Top Gear Highlighting the Responsibilities of HGV Drivers
18th Jul 2022
In the latest instalment of Top Gear on BBC One we were treated to an episode of HGV heaven. Seeing the trio Chris, Freddie and Paddy get to grips with some of the finest machinery our industry has to
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Top 3 Ways Transport Managers can prevent HGV Accidents
18th Jul 2022
Taking Frequent Rests
No, I don’t mean you as the transport manager but your drivers, yes! Analysing your drivers’ tachograph data and ensuring that they’re taking the rest time required to not only
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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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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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HGV Levy to be suspended to help with COVID-19
Posted by AndrewT on 9th Jul 2020
The Government will suspend the HGV Levy for 12 months from August 1.
The 12 month suspension is to help reduce financial liabilities for UK and foreign hauliers struggling to cope with impact of Cov
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What are the top 5 prosecuted offences for HGV operators?
Posted by AndrewT on 29th May 2019
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 offences for prosecution of
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Top prohibition defects ... and how to avoid them
Posted by AndrewT on 22nd May 2019
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 DVSA gather is used as evidence
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DfT publishes evaluation of increased HGV speed limits
Posted by AndrewT on 11th Nov 2016
The Department for Transport has published its first-year evaluation of a three-year study following the HGV speed limit increase in April 2015 to 50 mph on single carriageways and to 60 mph on dual c
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New measures to stop drivers using their mobile phones will have serious consequences for HGV drivers
Posted by AndrewT on 24th Sep 2015
Most people should be aware that using a mobile phone or any handheld device while driving is a criminal offence. However, it is surprising how many people still do it. In 2014 the fixed penalty was i
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You're invited!
Posted by AndrewT on 26th Aug 2015
From container to customer, customer experience and compliance matters - Transforming customer experience and safeguarding compliance whilst increasing profitability - myth or new reality?
Descartes
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Volumetric vehicle exemption loophole to close?
Posted by AndrewT on 17th Aug 2015
There is growing support to bring ten vehicle exemptions into the O-licensing scheme. It is estimated that this could affect around 40,000 goods and engineering plant vehicles and require them to pass
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Accidents on Motorways involving foreign HGVs up 14%
Posted by AndrewT on 8th May 2015
Collisions on motorways involving foreign HGVs have increased 14% since 2012 according to statistics from Accident Exchange.
The M25 had more foreign HGV accidents than any other road in the UK, hard
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New DVSA Guide to Load Security
Posted by AndrewT on 22nd Apr 2015
Load security should be of primary concern for all commercial road transport operators. Effective load securing prevents goods from falling onto roads and ensures that the goods arrive undamaged.
Thi
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Undercover police HGV film HGV driver offences
Posted by AndrewT on 9th Apr 2015
North Yorkshire Police officers driving an un-liveried HGV drove alongside HGVs and found that almost ten per cent of the HGV drivers observed were committing offences.
86 offences were recorded agai
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HGV drivers offences
Posted by AndrewT on 27th Feb 2015
What are the most common offences for HGV drivers? How might they be avoided?
See below HGV drivers offences from 2013 vs 2014 in numbers. Download a PDF of HGV Driver offences here.
Smartanalysis w
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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
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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
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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
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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3ppl increase in fuel duty cancelled – One small step for Road Transport Operators?
Posted by AndrewT on 6th Dec 2012
Road transport operators will be giving a cautious welcome to the cancellation of the 3p per litre fuel duty increase planned for January 2013.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, confir
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Have your say on speed limits for HGVs
Posted by AndrewT on 13th Nov 2012
The maximum speed limit for HGVs over 7.5 tonnes on single carriageway roads is currently 40 miles per hour. Whilst the speed limit for smaller HGVs between 3.5 tonnes and 7.5 tonnes is 50 mph. In N
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Foreign truck drivers to pay £10 a day to use British roads – Be careful what you wish for.
Posted by AndrewT on 17th Sep 2012
The Department for Transport have revealed plans for new legislation to charge foreign truck £10 a day to use British roads by 2015.
The new Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin unveiled plans to c
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Will HGV sensors protect cyclists?
Posted by AndrewT on 31st Jul 2012
Recently an influential group of MPs said hauliers should be encouraged to fit new sensors to their fleet to protect cyclists. The Transport Select Committee (TSC) described a 15% rise in cyclist deat
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