PSV Operator Licence Awareness Training (OLAT) for Bus and Coach Operators
If you hold a restricted PSV operator licence, you are not required to have a qualified Transport Manager. But you are subject to exactly the same compliance obligations as operators who do. Vehicle maintenance, drivers' hours, tachograph compliance, driver licensing, roadworthiness, notification requirements. The Traffic Commissioner expects all of it, regardless of licence type.
The question is: who in your operation actually understands those obligations? Because if the answer is nobody, you have a compliance gap that could cost you your licence.
OLAT is the recognised way to close that gap. It is widely regarded across the industry as the minimum qualification that the responsible person on a restricted PSV licence should hold, and the Traffic Commissioner expects directors and senior staff to be able to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the regulatory environment, not simply delegate compliance to someone else.
Our 2-day CILT-accredited PSV OLAT course gives you and your team that knowledge, delivered as a live remote course by trainers with real experience of bus and coach operations.
Our PSV OLAT courses run every month. Call 0345 9001312 to book your place.
What You Get
2-day live remote course with an experienced PSV trainer
Real-time interaction, case studies, and practical exercises throughout
Digital workbook and supporting materials
Certificate of completion on passing the course assessment
Certificate recognised by Traffic Commissioners and suitable for audit or Public Inquiry evidence
This is a live, interactive training course, not a recorded webinar. You join via video platform with a trainer who understands PSV operations from the inside, and you leave with a practical understanding of what your licence requires, not just a certificate.
Next PSV OLAT Course
Places are limited. Contact us on 0345 9001312 to reserve your place or to arrange a group booking for your team.
Who Needs OLAT?
Restricted PSV Licence Holders
This is the single most important audience for OLAT. If you hold a restricted PSV licence, you do not have a Transport Manager with a CPC looking after your compliance. That responsibility falls on you as the licence holder, or on whoever in your operation is responsible for the day-to-day management of your vehicles and drivers. OLAT gives you the knowledge to meet that responsibility. It covers everything from operator undertakings and maintenance standards through to drivers' hours, tachograph compliance, and what happens when the DVSA or Traffic Commissioner comes calling.
Directors and Senior Staff on Standard Licences
Even if your operation has a qualified Transport Manager, the Traffic Commissioner does not accept that directors can simply delegate compliance and wash their hands of it. Appeal court decisions have established that business owners must themselves possess sufficient knowledge of the regulated environment to effectively oversee operations. OLAT provides that knowledge. Many operators send their directors, compliance managers, and operational staff through the course alongside their Transport Manager so that compliance awareness runs through the whole business, not just one person.
Directed by the Traffic Commissioner
If you have been directed to complete OLAT as a condition of your licence, our course meets that requirement. The certificate of completion is recognised by Traffic Commissioners and is suitable for submission as evidence at a Public Inquiry. We can also provide supporting documentation if needed.
Expanding from HGV into PSV
If you currently hold an HGV operator licence and are moving into passenger transport, PSV compliance has additional layers that HGV operators are not used to dealing with, including passenger safety obligations, accessibility regulations, service registration, and DBS requirements. Our PSV OLAT covers all of these areas and gives you a solid grounding before you take on a PSV licence.
Why Choose Total Compliance?
Our trainers deliver OLAT with direct experience of PSV operations. The course uses real-world examples from Traffic Commissioner decisions and DVSA enforcement activity, including analysis of the 2025 PSV licence revocations across England and Wales. We do not teach from a textbook. We teach from what is actually happening in the PSV sector right now, and we make sure you leave with practical knowledge you can apply to your operation immediately.
We are a CILT-accredited training provider and our OLAT courses are recommended by Traffic Commissioners as part of ongoing operator training. Group bookings are available, and we can arrange dedicated remote sessions for teams.
Already Completed OLAT? Consider the 1-Day Refresher
If you have previously completed the full 2-day course and want to update your knowledge with the latest regulatory changes, we offer a 1-day OLAT refresher. This is a shorter, focused session covering the most significant developments since your last training. Contact us for details and upcoming dates.
What Does the PSV OLAT Cover?
The course covers the full range of PSV operator licensing obligations, with a particular focus on the areas where operators most commonly fall short.
PSV Operator Licensing Framework
An overview of the PSV licensing system, including the differences between standard, restricted, and special restricted licences. We cover the specific obligations that attach to each licence type, along with Section 19 and Section 22 permits for community transport and when a permit holder may need to transition to a full PSV licence.
Your Obligations as a Licence Holder
What the Traffic Commissioner expects from PSV operators, including the undertakings given at licence grant, operating centre management, vehicle authorisation limits, disc management, and the requirement to notify changes within 28 days. For operators running registered local bus services, this also covers service registration obligations, timetable compliance, and traffic regulation conditions. This section is particularly important for restricted licence holders who may not have a Transport Manager to guide them through these requirements.
Vehicle Maintenance and Roadworthiness
PMI scheduling, brake testing, defect reporting, and the Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness for buses, coaches, and minibuses. PSV vehicle maintenance extends beyond the mechanical basics to include passenger doors, wheelchair ramps and lifts, emergency exits, and other safety-critical equipment that your passengers depend on. We cover what the DVSA looks for during inspections of PSV vehicles and how to make sure your maintenance systems stand up to scrutiny.
Driver Management and Compliance
PCV driver licensing, Driver CPC requirements, drivers’ hours rules for PSV operations, tachograph compliance, and DBS checking where required by the nature of the services operated (such as school transport or services involving children and vulnerable adults). We explain what records you need to keep and how to manage driver compliance effectively.
PSVAR Accessibility Requirements
The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations and the full compliance deadline of 1 August 2026. This is particularly relevant for coach operators currently relying on exemptions for home-to-school or rail replacement services.
What Happens When Things Go Wrong
Real-world examples from Traffic Commissioner decisions and DVSA enforcement, including the 2025 PSV licence revocations across England and Wales. Understanding what the regulator looks for, how Public Inquiries work, and what leads to licence revocation is one of the most valuable parts of the course.
Frequently Asked Questions
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