FROM THE OFFICE OF
WWW.EXPORTANDFREIGHT.COM
John Martin RHA Policy Manager for Northern Ireland.
AS A STANDARD OR RESTRICTED GOODS VEHICLE OPERATOR IS YOUR OPERATOR’S LICENCE AT RISK? The Department for Infrastructure’s Transport Regulation Unit has increased its focus and resources to deal with the backlog of Public Inquiries, Informal Hearings and regulatory matters generally. Some people would argue this is long overdue, others state its overly bureaucratic and a waste of time and some who have experienced the process and came out the other side view it as painful with extremely inconsistent outcomes. Whatever your view on the renewed focus by the Department is, there is one thing that everyone can be assured off and that is this renewed focus is here to stay. Anyone who operates a goods vehicle that falls within scope of the operator licencing requirements needs to ensure they have satisfactory compliance rates, annual roadworthiness test results are at or above the national average of circa 80% and they have adequate systems, processes and procedures in place with appropriate records to satisfy the Department should that dreaded Public Inquiry or DVA Audit request letter drop through the letterbox. Whether you’re an operator, a driverhave one vehicle or multiple vehicles or you are an established business or you have started out for the first time, compliance should take equal priority with other business activities. I’ve attended a number of Public Inquiries and hearings both to support members and as a member of the Public and this coupled with my previous roles as Head of the Driver & Vehicle Agency Enforcement Unit and the Transport Regulation Unit has given me a considerable insight into what’s required both by operators and the Department.
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Key Issues The keys issues that keep reappearing at Inquiries and audits include:
OPERATORS LICENCE UNDERTAKINGS AND CONDITIONS Operator’s need to actually read the undertakings and conditions they have agreed to. These are stated on the licence and are a must read for anyone responsible for operating goods vehicles and include: changes to the entity that holds the licence – sole trader changes to Ltd Company without informing the Department, systems to manage driver’s hrs requirements with records retained for 12 months, systems to manage maintenance with ALL maintenance records retained for 15 months, requirement to notify the Department within 28 days of anything that may affect repute or suitability including – fixed penalties, convictions, prohibitions for
Directors, transport managers and drivers of vehicles specified on the ops licence. Requirement for financial standing/ sufficient resources to reflect vehicle authorisation on a continuous basis.
MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS AND RECORDS Operators, transport managers and drivers do not appear to fully appreciate what is required of them in regard to maintenance. These are some of the common issues highlighted: The need for maintenance contracts if it is contracted out to a 3rd party. Safety inspections or Preventative Maintenance Inspections frequency needs to reflect the specific needs of the operator, the age of the fleet and type of work undertaken. If you have a fleet that has varied use and wide age profile you can set the inspection frequency high for the new vehicles but do the inspections more frequently for the older vehicles. The Department will not penalise you
