Author Archives: admin
5 Entirely Avoidable Mistakes Made by Too Many HGV Operators
We take a quick look at 5 of the most common, but entirely avoidable, mistakes made by far too many HGV operators. This list has been compiled by the transport lawyers at specialist road transport law firm Smith Bowyer Clarke: 1. Trusting Your Drivers Too Much In a […]
The Dangers of Not Carrying Out Regular Driver Licence Checks
Be honest – how often do you check the licences of your drivers for any endorsements? Once every 6 months? Once a year? Never? Whether you are a goods or PSV operator, if the answer to any of the above is “yes”, you are running a very big risk. […]
School Minibuses & Section 19 Permits – Am I Legal?
Operating school minibuses under a Section 19 Permit can be a heavy responsibility. Unless you have a background in the transport industry, it is unlikely that you will have much experience in navigating the often complex legal regulations that govern the operation of school minibuses. When the safety of […]
What Type of PSV Licence do I Need?
Every year hundreds of Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators are called to Public Inquiry with the Traffic Commissioner. A great many of these relate to the improper use of a restricted operator’s licence. An operator running PSVs under an incorrect licence can quickly find that licence revoked. It is […]
HGV Driver Caught Speeding? – 5 Things You Need to Know
Every driver knows that exceeding the speed limit is a criminal offence which can lead to penalty points, a fine and a driving ban. For truck drivers however, the position is even more serious. If you are caught speeding and hold an HGV drivers’ licence you can expect to face […]
ADR and Dangerous Loads – 5 Quick and Easy Ways to Fall Foul of the Rules
What is ADR? ADR (Accord Dangereux Routier) is the European Agreement which sets out the rules governing the movement by road of dangerous goods throughout the EU. They are very strict and exist to protect the public, drivers and the environment from the harmful effect of dangerous substances. It’s […]
Tachograph Offences, Drivers’ Hours and Card-Pulling: An Essential Guide for HGV and PSV Drivers
For many years the tachograph system has been central to the European haulage industry. Without it, the enforcement agencies (DVSA / police / Office of the Traffic Commissioner) would have no reliable or practical way of policing the rules on working time and drivers’ hours. But what happens […]
Being Interviewed by the DVSA (VOSA) can be a Sharp Wake-up Call – Don’t Ignore It!
Every year, thousands of operators are interviewed under caution by the DVSA (formerly VOSA). This often follows a compliance investigation at their premises. The evidence gathered at these interviews is recorded, and can be used as evidence in a future criminal prosecution. It can also be used at a […]
Tachograph Offences – An all too Common Nightmare Scenario
Consider the following scenario: You are the operator of a small general haulage business running 6 trucks. So far business has been good to you. You employ 10 drivers and hope to increase to 8 trucks within a year or so. You are your own Transport Manager, but […]
Roadside Stops can Stop Your Business in its Tracks: Prohibitions, PG9s and the DVSA
Having one of your vehicles stopped by the DVSA can be a headache for any operator. Even if your vehicle and driver are given a clean bill of health, the stop itself will usually mean a delay to your daily work schedule. If the stopping officer does uncover infringements during […]
