How often should you check drivers’ licences?
18th Jul 2022
Checking driver’s licences is a key part in transport managers staying compliant and monitoring drivers penalty’s and discretions. In a recent update (April, 2022) to the Senior Traffic Commissioner’s
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Confused about drivers' hours compliance?
Posted by AndrewT on 20th May 2022
What are drivers' hours rules and regulations? What is the difference between EU drivers' hours (which apply in the UK) and GB domestic drivers' hours?
You can get the full picture in our easy to und
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What else does Descartes do?
Posted by rrowlands@descartes.com on 18th May 2022
One stop to smarter compliance
In this age where technology has taken over, where we have a list of passwords the length of a HGV and the list of platforms we use on a daily basis continues t
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Hands off the wheel?
Posted by rrowlands@descartes.com on 18th May 2022
Here’s another scenario to add to the list of ‘What not to do when driving!’.
Thames Valley Police reported they pulled over a HGV driver after he was caught driving with no hands on the wheel. The d
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How do you know if a new job will cause a drivers’ hours infringement?
Posted by AndrewT on 25th Apr 2022
A customer asked me recently if there was a tool from Descartes that allows them to pre-empt any potential drivers’ hours issues when they look to take on a new job. It appears they may have turned wo
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Fleet operators call for changes to Driver CPC
Posted by AndrewT on 11th Mar 2022
According to recent research 95% of commercial road transport operators want changes to the way that the Driver Certificates of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) is delivered. Operators are lookin
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New to digital tachographs? - Who is responsible for what?
Posted by AndrewT on 8th Mar 2022
What are the driver's and operators basic responsibilities? Some transport operators use vehicles fitted with digital tachographs, but have no idea on how to use them. This can lead to expensive fines
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How many hours should a Transport Manager work?
Posted by AndrewT on 8th Mar 2022
It all depends on the size of the fleet!The role of Transport manager is extremely important to any road transport operator and they must be able to manage the transport operation effectively in the t
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DVSA makes Earned Recognition more accessible
Posted by AndrewT on 21st Jan 2022
The DVSA has abandoned plans to introduce one single fully digital maintenance reporting system for Earned recognition (ER) operators. The DVSA hope this will make Earned Recognition more attractive
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Are HGV roadside safety inspections becoming a rarity?
Posted by AndrewT on 21st Jan 2022
According to the union Unite driver vehicle safety checks are “vanishingly rare” on UK roads. A freedom of information request showed there were 114,653 on-the-spot inspections in 2020/21 to check ro
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Falling asleep at the wheel
Posted by AndrewT on 26th Nov 2021
Shocking footage of a driver falling asleep at the wheel of a HGV travelling on the M5 in November was recently posted on YouTube. Driver fatigue is a common factor in incidents involving HGV's and w
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All hand-held phone use to be illegal in 2022
Posted by AndrewT on 19th Nov 2021
The Government is closing loopholes in the use of mobile phones making it illegal to use a hand-held device under virtually any circumstance while driving.
It is already illegal to text or make a pho
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Driving licence extensions ending
Posted by AndrewT on 11th Nov 2021
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, driving licences that were to expire between February and December 2020 were given an automatic 11 month extension. The extension started from the date your driving l
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Government review of Driver CPC
Posted by AndrewT on 11th Nov 2021
The UK Government has announced that it is carrying out a review of Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). The aim of the review is to see how it can be improved to help with driver sho
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Factors to consider when choosing your compliance management software supplier
Posted by AndrewT on 25th Oct 2021
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 how do you c
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Over 50% of HGV drivers say they don't conduct vehicle safety checks
Posted by AndrewT on 25th Oct 2021
According to research published in HGV UK, the majority of HGV drivers say they do not carry out vehicle safety checks.
Ensuring daily walkaround checks happen is part of the commitment an HGV fleet
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Relaxation of enforcement of drivers’ hours extended again
Posted by AndrewT on 12th Oct 2021
The temporary relaxation of the enforcement of HGV drivers’ hours has been extended further as driver shortages continue to impact all sectors.
The Department for Transport has extended the relaxat
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Over 80,000 drivers are only 3 points away from a potential ban – Are you about to employ one of them?
Posted by AndrewT on 17th Sep 2021
Data from the DVLA revealed that over 80,000 driving licences have 9 points – only 3 points away from a ban from totting-up of points for new offences committed within the next 3 years. Around 2.7 mil
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Short of drivers? Your business can still deliver
Posted by AndrewT on 17th Sep 2021
Are driver shortages impacting your business? With driver shortages, empty supermarket shelves, delivery delays and waste / recycling collections being extended it seems every sector is being affecte
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This is what can happen when you use a mobile phone whilst driving
Posted by AndrewT on 9th Aug 2021
A HGV driver was jailed in July for three and half years after colliding with another vehicle while using a mobile phone. The vehicle was a security van that had broken down in lane one of the A27 dua
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Discover what's new in SmartAnalysis and get 14 months for the price of 12
Posted by AndrewT on 27th Jul 2021
SmartAnalysis is probably the longest established tachograph analysis and reporting Software as a Service solution on the market. It serves thousands of operators of all sizes.
“Descartes’ SmartAnalys
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Are your loads secure?
Posted by AndrewT on 6th Jul 2021
As road users we usually focus on spotting potential hazards that are in front of us. However, for HGVs it can be the heavy load behind the driver that presents the biggest hazard. A HGV with a 40 to
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Vehicle safety checks - what are your duties?
Posted by AndrewT on 29th Jun 2021
Whether you drive a HGV or a bus or coach, it's vital that you know what checks you need to carry out inside and outside of the vehicle before setting off. Failing to do thorough checks could result i
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Disqualified driver used a false licence
Posted by AndrewT on 15th Jun 2021
The story of a disqualified driver using a false licence in the North Wales Chronicle highlights why road transport operators of all sizes must have a robust and reliable process for checking their dr
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Tachographs and Telematics
Posted by AndrewT on 20th May 2021
The latest tachographs and telematics report from Commercial Motor and Motor Transport highlights the rate at which smart tachographs are being adopted and gives an insight into operator attitudes. Sm
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SmartCompliance Tips & Tricks - Resetting your password
Posted by AndrewT on 12th May 2021
Welcome to our first post of SmartCompliance Tips and Tricks. We will be sharing some useful tips on using SmartCompliance which will save you time and help you get the most out of the features availa
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HGV driver eating out of a bowl at the wheel
Posted by AndrewT on 27th Apr 2021
A HGV driver was caught by an undercover police officer eating from a bowl whilst driving on the M1. The driver was stopped after he was spotted with no hands on the steering wheel.
Leicestershire Po
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Revised guidance on defect categories
Posted by AndrewT on 26th Mar 2021
The DVSA have updated their guidance on how defects in roadside checks are categorised. The amended rules came into effect from 1 February 2021. So, if you are not sure of the changes now is the time
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DVSA target vans for mechanical defects
Posted by AndrewT on 19th Mar 2021
As reported in Commercial Motor a recent road safety operation in the Midlands found 24 vans with mechanical defects and the DVSA have said it will continue to target LCV drivers. The recent operatio
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HGV driver filmed holding a phone to each ear
Posted by AndrewT on 19th Feb 2021
A HGV driver was filmed by the police holding a mobile phone to each ear on the M4 motorway whilst steering with his elbows. The footage was captured from the cab of a police lorry driving alongside t
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