instructorone:
i strongly believe that if the whole of the haulage industry became O.C.R.S. Compliant, the roads in the UK will be safer, reducing carbon footprint and saving unecessary road traffic incidents. The other benefit is that we are all professionals but this is not always recognised, becoming compliant changes attitudes?
If everybody became 'OCRS compliant VOSA would be talking themselves out of a job, also i believe the target to become OCRS would change to be even tougher 
Whilist it is true VOSA do help to enusre the regs are kept to and thus saftey, the realistic fact is that there is no data to support the premise that operators/drivers who flout/ or fall foul of the drivers hours regs/vehicle weights/maintainance regimes are responsible for more actual 'accidents/incidents than someone who is OCRS compliant. The data collated is designed to work out who is more likely to fall foul of the regs and pay a fine, rather than who is likeley to have an actual accident/incident.
Wincanton alone have an average of two bridge strikes per month. That might be reason enough to pull them over and see if they have height indicators fitted? I know first hand where a driver, driving for Wincanton was pulled up and let go by VOSA, …{1] because they didn’t have the facilities to check the drivers digi card. [2] Because the experienced VOSA operative told the less experienced VOSA operative to let the driver go becauseWincanton are generally ok.
VOSA are also responsible for buses and coaches, but you will never see the number 22 emptied out at switch island whilst VOSA check it over, and the passengers all stand on the grass verge, it just doesn’t happen. Why? I’ve no idea, apparently they’re as dangerous as lorrys, but the checking regime appears to be a lot different. I.E they don’t roadside check them. If they ever decided to raodside check them for emmissions half the bus/coach fleet would be offthe road, so there your 'helping to reduce carbon footprint theory gone too !!
Forget emotive words like Saftey/Emissions etc…VOSA is about to enter a new stage, on spot fines and they will make money, lets see if the money they make is commensurate with a reduction in accident figures? I very much doubt it?
Smart Mart:
instructorone wrote:-
In Leicestershire allone there have been some 16 drivers arrested and jailed for tachograph infringments allong with traffic operators and a director, one driedftor has “done a runner” and has yet to be found.
Hearsay I would think. I read extensively trade press and have never read of anyone going to prison for a tachograph offence.
I’m always interested to hear of actual operators who have had any prosecutions brought, but usually they have been named. If it is true then there is no reason not to name and shame them.
A Tyneside haulier was last week (27 March) sentenced to 15 months in prison for falsifying tachograph records. Mark Howden, a director of M&M Howden of Throckley, near Newcastle, was given the sentence after pleading guilty to 250 counts of falsifying the records, as well two other counts of conspiracy to falsify records. The original trial took place at Newcastle Crown Court at the end of January (21-22 Jan).
2 company drivers also got custodial sentences 
This was in Comical Motor 6 weeks ago
Thanks Wheel Nut for supplying facts.
VOSA site:-
M&M Howden, of Throckley near Newcastle, have been found guilty of 250 counts of falsifying tachograph records, following an investigation by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA).
Company Director Mark Howden and Philip Appleby, a Traffic Clerk, pleaded guilty to the offences, as well as two other counts of conspiracy to falsify tachograph records, at Newcastle Crown Court on 21 and 22 January 2008. On 27 March Howden was sentenced to 15 months in prison.
Twenty two other drivers who worked for the company also pleaded guilty to falsifying their tachograph records. Two of them received custodial sentences. Others got fines ranging from £400 upwards or community service of 18 to 180 hours.
Drivers admitted various methods of producing false records. Some used false names and others pulled out fuses to stop the tachograph working when the vehicle was on the road. Dummy charts were also used to hide driving or work related time in an attempt to show rest periods that were not taken.
Alex Fiddes VOSA Chief Operating Officer said:
“This case highlights VOSA’s determination to bring to account operators and drivers who put others at risk by flouting the law and compromising road safety.”
Mark Howden submitted a guilty plea on the basis that in excess of 50% of the planned journeys, identified by the VOSA team as false records, were arranged in such a way that it would not have been possible to carry them out within the drivers’ hours regulations.
In summing up, the Judge commended VOSA staff involved in the case for their thoroughness and professionalis
Not your usual case of a few false charts I have to say.
Well i thought i was the only one on drugs !!
O.C.R.S…A.N.P.R…I.M.H.O…A.F.A.I.C.S…W.I.M.S…M.C.D.
W.T.D…M.O.T…H.G.V…these are the only ones that concern me, that i understand…the rest is like this…
Фдввдънял шд шге ьфдэер пьщ шгещ фе фкисеа усшг шге иеяш до шге икффсяглл