Practical OLAT: What the Traffic Commissioner Now Expects
If you hold an operator licence, or you’re responsible for someone who does, you’ll have noticed a shift. Traffic Commissioners have increasingly made clear that Operator Licence Awareness Training needs to be genuinely practical – not just an overview of the licensing framework, but a working knowledge of how compliance is actually managed day to…
Read MoreThe 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 MoreDrivers’ Hours Mistakes That DVSA Catches First
Drivers’ hours compliance is not only about avoiding serious breaches. Many issues begin with small mistakes that are easy to spot once records are checked properly. Missing manual entries, incorrect mode use, incomplete rest records and repeated minor infringements can all raise questions about how well an operator is managing its systems. DVSA checks are…
Read MoreWhat Operators Must Check Before Moving Abnormal Loads
Moving an abnormal load is one of the most regulation-heavy tasks in road transport. The permit system, the notification requirements, the route restrictions and the vehicle specifications all need to be correct before the vehicle leaves the yard. Where operators run into difficulty, it is rarely because the load itself was unmanageable. It is because…
Read MoreSmart Tachograph 2: What the July Deadline Means for Your Vans
From 1 July 2026, some goods vehicles over 2.5 tonnes used internationally for hire and reward will need to be fitted with a Smart Tachograph 2. For operators running vans into Europe, this changes the compliance position considerably. Vehicles that may previously have been treated as light commercial vehicles could now fall within tachograph rules,…
Read MoreWhat Actually Happens at a Roadside Dangerous Goods Check?
TL;DR – DVSA enforcement officers carry out targeted and routine checks on vehicles carrying dangerous goods. This article covers what they look for, what triggers a prohibition notice, what paperwork needs to be in the cab, and what the common failures are. Knowing the process takes the anxiety out of it. Who stops you and…
Read MoreWhere Exactly Is the ADR Line?
TL;DR – Not every movement of dangerous goods requires ADR-trained drivers. The regulations draw specific lines based on quantity, classification and packaging. This article explains where those lines sit, what triggers the full ADR requirement, and where the common grey areas catch operators out. The basic rule ADR applies to the carriage of dangerous goods…
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