Tag Archives: Lorry
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Operator Licences – A Beginner’s Guide for Anyone Thinking of Running a Truck or Bus
So you want to operate your own truck or bus? Whether you’re already a driver looking to start up on your own, or you’re entirely new to the transport industry, chances are you’ve heard of something called an Operators’ Licence. Read on to find out what this is, […]
Do I Need an Operator’s Licence? (Goods Vehicles)
This is a simple question which is not always simple to answer. The Operator Licensing system is complex and there are many exemptions that may or may not apply to you. The reality is that you should always get specialist advice or you could find yourself applying for a […]
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 […]