The European Commission (EC) is reportedly considering adding HGVs to the list of vehicles under scrutiny for their carbon emission levels. As part of the EC’s plans to drastically cut CO2 emissions generated by road vehicles, HGV drivers and operators may find themselves subject to new legislation. The EC has ordered a study to be [...]
The Road Haulage Forum, which ceased operations in 2005, is going to be reinstated says Transport Minister Mike Penning. The idea to reinstate the forum was put forward by Bob Monks, the general secretary of the United Road Transport Union last week. He stated: “It’s an important step to keep the industry together, and talking [...]
In our last article we mentioned the excellent guide that the Vehicle & Operator Services Agency (VOSA) have produced to help HGV companies adhere to the law with regards to the roadworthiness of their vehicles. As everyone is aware the law is quite strict regarding this, so the document is worth a read. However, we [...]
It’s important that every goods vehicle that you own is maintained appropriately so that it is roadworthy every time it is taken on a job. The Vehicle & Operator Services Agency (VOSA) have an excellent guide to roadworthiness for commercial goods and passenger carrying vehicles. It’s not laid out in a complex fashion and should [...]
The HGV driver’s hours and working time rules are there to protect both HGV / LGV drivers and the general public. So in response to weekly rest being the third highest Graduated Fixed Penalty offence over the last year, the Freight Transport Association has just released another training DVD called ‘Drivers’ hours and working time [...]
Driver CPC needs to be completed before 2014. By then, all HGV / LGV drivers will need to have completed five days of training. With so many drivers needing to qualify, it pays to plan ahead. One year into Driver CPC, those who have completed the course are very much in the minority. If things [...]
There are quite a few different types of HGVs. Because of this and because of the differences encountered when driving these different types of vehicles, you need a specific type of licence for a specific type of HGV. Because of the different licences you need to drive HGVs, you need to enrol on an appropriate [...]
When at a designated weighbridge site, it is the driver’s legal responsibility to comply with any legal instruction. The driver must also explain to the examining offer any unusual characteristics of the vehicles load or the vehicle itself. Being taken to a weighbridge does not mean that you have broken the law, nor does it [...]
In the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 legislation, the maximum weights and dimensions of UK goods vehicles took into account current EU legislation. There was also a Road Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulation in 1998 that came into effect on 1st January 1999 parallel to the 1986 Regulations. Logistics and LGV / HGV driving [...]
The new drivers’ hours rules, which came into force on the 11th of April 2007, are an important consideration for all HGV / LGV drivers. The rules bring the European Union states more in line with each other and hence make them a safer place to drive. The rules pertain to all driving but are [...]