Following much speculation, the D4 medical requirement is to be suspended for up to a year, according to South Swindon MP Robert Buckland.   In a letter to one of his constituents, Buckland explained:   “I raised this issue with my government colleagues in the Department for Transport and their response was that ministers have...Read More

HOW TO PREPARE It’s perfectly normal to be a bit nervous in the runup to your hearing. But there are things you can do to help you keep a cool head. As a helping hand, here’s a shortlist of things you can do before the day to ensure things go smoothly…· Ensure that you have...Read More

Since April, rumours about the OCRS have abounded. Many operators have questioned the validity of the scoring system in the culture of Earned Recognition; others have suggested the OCRS will be made void upon the implementation of the new enforcement scheme.   These, however, are misconceptions. The bottom line is: there are no plans to...Read More

The Traffic Commissioner has issued a reminder to operators regarding their drivers’ hours responsibilities.   In the run-up to Earned Recognition, the TC’s office brought drivers’ hours responsibilities to the attention of ‘O’ Licence holders in the UK.   As confusion around the new fixed penalty rules peaked, the TC’s office published guidance on legal...Read More

Britain’s largest trade union, Unite, has released shocking statistics highlighting the link between high HGV accident fatality rates and a lack of roadside facilities.   As part of their campaign for more facilities on UK roads, the union published that 109 incidents involving the deaths of lorry drivers and passengers were not fully investigated.  ...Read More

Recent reports have indicated that within a year, most hauliers will have to pay an additional 20% toward the HGV Road User Levy.   The announcement, made last week by Transport Minister Jesse Norman, details the planned hike. It will target over half of all UK-registered pre-Euro VI trucks.   Taken in context, 56% of...Read More

Eight months have passed since the introduction of the so-called apprenticeship levy.   Many businesses, however, are still unsure as to what it involves, and how it might affect them.   Currently, only firms with payrolls upward of £3m have access to the funding pot into which they are paying. This, of course, has excluded...Read More

A downturn in lorry registrations has caused trade bodies and associations to question the health of the road haulage industry.   In a report published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), figures revealed a striking decline in new HGV registrations for 2017. In total, the market dropped by 2.6% across the whole...Read More

Drivers across the UK are been warned to watch out for text messages from scammers purporting to be from the DVLA.   The so-called DVLA scammers are targeting drivers by sending location-specific texts.   “FINAL REQUEST: ‘DVLA Swansea have been trying to contact you, Click below for more information.”     The DVLA’s since announced...Read More

The DVSA’s published the list of commercial vehicle operators taking part in its Earned Recognition pilot scheme.   The list includes a wide range of operators, from international suppliers to smaller transport concerns.   Among the larger fleets participating, some of the most familiar names include BT, Sainsbury’s, Cemex and John Lewis. Meanwhile, family firms...Read More