Tag Archives: tachograph
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’ […]
Unlimited Fines Mean Unlimited Fines!
Some people may have been surprised by the £86,000 fine that Ant McPartlin received for drink driving. Level 5 fines are now unlimited for cases committed after the 13th March 2015. Defendants are sentenced according to their means which must be declared to the Magistrates on a form or, in […]
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 […]
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 […]
HELP! – The DVSA are coming to visit
There are some things that happen, even to the best run businesses, which are less than welcome. High up on that list must be the DVSA (formerly VOSA) announcing that they intend to visit your operating centre. However well-meaning, it is always a trial when your systems are put […]
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 […]
10 Clear Warning Signs That You Are Not Compliant!
Most Operators who fall down on compliance are far too busy trying to run their business to concentrate on what allows them to have that business in the first place – their Operators’ Licence. In hindsight, the warning signs are often obvious. The important thing is to notice them […]
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 […]
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 […]
