulatory action being taken against their Operator’s Licence by the Traffic Commissioner.

For passionate and pragmatic assistance, advice and representation in relation to false tachograph records or any other aspect of road transport law, contact Laura Hadzik, a Solicitor specialising in road transport law at JMW Solicitors LLP, on 0161 828 1849 or email her at laura.hadzik@jmw.co.uk

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