The Traffic Commissioner for Scotland has further revoked a truck drivers licence after reapplying following a prison sentence.

Commissioner Joan Aitken, has revoked the professional HGV licence held by Robert Robertson and disqualified him for 12 months. She also revoked his provisional licence entitlement for passenger carrying vehicles, disqualifying him for three years.

Robertson appeared before the industry regulatory last month after applying to renew his entitlements for HGVs and passenger carrying vehicles.  The use of false records led to 18 month prison sentence and disqualification from driving in December 2013.

Previously, following a joint investigation between Cumbria Police and VOSA (now DVSA), the operator and drivers sometime employed by Ross International were charged and ultimately convicted at Carlisle Crown Court. 

The investigation was extensive and cross border and concerned the operator’s and drivers’ compliance with the rules for tachographs and drivers’ hours; extensive analysis of tachograph records with cross referral to other evidence such as ANPR data being required. 

182 false records were found against 17 drivers.  Charges were brought against drivers for conspiracy to make a false instrument with intent that it be accepted as genuine.

Aitken ruled that the previous case, which led to his prison sentence, revealed he was contemptuous of road safety. She concluded that a driver who has such an attitude cannot be said to be fit.

"Mr Robertson did not give either the investigators, the Court nor myself much to work with by way of candour," she added.

"I cannot find him fit and thus I revoke his entitlements. Having done so I have to disqualify him and to put a period on that disqualification. Fortunately the criminal court put him off the road for a period but he is not long back to ordinary driving and his attitude and behaviour in relation to road safety have to be tested."

Robertson drove for William Ross and Laura Ross trading as Ross International. The business operated from Bellshill and Cumbria, running refrigerated transport and livestock haulage.