Under temporary measures are being introduced under the terms of Transport for London’s £1.6bn rescue package from the Government, the current price for the London Congestion charge will now rise to £15 a day, and will now apply to all seven days of the week.
Read an article covering these details at this link.
The following is taken from an email circulated by the Office of the Traffic Commissioner.
The traffic commissioners have started publishing the outcomes of driver conduct hearings online. This follows widespread approval for this information in responses to a consultation in 2019.
As well as the regulatory outcome of the hearing, the information published includes:
Publishing this information will make it easier for operators to find out if a driver has been subject to regulatory action. This will help them to ensure that they do not use drivers who have not declared any action taken by a TC against their vocational entitlement to their employers.
The traffic commissioners have ensured they comply with data protection principles when publishing this data.
Read ‘Regulatory decisions made about the conduct of professional drivers‘
The following is taken from an email circular sent out by the office of the Traffic Commissioners.
The traffic commissioners (TCs) have updated their advice for operators during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The update issued on 23 June 2020 covers:
The following is taken directly from an email sent out today by the Office of the Traffic Commissioner.
The Senior Traffic Commissioner has updated his coronavirus (COVID-19) statutory document originally issued on 17 March 2020.
The update issued on 18 June 2020 includes reference to:
Financial standing periods of grace
The maximum period of grace for financial standing an operator can seek has increased.
Previously, it was a maximum of 6 months with the Senior Traffic Commissioner having set a 4 month starting point. The law has been changed to increase that maximum to 12 months with the STC suggesting an initial 6 month starting point. Any decisions about the grant or length of a period of grace will include an assessment of the risk to road safety.
This extension to the law applies to any determination made between 1 March 2020 and 30 September 2020. This gives operators the opportunity to recover their finances during the extended period following the resumption of normal trading as the lockdown eases.
Tell your TC early if you have problems
You should tell your TC if you are experiencing any issue in meeting the financial standing requirement. The condition on your licence gives you a month to notify changes. The TC is likely to be sympathetic and will seek to assist wherever possible, especially given the difficulties arising from COVID-19.
If you can no longer meet the financial standing requirement you are strongly advised to contact the Office of the Traffic Commissioner at Enquiries@otc.gov.uk for advice.
Anyone who fails to do so can expect a TC to require explanations as to why they failed to comply, and it may result in a finding of loss of good repute.
Further information
The traffic commissioners have also published two other documents during the outbreak. We recommend you read them:
As of Monday, 6th Jul 2020; the Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain are set to resume in-person hearings, which where formally postponed in March 2020 as a result of the current Covid-19 pandemic.
To read the full details on this, please follow this link.
Starting on 23rd March 2020, FORS (Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme) due to the coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19). But earlier today, they have now released a set of rules and requirements for carrying out Bronze on-site audits in light of the current easing steps undertaken by the Government.
To read about this more, and to see the guidelines; click here.
The ADLV (Association for Driver License Verification), in a recent post to their website have urges fleet owners and operators to maintain a regular system of checks for their drivers; as expanding delivery fleets and the sudden return of car drivers to UK roads has prompted a spike in license checks.
To read the full article, please follow this link.
The following is taken from an email we at TMC Assist are sending out to clients; please take the time to review the information within:
It is important that you take note, the DVSA have now moved to conducting remote compliance audits, these have been previously known as ‘Desk Based Reports’, please see this link.
One of the problems that we have encountered is that these types of assessments are purely based on the documentation you keep as an operator, there is no interaction between the operator and the DVSA examiner, as such, and in my opinion are very clinical. In the past at DVSA inspections and visits, operators have been able to explain how their systems are implemented, this is no longer an option. We have experienced operators believing that they have adequate systems in place but when it came to the DVSA remote audit things were not quite what the operator thought. This has led to further assessments, eventually ending up before the Traffic Commissioner at a Public Inquiry.
It is important that you as an operator can demonstrate that you have full and effective compliance policies and procedures in place, otherwise you will fail a DVSA remote audit.
If you need any help please contact this office and we will offer advice where necessary.
Kind Regards
Graham Doughty MA AAE LCGI FIMI FCILT MCSFS MSAE MIRTE MSOE MIHE MInstLM MInstTA
Managing Director
During the current coronavirus pandemic, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy have been putting out constant advice and guidelines for differing industries on how to return to work safely.
We advice all operators to review the information provided at this link, which deals with Covid-19 and it’s effects on the Transport & Haulage industry.
In an open letter, HSE and DfT have reminded businesses of their duties to drivers under the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. Those regulations require business to provide suitable toilet and hand washing facilities to drivers visiting their premises.
In their letter, HSE and DfT remind businesses which make or receive deliveries that they must ensure that drivers have easy and safe access to toilets and hand washing facilities.
The Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain welcome this letter. Britain’s delivery drivers do vital work and their health must be protected.
Traffic commissioners can consider any breaches of relevant health and safety legislation when taking regulatory action against an operator.
We encourage all operators to read the letter and the guidance it accompanies.