Tag Archives: Driver Conduct Hearing
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 […]
Vehicle Overloading Offences
Overloading offences are taken very seriously in the eyes of the law. Both a driver and his or her employer can be prosecuted and substantial fines can be imposed by the criminal courts for each offence of exceeding an individual axle weight or the maximum permitted gross weight of […]
5 MORE Quick and Easy Ways to Lose Your Operators’ Licence
Last month’s article “5 Quick and East Ways to Lose Your Operators’ Licence” generated a lot of positive feedback. So much so, that I’ve been asked to provide an update. With that in mind, here are: 5 MORE Quick and Easy Ways to Lose Your Operators’ Licence. This time, the […]
Driver Conduct Hearings: 7 Frequently Asked Questions
Driver Conduct Hearing Every day across Britain, a small number of truck and bus drivers will find letters on their doormats from the Traffic Commissioner calling them to attend a driver conduct hearing. To some it will be expected, to others it will come as a complete surprise. Whatever the […]
Lives and Loads Put at Risk by a Simple Lack of Lorry Parking
A severe shortage of lorry parking in the UK is placing the lives of lorry drivers and the public at risk, and making it easier than ever for thefts from lorries to occur. Consider the position of a long-distance lorry driver: after driving your load for hours you […]
The Traffic Commissioner’s “Seven Deadly Sins” – Have you committed any of them?
Starting off in the haulage and road transport industry for the first time can be a daunting experience. From day one an operator is expected to be 100% compliant with the many hundreds of rules, regulations, and directions governing the operation of their vehicles. These cover everything from […]
Summoned to Court for a Road Transport Offence? 5 Frequently Asked Questions
For most drivers and operators, receiving a letter summoning them to court is a frightening experience, particularly if they have never been in trouble before. The most important thing however is to remain calm and not to bury your head in the sand. Having represented clients before the criminal courts […]
Mobile Telephones, Public Inquiries, & Driver Conduct Hearings
The Government has recently publicised its intention to impose greater penalties on drivers who are caught using hand-held mobile telephones. It should not be forgotten, however, that the Senior Traffic Commissioner has made it absolutely clear that it is unacceptable for vocational licence holders to use hand-held mobile phones […]