Operators! Newsflash: your roller brake tests are not worth the paper they are written on. What does your brake testing schedule look like? Maybe you have four brake tests undertaken each year, or perhaps you do a brake test every other safety inspection? If so, you are not alone; in fact, the majority of maintenance...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

The DVSA’s made changes to the Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness.   By doing so, the agency hopes that it has made some of the more complex areas of the guide clearer to operators.   The changes, as published in the Moving On blog, involve the following sections.       The Inspection Safety Graph Because...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

For the third year running, FORS has confirmed there will be no change to its pricing for subscription and audits.   The move’s expected to boost the appeal of the scheme to smaller operators. By building on the momentum of the decision to scrap Gold evidencing fees, FORS is proving its value to operators 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

Atop a list of all vehicles checked recently by the DVSA for fraudulent emission devices, UK-registered lorries reign supreme.   In the four-month period between August and November last year, DVSA also discovered that 1 in 12 of all vehicles, UK-based or otherwise, were fitted with emission cheat devices.   Of the 3,735 vehicles stopped,...Read More

It’s the first week back from the Christmas break. So we’ll kick off 2018 with something a little off-kilter.   It’s some happy news to brighten your January.   No, it’s not quite a marriage… Though it is an alliance of sorts, and a pretty special one at that.   FORS Associates – An Introduction...Read More

In road haulage, the driver skills shortage is a matter of increasing urgency for trade bodies and businesses.     While recent efforts to address the issue have been praised by the government, a worrying gulf between the needs of the industry, and the manpower available to resolve them, remains.   Chartwise previously reported on...Read More

Brake testing best practice is hitting the haulage headlines once again.   This time, the Traffic Commissioners of Great Britain have issued a warning to operators: it is vital they up the standard of their brake performance testing.   Concerns have risen in the TC’s office after a spate of roadside and premises inspections found...Read More

Calls for the State to address the lack of HGV drivers have increased.   The dip in the number of qualified drivers since the beginning of 2017 is causing alarm among industry bodies. In fact, the severity of the shortfall has brought the continued well-being of the sector into question.   One of those industry...Read More

Last year over 440 lorries entered the UK with manipulated tachographs, the Driver Vehicle & Standards Agency (DVSA) has claimed.   A further 400 drivers were believed to be breaking the law, many potentially using ‘interrupters’ to switch off their devices. By using interrupters, a driver can drive while appearing to be on a break....Read More

Relaxation in Drivers’ Hours Following calls from the Scottish government the Department for Transport has agreed to a temporary and limited, exceptional relaxation of the enforcement of EU drivers’ hours and working-time rules for: drivers involved in the distribution of freight and passenger services within scope of the regulation whose journeys are delayed or extended due...Read More

The Petroleum Driver Passport (PDP) is now entering it’s second year Originally developed by The Downstream Oil Distribution Forum (DODF), a partnership of industry bodies, employers and trade unions, the PDP is an industry initiative backed by the government to ensure a consistent high standard in the training of all tanker drivers in the industry....Read More

New Speed Limits for single and dual carriageways in England and Wales   From the 6th of April 2015 the speed limits for HGV’s over 7.5 tonnes on both single and dual carriageways in England and Wales will be increased to the following:   Single carriageways – Increased from 40mph to 50mph Dual carriageways –...Read More

Your operator licence is your business Whether you are running on a restricted, national or international operator licence you know that keeping that licence is key to running your business. When you apply for your operator licence you are agreeing to maintain certain standards and the DVSA and office of the traffic commissioner will hold...Read More

Increased HGV speed limits welcomed by the industry The current speed limits for HGV’s over 7.5 tonnes is laid out in section 6 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. However these limits were introduced back in the 1960’s and have never been changed since. Just think how much safer new technologies have made lorries...Read More

Classification of dangerous substances under ADR ADR groups hazardous substances into 9 different categories which are referred to as classes. Each class has danger sign to show it’s major hazard and some classes are then sub-divided further to identify the specific hazard. Here is a brief overview of the 9 classes of dangerous goods under...Read More

How to challenge a roadside fine One of the things that really gets a good debate going during our driver cpc training is the topic of roadside fines. Most drivers have a story to tell about spot checks and either being fined or having a lucky escape. I just wanted to let you know that it is...Read More

Double Manning breaks I have had 4 calls this week asking the same question, 3 of which came on the same day, so I assume VOSA may be targeting this topic. People are asking if you are allowed to take a break while having your card in the 2nd man slot, and the first man is driving. The...Read More

While running a Driver CPC course last weekend on the EU Drivers’ hours and working time directive regulations, one of the drivers questioned the working time regulations and it made me think. Just how many other drivers out there think the same as he did? Basically he was a self-employed driver and under the impression...Read More

Download your FREE Drivers’ Hours Guide This 35 page pdf explains everything you need to know when it comes to the EU drivers’ Hours rules and the working time directive for drivers (RTD). Written by our head trainer, Chris Allen, this easy to read ebook is written in plain English and contains working examples to...Read More

Here is a quick demonstration video that shows you how to change the time on a digital tachograph   I hope you have found this useful and if you have any questions about this video or other functions on your digital tachograph please get in touch.Read More

Do you need tachograph charts analysed quickly? Have you got VOSA or the traffic commissioner coming to see you soon? Our team of experienced analysts can help you get back on track and compliant. From individual charts to months of backlog charts we can help with our priority analysis service. There could be many reasons...Read More