Give your views on operator licensing consultation Department for Transport outlines proposals under consideration Have you seen the consultation on changes planned for the operator licensing system? It launched earlier this month. The Department for Transport is looking at two areas: PSV licence applications Formal tribunal rules PSV licence applications Traffic commissioners can give HGV [...]
Haulier’s fleet restricted after failing to arrange laden brake tests Owner also disqualified from acting as transport manager until new CPC exam is passed Earlier this week we looked at the issue of brake testing. Unfortunately, it’s something traffic commissioners still have to deal with at public inquiry. Take this case from last year. The [...]
Lorries at sea - urgent safety advice Urgent safety advice has been issued by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) to all lorry drivers who use ferries. This follows an incident where lorries toppled over on a ferry vehicle deck while at sea, with drivers still in their cabs. One driver was trapped and had [...]
How to avoid a “brake” in your confidence Traffic Commissioner Kevin Rooney reflects on the standards for regular brake testing Maintenance inspections. They’re there to make sure your vehicles are fit and serviceable at all times. And the MOT standard is always met. In fact, your regular inspections should be above that minimum standard. Brake testing [...]
A further message following our bulletin on safe driving distances Earlier this week we shared a video with you from Highways England. It highlighted the importance of leaving an appropriate gap to the vehicle in front of you when you are driving. We pointed out that all drivers should leave a minimum two second gap [...]
Key issues from public inquiry Part three of our series which aims to help you maintain and promote O licence compliance Traffic commissioners understand that businesses, like yours, live in challenging times. That’s why they regulate for the benefit of you and every other operator, whether you are running lorries, buses or coaches. It’s their [...]
Watch: two second gap reminder for drivers Footage offers stark reminder about the dangers of driving too closely to other road users Worrying footage released by Highways England shows how quickly things can go wrong when drivers tailgate the vehicle in front. In the video, taken from the M6 in Cheshire, several cars break sharply [...]
An operator’s journey: from S mark to suspension to satisfactory Licence holder moves from critical to compliant after public inquiry Picture this scenario. An operator’s vehicle picks up an S marked prohibition at the roadside. DVSA go out to do a full inspection and find various issues. Out of date inspection sheets (by nearly a [...]
Trailer registration comes into force tomorrow From 28 March 2019, trailers will need to be registered for international journeys. If you're using a trailer abroad after 28 March 2019, you will need to register it through DVLAs ‘Register your trailer to take it abroad’ service. The trailer registration scheme comes into force on 28 March 2019 as [...]
Milestone reached for digital operator licence services VOL now delivers all major licence transactions online In 2016, the traffic commissioners set a target for operators to be able to complete all major licence transactions digitally by April this year. Before VOL, you could only make vehicle changes and apply for licence variations online. Now, with [...]