HGV
The DVSA Updated the Earned Recognition Operator Standards. What It Means for Your Next Audit
The DVSA made several changes to its Earned Recognition operator standards during 2025. The key changes took place on three separate dates: 31 March 2025: the assessment criteria tables for HGV and PSV operator audits were updated. 27 May 2025: references to EU drivers’ hours rules were replaced with references to assimilated drivers’ hours rules.…
Read MoreIs DVSA Earned Recognition Worth It? An Honest Cost–Benefit Guide for HGV and PSV Operators
DVSA Earned Recognition is often described as the gold standard of operator compliance, but joining the scheme requires time, commitment and investment. For many HGV and PSV operators, the question isn’t whether the scheme is respected. It’s whether the benefits justify the cost. The answer depends on your business. For operators with strong compliance systems…
Read MoreThe 56-Day Rule: What Changed and What It Means for Your Records
Drivers undertaking international journeys between the UK and EU should now be able to produce full daily records for the current day and the previous 56 days. This has changed what drivers need to carry, what operators need to check and how gaps in activity should be managed. For operators, the issue is not simply…
Read MoreYour Tachograph Data Was Checked. Now What?
Your Tachograph Data Was Checked. Now What? Downloading and analysing tachograph data is only the first step. Once the data has been checked, operators need to understand what it is telling them, identify any infringements, speak to drivers where needed and keep evidence of the actions taken. A clean process shows that drivers’ hours are…
Read MoreFORS VR Safe Driving Training
Driver training must do more than deliver information. For transport operators and fleet managers, the gap between knowing the rules and applying them under pressure on the road is where most risk sits. A driver who understands hazard awareness in a classroom may still misjudge a lane change in heavy traffic or miss a cyclist…
Read MoreFuel Duty Freeze for HGV Operators: What the Tax Relief Means
The Government has announced further support for drivers and hauliers, confirming that the temporary 5p fuel duty cut will remain in place until the end of 2026, rather than being unwound from September 2026 as previously planned. It has also introduced a 12-month Vehicle Excise Duty holiday for HGV operators, meaning eligible HGVs will pay…
Read More85% of Roadside Fines Could Be Avoided with a Proper Walkaround Check
According to the Office of the Traffic Commissioner, 85% of roadside fines for vehicle infringements could have been avoided if the driver had actually carried out a proper walkaround check before starting their journey. Not a different check. Not a more advanced check. The same check they are already supposed to do every day. Let…
Read MoreHow Often Should You Carry Out Driver Gate Checks?
This is probably the most common question we get asked by transport managers, and the honest answer is that there is no single number written in law. No regulation says you must gate-check every driver once a week, or once a month, or at any other interval. There is no clause in the operator licensing…
Read MoreIs the UK Facing an HGV Driver Shortage in 2025
Is the UK Facing an HGV Driver Shortage in 2025? What It Means for Compliance and Workforce Solutions The UK’s HGV driver shortage has been a significant challenge for the logistics and haulage industry in recent years. While the crisis reached its peak in 2021, many businesses are still grappling with the long-term effects. In…
Read MoreCompliance in Focus: What the Latest DVSA Vehicle Enforcement Checks Data Reveals About HGV and PSV Operators (April–December 2024)
The DVSA’s enforcement data from roadside and operator premises checks during the first three quarters of the 2024–2025 financial year reveals a clear trend: mechanical faults, overloading, and drivers’ hours breaches continue to pose major challenges across the commercial transport sector. For transport managers, operators, and business owners, these figures are more than just numbers;…
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