The DVSA have launched their pilot DVSA earned recognition scheme. This can only be a great opportunity for operators and help with road safety!
Forward post from DVSA
DVSA earned recognition: save time and money
We know roadside checks cost you time and money. That’s why we want to make sure we don’t target compliant operators unnecessarily.
DVSA earned recognition for vehicle operators is a new way to prove you meet driver and vehicle standards.
You regularly share performance information with DVSA. In return, your vehicles are less likely to be stopped for inspections.
It’s a voluntary scheme that’s designed to work for operators of all sizes.
Join the pilot
We’re looking for operators with a track record of compliance to join the pilot.
If you join now, we’ll give you more help to get through the process. This level of support won’t be available later, so take advantage of it now.
We’ve published a new guide about how to join the pilot of DVSA earned recognition for vehicle operators. It tells you everything you need to know to get started.
When you successfully complete the pilot
You’ll get automatic entry to the DVSA earned recognition scheme. This will give you the full benefits, such as being:
- an exemplary operator, and being able to prove this when you bid for contracts
- recognised as a DVSA-approved operator on a list on GOV.UK
- less likely to have your vehicles stopped at the roadside for inspections, saving you time and money
- less likely to have DVSA enforcement staff visit your premises
Tag Archives: transport management
Changes to fines for commercial drivers
Changes to fines for commercial drivers
(Forward post from DVSA)
Changes to fines for commercial drivers rules will affect lorry, bus and coach drivers who drive tired will be fined for every time they’ve done it in the last 28 days.
Great ways to make Driver CPC training more exciting
As Driver CPC trainers we’re always looking for great ways to make Driver CPC training more exciting for drivers. Not only do we need to ensure our delegates are kept engaged and motivated throughout the session, we trainers also need to be motivated as we’re teaching driver CPC day in day out.
Teaching is an art form. Great trainers hold our attention, make us laugh, help us to fully understand complex subject matter and, most of all, inspire us!
Get off to a good start
Kick off by giving a overview of you and brief history of your achievements. What your experience is and why you love teaching. Tell your your attendees what you are going to learn and how those skills will help them achieve their goals. Break down inhibitions by using an ice breaker. For example, you could ask drivers to break up into groups of two, one delegate will tell the other where they are from, who they work for and an interesting nugget of information the class will find funny. Each will tell the rest of the delegates about the other.
Change the room layout
Training rooms tend to be laid out in the same way, rows of tables and chairs. The easiest way is to just rearrange the room into a more interesting layout each time you deliver training.
Your choice of venue can also have an impact on engagement. A space full of light, colour and texture can prove far more inspiring than a bland, windowless meeting room.
Use props
To make your teaching even more visual, add in some real life props. These could be practical items such as old vehicle units, a model of a vehicle, straps, charts etc….anything that will help liven up the proceedings and help people to remember.
Although the nature of Driver CPC training is serious, it is important to remember that people learn best when they are having fun.
Play games
Which leads us nicely on to……games are a brilliant way for people to learn without even realising it. This could be ‘Generation Game’ style tasks, quizzes, puzzles, crosswords, memory games or ordering tasks – anything that focuses the attention. You can even do it against the clock for extra excitement.
Introducing a quick quiz at the end of each content section, helping recap on what’s been learned. You could offer a small prize for the winner!
Accommodate different learning styles
People learn in different ways. Some of us are visual learners, preferring pictures, videos and diagrams, while others respond to spoken and written word, music, logic and reasoning or even physical activities.
Try to vary your teaching by combining traditional linguistic teaching methods, with audio and visual presentations, written handouts, interactive tasks, and group work. This will provide an inclusive environment for all learning styles and ensure no one gets left behind.
Facilitate Engagement in Training
It’s important to create an emotional connection with the learner. Storytelling is great way to facilitate engagement in training. Case studies are a great way to tell a story and show impact.
Tell stories or use metaphors
Try to make it relatable to everyday life by using real examples and case studies or even creative metaphors or parables.
By associating imagery that is left of field to what you are actually teaching, such as comparing driver to a golf club, I think you can see where I went with that. This way you can more easily embed it in your delegates’ memories.
Keep it short
One of the best ways to keep your audience engaged is not overloading them with information. Go on too long and the brain simply shuts off and people stop listening.
As Driver CPC is taking place over the course of a day, schedule in plenty of short breaks. As well as giving attendees a chance to get up, walk around and take refreshment, you should also facilitate ‘downloading’ of learnings.
