Ramping up drivers’ hours enforcement in EU
Posted by AndrewT on 26th Feb 2015
EU laws regarding tachographs and drivers’ hours are ineffective if there is inadequate enforcement of them. In the UK the DVSA and Police are responsible for enforcement of the regulations that apply
… Read more
Abolition of the photocard licence counterpart
Posted by AndrewT on 19th Feb 2015
What does this mean for employers of professional drivers?
The Department for Transport is making an important change to driving licences that will impact HGV and PCV drivers and the companies that e
… Read more
Do we need more Police Officers dedicated to Traffic enforcement?
Posted by AndrewT on 19th Feb 2015
According to the RAC the number of Police Officers dedicated to enforcing traffic offences in England and Wales has been cut by 1,279 (23%) in the last five years. 43 forces reduced their Traffic Off
… Read more
Over 50% of HGV drivers on M5/M6 exceeded drivers’ hours in 12 months
Posted by AndrewT on 2nd Jan 2015
In a year-long operation on the M5 between and J4 and the M6 between J6 for Spaghetti Junction and J14 more than 200 HGV drivers were found to have exceeded their permitted working drivers’ hours.
I
… Read more
Guide to GB domestic drivers' hours rules
Posted by AndrewT on 19th Dec 2014
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.
Drivers of vehicles that fall outside the scope of the
… Read more
HGV safety this winter
Posted by AndrewT on 5th Dec 2014
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 conditions for HGV fleets in t
… Read more
Ramping up enforcement of drivers’ hours and tachograph regulations in the EU
Posted by AndrewT on 28th Nov 2014
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 five HGVs were stopped and inspected by t
… Read more
The dangers of untreated Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome (OSAS)
Posted by AndrewT on 28th Nov 2014
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 a severe form of slee
… Read more
What does the latest Fleet Compliance Checks report tell us?
Posted by AndrewT on 18th Nov 2014
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 by their in-house analytical consult
… Read more
Remote Enforcement – freeing up time to focus on the serious and serially non-compliant?
Posted by AndrewT on 12th Nov 2014
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 and serial law breakers and provides a more stre
… Read more
HGV driver was unaware of lost licence!
Posted by AndrewT on 21st Oct 2014
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 he was three times over the drink driving limit and he didn’t e
… Read more
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
… Read more
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
… Read more
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
… Read more
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
… Read more
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
… Read more
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
… Read more
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
… Read more
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
… Read more
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
… Read more
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
… Read more
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
… Read more
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
… Read more
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.
… Read more
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
… Read more
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
… Read more
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
… Read more
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
… Read more
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
… Read more
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
… Read more