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…
Through a combination of the Department for Transport, Department for Education, the Home Office, Ministry of Defence & the Cabinet Office; the UK Government have released two new sites to attempt to tackle the current UK HGV driver shortage.
The first is targeted hub, designed to display and highlight news, updates and advice related to the HGV industry; which can be found at [this link].
The other is a blog called [The Education Hub]; which presently covers topics such as the Governments'…
The following is taken from an email circular output by the Office of the Traffic Commissioner:
The Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain are launching their Twitter account today.
Our tweets will be geared towards road safety and compliance in the HGV and PSV areas.
Follow us to keep up to date with our latest releases.
The twitter handle we are using is @TrafficCommsGB and we are Twitter Verified.
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…
The following was taken from an email circular released by the Office of the Traffic Commissioner within the last week:
The Traffic Commissioner for the West Midlands (Nick Denton) recently refused an application for a standard national goods vehicle operator’s licence because it was a clear example of a ‘phoenix’ business, one that is effectively seeking to continue a revoked licence.
You can read the full circular, plus see details concerning Nick Denton's decision at this [link].
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.
…
The following is taken from an email circular output by the Office of the Traffic Commissioner:
A number of incidences of commercial vehicles striking bridges have been reported across the national press in recent weeks. Traffic commissioners have previously issued advice to operators on steps they can take to prevent ‘bridge strikes’.
In addition to the potentially catastrophic road safety issues, there are serious financial implications to these accidents, as well as travel delays for commuters. There are also serious implications for…
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.
Changes to HGV and bus driving tests and allowing car drivers to tow a trailer without an extra test
The following is taken from an email circular released by the DVSA:
Summary
Seeking views on changes to HGV and minibus, bus and coach driving tests, and allowing car drivers to tow trailers without taking another test.
This consultation closes at
11:59pm on 7 September 2021
Consultation description
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency is seeking views on proposals to:
allow drivers to take one test to drive both a rigid and articulated lorry, rather than having to pass a test…
On the 23rd August 2021, there is set to be a national lorry drivers' strike - in response to which the UK Military has been set on standby amid fears of a complete breakdown and/or failure of the UK's distribution network & supply chains.
Army personal with a valid HGV license could be put to work filling job positions within the industry during the strike - with plans to house them across many hotels, hostels and motels across the UK.
You can…