Give them time to write and organise notes and assist them by providing pens, pads, sticky notes and highlighters etc.
Provide recognition and reward
Training participants will be more motivated to successfully complete the course if their efforts are recognised and they have something to show for it at the end.
Make attendees know they will receive personalised certificates to mark their participation and perhaps also consider extra incentives such as a competition or small prizes for top students. An element of good-natured competition can keep the attention of those attendees with a competitive streak!
Let them teach you
Break into small groups. Assign each group a section of reading material. Have each team write down the major points on a flip chart and do a team presentation to the rest of the class. This exercise really increases energy!
Conclusion
Great ways to make Driver CPC training more exciting is as much about entertaining your delegates as informing them. Make your training lively, varied, fun and unexpected and your participants will learn quicker and better!
If you would like to know more about teaching Driver CPC please do get in touch. Here to share the knowledge!
Driver CPC Course Quality Self Assessment Checklist
As TMconsultant affiliate consortium members you know it is very likely you will have an unannounced visit from JAUPT at some point. So here is JAUPT’s Driver CPC Course Quality Self Assessment Checklist to help you better understand what the auditor will be looking for. I’ve included the top line headers below. For the full downloadable PDF version click here
COURSE QUALITY ASSURANCE SELF ASSESSMENT
SECTION 1 DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS
SECTION 2 TRAINING ENVIORNMENT
SECTION 3 COURSE INTRODUCTION & STRUCTURE
SECTION 4 APPROVED CONTENT
SECTION 5 TRAINER DELIVERY
Consultation on regulations for alternatively fuelled vans
Forward post from DVSA
Consultation on regulations for alternatively fuelled vans |
| On 26 July 2017, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), along with the Department for Transport (DfT), announced its plan to help reduce roadside nitrogen dioxide concentrations. The plan includes a consultation asking for your views on proposed changes to regulations for vans and light commercial vehicles. As part of the proposed changes, van drivers will be able to operate heavier electric or gas powered vehicles without having to apply for a new licence. The changes also include whether the VAT exemption for electric vans should be removed. Find out more about how the proposed changes will work and give your views by 18 October 2017. |
Top-line Transport Manager Duties
This list of Top-line Transport Manager Duties is not exhaustive and is intended to be used as a guide only. I have broken the jobs by daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annually. Many of the jobs are interlinked and will need to be repeated where necessary. For a more detailed breakdown of the TMs duties, we have compiled the definitive transport manager’s compliance pack that contains all the requisite policies and procedures, risk assessments, declarations, and helpful tools, essential in helping you to effectively and continuously manage all transport activities.
Transport Manager Duties
Daily
- Ensure all drivers have a daily defect report book
- Ensure 3.5t drivers have a daily working time book. Including drivers who are swapping from EU to GB regs
- Ensure VU has paper roll inserted and drivers carry a spare
- Enter all defects are entered into a master defect book or the MS for cross-referencing
- Ensure all defects are rectified immediately, information has been recorded accurately and signed off – No rolling defects
- Collect any completed defect report books and working time record books
- Record any of the below on the Master Spreadsheet (MS)
- Fines
- Accidents
- Incidents
- Insurance claims
- Breakdowns
- Roadside stops
- Complaints
- Driver info changes
- Training
- Check planner schedule for any vehicle maintenance due dates
- Ensure any vehicles due for maintenance are booked in with suppliers
- Carry out pre-employment assessments for new drivers
- Carry out induction training for any new drivers
- File any relevant documentation
Weekly
- Review/cross-reference all defects
- Check whether part-time or agency drivers have or have not driven for any other company. If yes, they must complete the Agency or part-time driver activity record
- Check planner for vehicle maintenance
- Book in vehicles for PMIs, MOTs, Servicing, Brake Tests, Tyre changes
- Enter fuel and tyre usage on the MS
Monthly
- Collect Tachograph data and charts from drivers and VUs for analysis
- Send off data for analysis
- Make a record of the date sent and when reports are returned using the MS
- Complete the Tachograph analysis discussion with drivers
- Cross-reference charts with reports
- Drivers must justify any infringements in writing on the report
- Drivers must sign off any infringements and TM countersign
- Check:
- Digital Over Speeding – Instances whereby a vehicle has been recorded exceeding the predefined maximum speed limit for HGV/PCV’s. Small instances may indicate a steep descent. Review of any instances that exceed 3 minutes in duration.
