Practical Operator Licence Awareness Training for the people responsible for running a compliant HGV operation – operator licence holders, directors, compliance staff, and anyone the Traffic Commissioner expects to demonstrate real, working knowledge of their obligations.
Our 2-day CILT-accredited course is delivered live and remotely by trainers with genuine HGV and transport compliance experience. You will leave with the practical knowledge to interpret brake test results, actively manage tachograph analysis and driver infringements, oversee vehicle maintenance systems, and evidence that compliance is happening in practice – exactly what the Traffic Commissioner now expects a practical OLAT course to cover.
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A Practical Course, Not a Theory Session
Traffic Commissioner expectations have moved on. A course that only covers the licensing framework in principle no longer meets the standard. Delegates on Practical HGV OLAT explore how those requirements translate into the everyday management of a goods vehicle operation.
The practical emphasis runs through the course:
Reading and interpreting brake test results, and recognising when further action is required.
Using tachograph analysis software to review driver data, identify infringements, investigate what has happened and record the follow-up.
Understanding what a robust vehicle maintenance system should contain, including maintenance planning, defect management, inspection records and oversight of maintenance providers.
Managing first-use inspections, preventative maintenance inspections (PMIs) and ongoing maintenance records.
Monitoring, reviewing and evidencing that compliance systems are actually being followed - not just documented.
The aim is to help delegates understand what effective HGV compliance looks like when it is being managed properly, and to leave the course with the knowledge to apply that within their own operation.
What You Get
- 2-day live remote course with an experienced HGV 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 HGV operations from the inside, and you leave with practical knowledge you can apply straight away.
HGV OLAT COURSE
Who Needs OLAT?
What Does the HGV OLAT Cover?
The course covers the full range of HGV operator licensing obligations, with a practical focus on the areas where operators most commonly fall short.
If you hold an HGV operator licence – standard national, standard international or restricted – you are responsible for making sure your operator licence undertakings are met in practice. OLAT gives you a clear understanding of what those undertakings mean day to day, and how to manage them effectively.
Even when 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.
Practical HGV OLAT is a useful refresher for existing Transport Managers keeping up with regulatory change, and a strong foundation for anyone preparing for the Transport Manager CPC qualification.
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.
If you are working towards DVSA Earned Recognition or a FORS accreditation, having your team OLAT-trained demonstrates the level of compliance awareness the schemes expect.
An overview of the goods vehicle operator licensing system, including the differences between standard national, standard international and restricted licences. We cover the specific obligations that attach to each licence type, professional competence requirements, financial standing and good repute.
What the Traffic Commissioner expects from HGV 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.
Vehicle maintenance is at the heart of a compliant HGV operation. The course covers what a robust maintenance system should contain, the Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness, brake testing requirements, walk-round check standards, and the evidence the DVSA may expect to see during inspections or desk-based assessments.
Delegates consider how first-use inspections and preventative maintenance inspections should form part of the wider maintenance system – when first-use inspections may be required, how PMIs should be managed, and what operators should look for when reviewing inspection documentation. The emphasis is on active oversight, not passive filing.
A brake test result should be reviewed, not simply filed. The course helps delegates understand brake testing requirements and how to read and interpret brake test information, recognise potential areas of concern, and understand when further investigation or corrective action is needed.
EU and domestic drivers' hours rules for goods vehicle operations, tachograph compliance and Working Time Directive requirements. We cover the practical use of tachograph analysis software, including how to:
- Review driver information
- Identify infringements
- Investigate why infringements have occurred
- Record appropriate follow-up
- Recognise recurring patterns or areas of concern
The purpose is to help operators use tachograph analysis as an active compliance management tool, not just a data store.
HGV driver licensing requirements, Driver CPC, and driver management systems. Delegates consider the records that should be kept, the checks that should be carried out, and how to identify issues before they become compliance failures.
Load safety and overloading remain among the most common enforcement issues for HGV operators. The course covers operator responsibilities for load security, weight compliance, and the systems that should be in place to prevent overloading.
Being compliant is not only about having the correct policies in place. An operator should be able to demonstrate that those policies and systems are actively being followed.
Delegates consider how to maintain an evidence trail that shows compliance information is being reviewed, problems are being identified, action is being taken, recurring issues are being monitored, and operator licence undertakings are receiving active oversight.
This helps move compliance away from simply having paperwork available and towards demonstrating how the operation is actually being managed – which is exactly what the Traffic Commissioner is now looking for.
Real-world examples from Traffic Commissioner decisions and DVSA enforcement activity. Understanding what the regulator looks for, how Public Inquiries work, and what leads to licence action is one of the most valuable parts of the course.
HGV OLAT COURSE
Why Choose Total Compliance?
Our trainers deliver OLAT with direct experience of transport compliance. The course uses real-world examples from Traffic Commissioner decisions and DVSA enforcement activity across the HGV sector. We do not teach from a textbook. We teach from what is actually happening now, and we make sure you leave with practical knowledge you can apply 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. Where applicable, the training may also be eligible to count towards Driver CPC, subject to the relevant requirements and upload fee.
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 current regulatory expectations, we offer a 1-day OLAT refresher. Contact us for details and upcoming dates.
Book Practical HGV OLAT Training
Our HGV OLAT courses run every month. Contact us on 0345 9001312 to reserve your place or arrange a group booking for your team.
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If you aren't yet qualified and you need help running your transport operations, you may be interested in our external transport manager service.