Category: Other Transport Matters
IR35 Tax Change (Self Employed Drivers) – How Does This Affect Transport Companies?
For a number of years, HMRC has taken an interest in the arrangements between transport companies and drivers who hold themselves out to be self employed. In many cases, this has been seen to simply be an arrangement to reduce tax and National Insurance liabilities and the arrangements are that […]
How Do You Deal with Drivers’ Hours Infringements? – What are Your Obligations as a Transport Manager?
Even in the best run transport business there will inevitably be occasions when drivers cut corners, make mistakes or in some cases deliberately bend the rules. This article looks at the practical processes and procedures Transport Managers and operators should have in place to: Monitor driver compliance and identify drivers’ […]
“Does my Tractor Need an Operator’s Licence? How About a Tachograph?” – Your Questions Answered
Does your tractor need an Operator’s Licence? How about a tachograph? How about safety inspections? These are simple questions, but not always easy to answer. Getting it wrong can be expensive for your business and in some cases, can even leave you with a criminal record. The answers will usually […]
Traffic Commissioners – Stress balls, Warhammers & Coasters
Like all public servants, Traffic Commissioners are required to report gifts received by them in the course of their office. A brief perusal of the 2013-2014 declarations (the most recent available) makes for interesting reading – perhaps the nature of the gifts tells us something of the recipients, or maybe […]
Are your Drivers Properly Employed?
We have recently been consulted by a number of HGV and PSV operators who have engaged drivers on a self-employed basis. Whilst there is nothing wrong with subcontracting work to a driver who holds their own Operator’s Licence and owns their own vehicle, big problems can arise if you engage […]
Do You Need a Financial Standing Stock Take?
Having sufficient financial standing to run your fleet is a mandatory continuing requirement of holding an Operators Licence. Operating goods vehicles or PSVs without the necessary financial standing places your licence, your business and your good repute at risk. The levels of financial standing required are reviewed on the 1st […]
Challenging London Low Emission Zone Penalties
Every year many hundreds of European hauliers receive demands for payment for breaching the London Low Emission Zone (LEZ). These Penalty Charge Notices can often cover periods of many months and run into thousands of Euros. Even operators whose vehicles are all Euro 6 compliant can still be heavily fined […]
Smoking in Trucks: What the Law Says
HGV operators face fixed penalties for failing to stamp down on smoking. The law on smoking in commercial vehicles is very detailed, yet surprisingly poorly understood. We take a quick look at 3 of the main smoking-related criminal offences that all operators and drivers must be aware of: […]
Horseboxes as HGVs – Am I Legal?
If you own or operate a horsebox, or are thinking of doing so, it is essential to ensure that you are not accidentally doing so illegally. The rules and regulations governing horseboxes are in many cases the same as those that govern the operation of HGVs and buses and […]
Earning a Reputation – Can Earned Recognition Work for Your Business?
Face it – nobody likes being pulled over by the DVSA. Even when no infringements are found, an unexpected roadside inspection can be a big headache for any operator trying to meet tight delivery deadlines. But, clearly there has be a way for the DVSA to check whether an […]