- Events and Faults – Lists all error messages and diagnostic events that the digital tachograph unit within a given vehicle has recorded, such as tampering with the unit, removal of power supply, or mechanical/electrical failure. Review this section in detail.
- Driving without an Appropriate Card – This error occurs when the VU registers that the vehicle has been moved without a driver, enforcement, or workshop card being in place. In all likelihood, this error is brought about by small movements or shunts. However, they need to be explained where possible
- Unknown Driver – Indicates in detail every instance whereby a vehicle has recorded itself in motion, without a driver, workshop or enforcement card being inserted. Although most instances will constitute a small shift or shunt, a review of this section in detail and paying close attention to any instance which exceeds 5 minutes in duration is recommended.
- Record driver infringements on MS. Analyse trends to determine whether a driver needs any further training, reprimands (warning letter)
- Cross-reference PMI sheets with defect reports and carry out investigations for any discrepancies – Sign off PMI sheets
- Complete a spot check daily walk round check with drivers to ensure they are doing this properly – provide training where necessary
- Check with publications and online recourses for new legislation and general information relating to operating vehicles/training
- Review planner and make any necessary adjustments
- Book in vehicles for PMIs, MOTs, Servicing, Brake Tests, Tyre changes
- Carry out monthly driver meetings including a toolbox talk – record each toolbox talk using the training record sheet
- Carry out relevant driver licence checks
- Carry out relevant eyesight checks
- Carry out a monthly review/status meeting all staff involved with transport and with all connected departments
Quarterly
- Processes review and update policies and processes where necessary
Annually
- Ensure all vehicles are booked in for Pre MOT and MOT
- Book drivers in for annual Driver CPC training and or any other required training
- Carry out an annual review meeting with Directors and connected departments to include policies and processes according to Operator and Driver Handbooks
- Review and update policies and processes where necessary
- Directors to sign off updates
- Communicate policy changes to drivers – Carry out annual review meeting with drivers including any policy updates – drivers to be given new updates with training and driver declaration sign off
For more information regarding the documentation and services we offer and Top-line Transport Manager Duties, please visit the TMconsultant shop or alternatively please just get in touch. If you are looking to become a Transport Manager, have a look at the National Careers Service page for Transport Managers and also a blog I wrote, Looking for an External Transport Manager?
Here to share the knowledge!
DVSA publishes new load securing guide for vehicle operators
DVSA publishes new load securing guide for vehicle operators. New guidance has been published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to help vehicle operators transport loads securely. This is a very comprehensive new guide which is easy to read and very useful. It also contains great new DVSA films posted in youtube.
The guide, developed with the transport industry, sets out important information like:
- who’s responsible for load securing
- the consequences of poor load securing
- how DVSA enforces the rules on load securing
It gives practical advice about:
- loading on different types of vehicles
- carrying different types of loads
The guide includes videos so operators can find out things like:
- what DVSA looks for when it stops a vehicle at the roadside
- how different load securing systems can be used
The new load securing guide can be used by fleet operators to help meet requirement V6 Safe loading in the FORS standard which states “Fleet operators shall ensure that vehicles are safely loaded and that appropriate load restraints are used.”
To view the full article, please click here
The complete list of links to DVSA publications guides & forms
The complete list of links to DVSA publications guides & forms
I often get asked about which forms to use and what operator compliance publications the operator and driver should be utilising. So I’ve put together a rather helpful, regularly updated complete list of links to DVSA publications, guides, forms and tools for you. A one stop definitive place to find those all important DVSA publications, guides & forms, operator compliance legislation & other very helpful information.
