|
| Operator Licence 'Good Repute' |
20/07/2007 |
| The unauthorised use of a vehicle without an operator licence on even one occassion could result in the conclusion that the operator does not meet the requirement to be of good repute the Transport tribunal ruled. Do not operate any vehicles without a valid licence. If you do not hold a licence and wish to apply for one, please contact TMC. |
| Speed Limiters for vehicles between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes |
20/07/2007 |
| From 1st January 2008 vehicles over 3.5 tonnes but below 7.5 tonnes first registered after 1st January 2005 and used solely in the UK must have their speed limiters set to 56mph (90km/h) |
| Changes to Operator Licensing in Northern Ireland |
20/07/2007 |
| The NI Operator Licence system is set to mirror that of Great Britain. Resticted licences to be introduced for own account carriage. A consultation period will run until September 2007. |
| Future Legislation |
20/07/2007 |
| New offences of Corporate Manslaughter are being planned to hold organisations accountable for gross faioings by senior management that have fatal consequences. These new offences will not apply to individual directors or others. |
| Proposed changes which will affact Hauliers |
04/06/2007 |
| New proposals which will become law within the year include such issues as every new operator being required to have a Transport Manager who must have a clean record, maintain an office and provide proof of finacial standing, a restricting on cabotage to no more than 3 jobs a week and only after an international delivery, the banning of owner drivers using the TM of a contractor and the rigorous enforcement of driver's hours will affact each and every operator. For more details, contact Roland or Graham at TMC. CM310507 |
| Digitac users beware of fines for not having replacement paper for manual printouts. |
01/05/2007 |
| The German version of VOSA currently cannot fine drivers for hours offences as the government have not implemented the correct legislation. HOWEVER, drivers still have to be careful when they go abroad. A German driver in Spain was recently fined €4,600 (£3,119) because he did not have replacement paper for manual print-outs from digital tachographs. |
| VOSA and their Powers !!!!! |
15/02/2007 |
There is a commom belief that VOSA have unlimited powers to stop and examine vehicles. This is not the case as VOSA do not as yet, have unlimited powers. You cannot be stopped by VOSA for the sole purposes of tachograph or operator licence examinations nor can you be stopped for the sole purpose of impounding your vehicle. You may also have a right to decline a vehicle examination.
If you have been stopped by VOSA and feel that you have been unfairly treated or require further information, please contact TMC now. |
| No more 'Off Road' Driving |
15/02/2007 |
When the new driver's hours regulations come into force on the 11th April 2007, ALL off road driving when a vehicle is driven too or from site will count toward driving times, rests and breaks.
For further information contact Graham or Roland at TMC. CM 010207 561/06) |
| Circumstance where the burden of proof shifts to the operator |
16/12/2006 |
Once a call-up letter has been issued with allegations that are well supported by the evidence, then the evidential burden will shift to the operator to satisfy the Traffic Commissioner that the deficiencies in their systems have been made good and that they are fully compliant and/or of good repute as at the date of the hearing. This was defined at a Transport Tribunal recently.
Transport Management Consultants Limited are the only consultancy company within the United Kingdom who have licenced access to Barristers. TMC have identified Barristers are fully conversant with the operators requirements and only instruct these when needed.
If you need further information about this level of support then please contact TMC. |
| Cauing death where the driver is unlicenced, disqualified or uninsured |
13/12/2006 |
| A new offence of causing death where the driver is unlicenced, disqualified or uninsured is to be introduced in 2007. Please ensure that your systems are checked to ensure that drivers are fully qualified to drive your vehicles and that your insurance is updated and driver's licences are regularly checked. For further information and advice please contact Graham, Roland or Steve at TMC. |
| Road Safety Bill Comes into Effect 2007 |
06/11/2006 |
The Road Safety Bill which is due to become law in 2007 is designed to make it harder to evade conviction for offences many of which will effect the industry. As such, the following are some of the areas that may affect you.
New Drink-Driving Rules.
French Style motorway rest areas.
Fines for Foreign Drivers.
Additional Powers for VOSA (To issue fixed penalty notices).
Graduated Speeding Fines.
Re-training for Speeding Offenders.
The Banning of Speed-camera Jammers.
Obligatory 3 Point Endorsement for using hand-held mobile phones with a possible period of disqualification.
Automatic 6 month disqualification for driving an unroadwaorthy vehicle within 3 years of a previous conviction.
Increased powers for the police to track uninsured vehicles through the Automatic Number Plate Reading devices.
There are many more issues that may affect the industry, if you need more information, please contact TMC Ltd on 0870 803 1335.contact Roland Barber now! |
|
