Year: posts for 2014

Guide to GB domestic drivers’ hours rules

If you are not familiar with GB domestic drivers’ hours rules or just need a refresher this guide will give you the basic information you need.…

HGV safety this winter

Every winter, hundreds accidents involving Heavy Good Vehicles were due to snow and ice. Statistics, from the Department for Transport, show the risks of adverse weather…

Ramping up enforcement of drivers’ hours and tachograph regulations in the EU

Thirteen HGV drivers were found guilty of tachograph fraud during a large Police Operation that took place in November in Aalter in Belgium.    In total fifty…

The dangers of untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome (OSAS)

According to research published earlier in 2014 Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) affects 5% of the population, but is often undiagnosed. Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is…

What does the latest Fleet Compliance Checks report tell us?

The latest Fleet Compliance Checks report (2013 to 2014) was published at the end of October. The Department for Transport commissions this report. It is produced…

Remote Enforcement – freeing up time to focus on the serious and serially non-compliant?

The DVSA’s Remote Enforcement trial based in the Western Traffic Area is now coming to an end. Remote Enforcement frees up resource to focus on serious…

HGV driver was unaware of lost licence!

HGV driver who had no licence was three times over drink-drive limit. This is a sad and unusual case of a HGV driver caught driving when…

EU Drivers’ hours compliance – A summary guide for new drivers and operators

All professional LGV, bus and coach drivers are governed complex rules concerning the use of the vehicle tachograph and their drivers’ hours.  This summary guide provides…

Suspended prison sentences for drivers convicted of tachograph fraud

Four drivers pleaded guilty and were convicted at Newry Crown Court in Northern Ireland for offences connected to fraud and forgery of tachograph records. Prison sentences…

Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) overview for HGV, bus and coach drivers

The deadline for HGV drivers with acquired rights to finish their first 35 hours of Driver CPC periodic training expired on 10 Sept 2014. Driver CPC…

New to digital tachographs – What are the driver’s and operator’s basic responsibilities?

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) have reported that some transport operators have been using vehicles fitted with digital tachographs, but with no idea on…

Driver CPC on target – panic over?

It appears that the vast majority of drivers will have completed their 35 hours’ Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) training by the September 10 deadline.…

HGV operator fined £1,900 for drivers’ hours offences in Northern Ireland

Eight charges relating to HGV drivers who failed to take the required daily rest resulted in a fine of £1,900 for a County Antrim-based HGV operator…

Revised DVSA Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness

According to the VOSA Effectiveness Report in 2012/13, 144,472 mechanical checks were conducted resulting in 56,144 prohibitions (38.9%). The top prohibition defects include all the basics…

Belgian authorities to clamp down on weekend rest taken in cabs?

The Belgian authorities may be taking a stricter approach to drivers taking their normal 45-hour weekend rest period in their own cab and France may also…

Updated rules and guidance on drivers’ hours

Drivers’ hours rules and guidance have been updated on GOV.UK. If you drive a goods vehicle or a passenger-carrying vehicle you must follow the rules on…

Hauliers disqualified for misleading authorities

Nick Jones, The West Midlands Traffic Commissioner, has disqualified two haulage firms following investigations by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) for drivers’ hours offences and…

Campaign for tougher sentences wins MP an award – What does this mean for professional drivers?

Richard Graham, MP was given a national road safety award by the charity Brake and Direct Line Group for his campaign for tougher sentences for disqualified,…

Who are the real beneficiaries from the HGV Road User Levy?

The Department for Transport (DfT) revealed that almost 150 fines were issued to road transport operators for not paying the HGV Road User Levy in the…

Drivers’ hours exemptions for utility service maintenance

Some vehicles used in connection with sewerage, flood protection, water, gas and electricity maintenance may be exempt from the EC drivers’ hours rules. For vehicles to…

HGV Task Force issue 450 prohibitions and warnings for drivers’ hours offence in 4 months

The dedicated HGV Task Force (a joint venture with Transport for London (TfL), DVSA and the Police) issued over 600 prohibitions for un-roadworthy vehicles in just…

Illegal, annoying and dangerous – but we do it anyway!

According to research conducted for Halfords, 32% of motorists admit to making or receiving a call on a hand-held phone whilst driving. This is despite the…

Time to get a grip of your HGV drivers’ hours?

Drivers’ hours infringements regularly top the offences reported by the authorities.  Road transport operators need to demonstrate they understand the requirements of law regarding the digital…

Conclusions from the Traffic Commissioners report for 2012/13

The TC recently published their report for road transport and it provides some interesting reading. The number of O-licences has fallen from 110,067 in 1999/2000 to…

Have your say on Government motoring agencies

The Transport Committee has launched an inquiry into the Government’s motoring agencies. The purpose of the inquiry is to look at the user experience when interacting…