Last update 24/07/18
Goods Vehicles Operators Guides
The Guide to maintaining roadworthiness 2018
https://www.safedrivingforlife.info/sites/default/files/guide-to-maintaining-roadworthiness.pdf
Guide to Goods Vehicle Operators Licensing 2011 (GV74)
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/193518/Goods_Vehicle_Operator_Licensing_Guide.pdf
Guide to graduated fixed penalties and financial deposits 2013
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-graduated-fixed-penalties-financial-deposits
GV262-03 Drivers’ Hours and Tachograph’s guide 2015
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rules-on-drivers-hours-and-tachographs-goods-vehicles-in-gb
Updates to Drivers’ Hours rules 4th March 2016
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/drivers-hours-goods-vehicles/updates
Working time regulations for mobile workers 2013
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-time-regulations-for-mobile-workers
Staying legal heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers 2011
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-legal-heavy-goods-vehicle-drivers
Load securing: vehicle operator guidance 2017
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/load-securing-vehicle-operator-guidance
HGV overloading: the basics 2013
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hgv-overloading-the-basics
The safe Operators Guide 2009
http://www.thetransportmanager.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/vosa-safe-operators-guide.pdf
Categorisation of Defects 2015
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/categorisation-of-defects
MOT testing guide (6th edition) 2004
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mot-testing-guide
VOSA Safe Operators Guide
https://tmconsultant.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/vosa-safe-operators-guide.pdf
Working time regulations for mobile workers:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-time-regulations-for-mobile-workers
The role of the traffic commissioners
www.gov.uk/government/organisations/traffic-commissioners
A guide to representations, objections and complaints
www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-guide-to-making-representations-objections-and-complaints-goods-vehicle-operator-licensing
Senior Traffic Commissioner’s statutory guidance and statutory directions – How traffic commissioners approach the exercise of their statutory functions
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/senior-traffic-commissioners-statutory-guidance-and-statutory-directions
Operator Compliance Risk Score (OCRS)
www.gov.uk/government/publications/operator-compliance-risk-score-guidance-ocrs-notes
International Road Haulage
www.gov.uk/the-essentials-of-international-road-haulage
Running a fleet of vans
www.gov.uk/government/publications/your-van-best-practice-guide
Towing small trailers guides
www.gov.uk/government/publications/quick-guide-to-towing-small-trailers
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/towing-a-trailer-with-a-car-or-van
Recovery operations guide
www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-for-recovery-operations
Horsebox and trailer owners
www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-horsebox-and-trailer-owners
Driver CPC overview
www.gov.uk/driver-certificate-of-professional-competence-cpc/overview
Driving licence categories
www.gov.uk/driving-licence-categories
Driving licence codes
www.gov.uk/driving-licence-codes
Guide to graduated fixed penalties and financial deposits
www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-graduated-fixed-penalties-financial-deposits
Guide to vehicle immobilisation:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-vehicle-immobilisation
Digital drivers cards (DQC)
www.gov.uk/government/publications/digital-drivers-cards-how-to-stay-within-the-law
Enforcement sanctions policy
www.gov.uk/government/publications/enforcement-sanctions-policy
Lorry types and weights:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-lorry-types-and-weights
HGV inspection manual (2013 consolidated version)
www.gov.uk/government/publications/consolidated-hgv-inspection-manual-2013
HGV brake test
www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-your-heavy-vehicle-for-brake-test
Braking connections when using a trailer:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/understanding-your-braking-connections-when-using-a-trailer
Automatic slack adjusters – maintenance guide
www.gov.uk/government/publications/automatic-slack-adjusters-maintenance-guide
Dangerous and hazardous goods vehicles inspection
www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-the-inspection-of-dangerous-and-hazardous-goods-vehicles
Seat belt installations
www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-to-changes-to-seat-belt-installations
Maintenance software and computer storage of maintenance records
http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-guide-to-the-use-of-maintenance-software-and-computer-storage-of-maintenance-records
Individual Vehicle Approval manuals (IVA)
https://www.gov.uk/vehicle-approval/individual-vehicle-approval-manuals
Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) for lorries help to get a pass
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/individual-vehicle-approval-iva-for-lorries-help-to-get-a-pass
Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) for vans help to get a pass
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/individual-vehicle-approval-iva-for-vans-help-to-get-a-pass
Categorisation of defects
www.gov.uk/government/publications/categorisation-of-defects
HGV operator licensing forms
All operator licensing applications and changes are carried out now online. See refer to my guide on ‘how to apply for an operators licence’.
Other helpful Links
Stoneridge Tachograph Simulator – great tool for practicing the use of a digital tachograph
http://www.se5000.com/documentation.html
Find your nearest Authorised Testing Facility (ATF) or DVSA test station:
www.gov.uk/find-atf-vosa-test-station
Check MOT test history
www.gov.uk/check-mot-history-vehicle
HGV driver daily walkaround check poster
www.gov.uk/government/publications/heavy-good-vehicle-drivers-daily-walkaround-check
Moving on – Official advice and information for lorry, bus, coach and van operators and drivers
I hope you found the complete list of links to DVSA publications guides & forms, operator compliance legislation & other helpful info useful. If you did then please share by clicking the social icons below.
Or if you have any questions please do just get in touch. Here to share the knowledge!











