Transport Compliance Management

Financial standing - you will be required to demonstrate that you or the organisation who is applying for the Operator's Licence holds access to sufficient funds to support the cost of operating vehicles and keeping them in serviceable condition. The minimum financial standing requirements are published by the Traffic Commissioner every year. There is a significant difference of minimum requirements for restricted and  for standard licences. You will be required to submit a bank statement to support the application and the average available funds will be calculated by the Traffic Commissioner's Team. Please note that the evidence of financial standing must be in the applicant's name (company's name if you are a Limited company, or the individuals' name if you are a sole trader). Bank Statements in the name of a Limited company Director will not be accepted. Overdraft and credit card facilities can also be used to support the application, but again this needs to be in the name of the person or organisation whom is applying for the O'Licence. The full requirements are explained in Senior Traffic Commissioner's statutory guidance where you can find alternative ways to meet financial standing requirements.

 Vehicle Parking - OPERATING CENTRE. The vehicles that will be authorised on the Operator's Licence need to have a sufficient parking facility for the time they are not in use. This is called the operating centre and you need to own this place or have permission from the owner to park your heavy goods vehicles or buses in this place. There can be more then one operating centre allocated for ones Operator's Licence as long as they are located in the same traffic area. If operating centres are located in different traffic areas separate applications will be required. The operating centre needs to be approved by the Traffic Commissioner before it can be used. In order to get approval it is necessary to place a public notice within 21 days of the application in a local newspaper stating that they plan to use given location as operating centre and specify how many vehicles and trailers will be operated. This gives the general public an opportunity to object if they believe the activities of the operator will affect the enjoyment of their land.  It is very important to place the public notice with correct wording, in time and in the publication that will be accepted by the Traffic Commissioner. FAILING TO DO THIS IS LIKELY TO RESULT IN REJECTION OF APPLICATION!

Vehicle maintenance facilities - vehicle operators are required to keep their vehicles in roadworthy condition and  the Traffic Commissioner needs to be satisfied that this condition is met. In order to achieve this the perator needs to appoint a maintenance provider. This can be an external workshop or internal qualified person. You will need to declare that proper maintenance facilities and written contract for it are in place as this forms part of the application. The best way to achieve this is to ask a local HGV garage for assistance and a quote for a maintenance contract. The vehicles will need to be regularly inspected and records for those inspections kept on file in order for the Operator's Licence to remain compliant.

Transport Manager - Applicants for standard licences will need to demonstrate professional competence in road haulage. For this you will require the Transport Manager CPC qualification (Certificate of Professional Competence). This is not the same as the driver CPC so please do not confuse the CPC qualification in road transport operations management as the same as the driver CPC. A Driver's CPC will not suffice for the Operator's Licence application. Transport Manager CPC is obtained through examination or through acquired rights for people who have been in charge of fleets before the qualification was brought in. Restricted Licence operators are not required to engage a Transport Manager. Business owners, directors or employees can hold this qualification and therefore be named as the Transport Manager on their own Operator's Licence. It is very important to remember that this person needs to exercise continuous and effective control over the drivers, vehicles and operation as the authority needs to go together with responsibility. This is not to be taken lightly as the person taking responsibility for the Operator's Licence accepts responsibility for safe operation of the fleet. If the organisation does not employ a CPC holder and none of the owners or directors hold a CPC qualification the organisation can engage an external Transport Manager. This option is very popular among small fleet operators where one person takes responsibility for the operator's licence and develops a relationship with the company.  Please note that some Transport Managers are only limited to national operations.

Previous licence history, convictions, bankruptcy or insolvency history  - you will need to declare your previous history during the application as the Traffic Commissioner needs to be assured that the licences are given to people of good repute.