News & Updates

TOP update: OCRS customer reports system available from today

The following is taken from an email circular released by the DVSA: The repairs to the reporting system are complete and OCRS reports are now available. Questions If you have any questions about changes to the system, user issues or your score please contact our Customer Service Centre. If you have questions about any technical changes to the content of the OCRS report, please contact the Criminal Analysis Unit: criminalanalysisunit@dvsa.gov.uk. Due to the new features of the OCRS service, the report will take a…

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All new HGVs will be Zero-emission by 2040

The following is taken from an article on the Gov.uk website. All new heavy goods vehicles in the UK will be zero-emission by 2040, the UK government has confirmed today (10 November 2021). This, combined with the UK’s 2030 phase out for petrol and diesel cars and vans, represents a world-leading pledge to end the sale of all polluting road vehicles within the next 2 decades. The UK will become the first country in the world to commit to phasing out new, non-zero emission heavy goods vehicles weighing 26…

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Government sets out plans to ban new non-zero emission HGV’s by 2040, & unveils a new chargepoint design.

Following the UK's pledge as the first country to commit to phasing out non-zero emission HGVs, the Government has unveiled a new chargepoint design. The design was created by the Royal College of Art and PA Consulting, who were given a £200,000 grant by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) - a branch of the Department for Transport (DfT). You can read more on this topic at this [link].

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Concerns within industry over proposed changes to cabotage

The regulations commonly known as "cabotage" currently limits international drivers to two deliveries within the UK over a seven-day period- including the one they enter the country with. The Department for Transport is proposing waiving theses rules in light of the current HGV driver shortage; as a means to keep the industry moving over the upcoming holiday period. However experts within the industry suggest the move doesn't tackle the issues that are keeping people out of the industry and will have a…

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DVSA & MoD detail plans to support driving tests

The following is taken from a email circular released by the DVSA: Increase in tests The MoD will initially be providing a number of DDEs to help create thousands of additional HGV tests between now and Christmas. MoD examiners will be carrying out 5 tests a day over a 5-day working week. They are fully trained to carry out HGV tests and will start testing from 11 October. This will be kept under review. We will carry out training courses with these examiners to make…

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New government plans to tackle the lorry driving shortage

The following is an exert taken from an email circular released by the DVSA: The government has announced further plans to help reduce the lorry driver shortage. These plans follow the recently announced vocational test changes which will create an extra 50,000 lorry tests every year. DVSA has already delivered 50% more tests than were available before the pandemic. The email then goes on to outline steps such as: Deploying Ministry of Defence driving instructors to assist DVSA examiners. …

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Sevington Inland Border Facility Entrance Update

The following is taken from an email circular released by the DVSA: Some heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) have been entering Mersham Village and nearby residential roads when trying to access Sevington Inland Border Facility. You should enter the site via Junction 10a on the M20 before taking the A2070 exit. The correct address for the Sevington Inland Border Facility is: Sevington Inland Border Facility, Ashford, TN25 6GE Full details can be found at this link.

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UK Lorry drivers set to strike on 23rd August 2021

Nearly 3000 UK HGV driver have confirmed they intend to "stay at home" in protest on 23rrd August 2021, though the expectation is that this number will rise. Kate Gibbs of the Road Haulage Association warns in an interview with the Guardian (See this [LINK}) : If you think things are bad now it'll just make things much worse. These actions follow growing tensions within the industry in the light of Brexit, with the expected outcome that food shortages within the UK are…

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