Blog posts for 2019

Guidance for Traffic Commissioners on the role and responsibilities of the Transport Manager

The Senior Traffic Commissioner issued updated guidance at the end of 2018 on the role of the transport manager and what it means to be competent…

Over 80,000 drivers are only 3 points away from a potential ban – Is your driver one of them?

Recent data from the DVLA revealed that 80,855 driving licences have 9 points – only 3 points away from a ban from totting-up of points for…

What else does Descartes do?

Visitors to this site will know Descartes comprehensive suite of SmartCompliance solutions that include: SmartAnalysis – Tachograph analysis & reporting with KPIs for Earned Recognition SmartLicence…

363,280 driving licences rescinded since 2014 due to medical conditions

Figures available through the DVLA show that in the last 6 years over a third-of-a-million UK drivers had their licences taken away on medical grounds. Almost…

Be ready for Brexit

With 31st October approaching fast the potential implications for trade with the EU and transport operators moving goods between the UK and EU is becoming clearer.…

DVSA issue new guidance on HGV walkaround checks

Driver vehicle safety checks are essential for road safety. It has been reported that around 80% of roadside prohibitions could have been avoided if an effective…

The benefits of joining up data in road transport operations

For too long data in many road transport operations has been isolated and burdened by inefficient data-gathering methods. Valuable information is kept out of the hands…

Traffic Commissioners Annual report 2018 to 2019

The annual report from the Traffic Commissioners office provides information on all the major aspects of their regulatory and judicial role. The 2018 to 2019 report…

Is it time to regulate 3.5t vans with tachographs?

With over 4.3 million licensed 3.5t vans compared to around 600,000 licensed HGV’s on our roads is it time for van drivers to be regulated in…

The Driver CPC deadline is fast approaching – are you prepared?

In September 2009, the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) came into effect in the UK. CPC covers professional bus, coach and HGV drivers and…

HGV Horror show

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is responsible for carrying annual tests on around one million heavy vehicles each year. The DVSA have 500 testers…

Key factors to consider when choosing your compliance management software supplier

Today tachograph analysis software has become a commodity available from a number of suppliers. With little real product differentiation between suppliers and competitive pricing from all…

Updated vehicle safety check leaflets from DVSA

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has updated its driver vehicle safety check leaflets. The updated leaflets provide guidance for carrying out daily safety checks…

Earned Recognition – What, why and how from the DVSA

Descartes had the pleasure of having Roger Dent from the DVSA present at our Partner Event in January. Roger’s presentation on the DVSA’s Earned Recognition scheme…

A HGV driver’s guide to potential post-Brexit disruption

Recently published by the FT – A trucker’s guide to post-Brexit disruption. As fears grow of a returm to customs checks from a no-deal Brexit, this…

Are bus drivers working unsafe hours and putting the public at risk?

Matt Western, Labour MP for Warwick and Leamington writing in The House – Parliaments Magazine, presents his case to bring drivers’ hours for local routes in…

Driving abroad? Are you prepared for Brexit?

Driving abroad post-Brexit will change and commercial drivers operating in the EU will need to ensure they have the right documents and plans in place regardless…

Banned drivers on the rise

The number of drivers that have had their driving licence revoked under the Road Traffic Act has increased by 33.5% according to new figures released by…

Top prohibition defects … and how to avoid them

The Office of the Traffic Commissioner recently updated the data they report from DVSA examiners on the checks conducted on vehicles and operators. The information the…

What are the top 5 prosecuted offences for HGV operators?

Statistics published by the DVSA (Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency) for FY 2017-18 shows that drivers’ hours and tachograph records offences are still the most common…

1 in 5 drivers exceed drivers’ hours limits

A recent article in Commercial Fleet reported that according to research carried out by a Fleet Management Software supplier that 22% of commercial drivers in the…