EU Drivers’ hours compliance – A summary guide for new drivers and operators
Posted by AndrewT on 21st Oct 2014
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 a basic overview for drivers
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Suspended prison sentences for drivers convicted of tachograph fraud
Posted by AndrewT on 16th Oct 2014
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 from 5 to 11 months, suspend
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Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) overview for HGV, bus and coach drivers
Posted by AndrewT on 17th Sep 2014
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 was first introduced in 2008 for bus and coach driv
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Driver CPC on target – panic over?
Posted by AndrewT on 12th Aug 2014
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.
It was estimated that betwee
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HGV operator fined £1,900 for drivers' hours offences in Northern Ireland
Posted by AndrewT on 29th Jul 2014
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 following an intelligence-led investigation by the
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Revised DVSA Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness
Posted by AndrewT on 24th Jul 2014
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 such as
Br
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Belgian authorities to clamp down on weekend rest taken in cabs?
Posted by AndrewT on 15th Jul 2014
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 adopt the same approach.
From 21 June, any dri
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Updated rules and guidance on drivers' hours
Posted by AndrewT on 28th May 2014
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 the number of hours you can drive and the brea
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Hauliers disqualified for misleading authorities
Posted by AndrewT on 23rd May 2014
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 unlice
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Campaign for tougher sentences wins MP an award – What does this mean for professional drivers?
Posted by AndrewT on 16th May 2014
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, unlicensed and uninsured drivers that kill
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Who are the real beneficiaries from the HGV Road User Levy?
Posted by AndrewT on 14th Apr 2014
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 first week of its existence. On day one alone £20
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Drivers’ hours exemptions for utility service maintenance
Posted by AndrewT on 9th Apr 2014
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 qualify for the exemption they
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HGV Task Force issue 450 prohibitions and warnings for drivers’ hours offence in 4 months
Posted by AndrewT on 10th Mar 2014
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 four months. It was reported in www.
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Illegal, annoying and dangerous – but we do it anyway!
Posted by AndrewT on 24th Feb 2014
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 fact that 82% knew it was illegal. 78% had
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Time to get a grip of your HGV drivers’ hours?
Posted by AndrewT on 6th Feb 2014
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 tachogr
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Conclusions from the Traffic Commissioners report for 2012/13
Posted by AndrewT on 28th Jan 2014
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 80,894 in 2012/13, a drop of 3,178
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Have your say on Government motoring agencies
Posted by AndrewT on 14th Jan 2014
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 with them and make recommendation
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Drivers' hours prosecutions is the No1 offence in VOSA Effectiveness Report
Posted by AndrewT on 3rd Oct 2013
VOSA has published their effectiveness report for 2012 to 2013. It contains data on HGV testing and enforcement activity, with details on volumes and outcomes for both.
No real surprise to see Driver
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Have your say on Driver CPC
Posted by AndrewT on 23rd Jul 2013
The European Commission has launched a public consultation on Driver CPC to assess:
how effective it is
contribution to road safety
what could improve its effectiveness
The consultation addre
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HGV Road User Levy Bill - 6% to pay more?
Posted by AndrewT on 19th Jul 2013
On Mon 18th July Stephen Hammond MP corrected a figure quoted in debating the HGV Road User Levy Bill, on Tuesday 23 October 2012 and Tuesday 20 November 2012.
However according to government sources
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HGV Road User Levy Bill - 6% to pay more?
Posted by AndrewT on 19th Jul 2013
On Mon 18th July Stephen Hammond MP corrected a figure quoted in debating the HGV Road User Levy Bill, on Tuesday 23 October 2012 and Tuesday 20 November 2012.
However 6% of vehicles will end up payi
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VOSA to step up targeted checks?
Posted by AndrewT on 16th Jul 2013
With the merger with the Driving Standards Agency ahead and recent comments from the Senior Traffic Commissioner it is interesting times for VOSA. Opinion on the merger with DSA appears to be split 50
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Have your say on Driver CPC exemption proposals
Posted by AndrewT on 13th Jun 2013
The Driving Standards Agency wants to hear your views and has launched a consultation on the scope of Driver CPC (DCPC) exemptions. This includes taking vehicles to and from VOSA testing facilities.
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Have your say on VOSA fees
Posted by AndrewT on 30th Apr 2013
VOSA has launched a consultation on proposals to change the fees for a range of services it carries out, including:
Testing of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and public service vehicles (PSVs) - buses
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Tachograph fraud and abuse of drivers’ hours does not pay
Posted by AndrewT on 23rd Apr 2013
Haulage bosses ordered to pay back over £1.6m or face more time in jail.
Following a joint operation between Cumbria police and VOSA the bosses of Boyle Transport Limited have been ordered to pay over
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Loaning HGVs can be more expensive than you might think.
Posted by AndrewT on 10th Apr 2013
A farmer was recently fined £500 after he failed to produce tachograph charts for a HGV he loaned to a friend. The driver was also prosecuted and fined £350. The vehicle was used sporadically by the f
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Tachographs and trailers
Posted by AndrewT on 21st Mar 2013
There appears to be some confusion about towing trailers carring goods in coomercial transport and when you need to use a tachograph. It is your responsibility to ensure you are familiar with the law
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3 points and a fine for sneezing?
Posted by AndrewT on 19th Feb 2013
Driving with a cold or flu could be far more dangerous than you realise, accounting for 2,500 accidents per week in the winter months.
According to experts if you have a stuffy head, feel groggy or s
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HGV registrations up in 2012 – How to safeguard your future compliance when buying a new HGV in 2013.
Posted by AndrewT on 14th Jan 2013
Whilst 2012 was a challenging year for the entire UK commercial vehicle market, HGV registrations grew by 6.4% to 45,702 units in 2012. The lucky transport operators that acquired them will benefit f
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Recession? What recession?
Posted by AndrewT on 3rd Jan 2013
According to research from the retail consultancy Conlumino conducted on 30 December 59% of consumers expect to cut their spending in the next six months and almost 50% think the economy will get wors
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