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Institute of Transport Administration

Educating Transport Management since 1944

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First Bus shared-charging initiative opens to public for first time

16th Jul 2025

​​​​​​​DVSA updating the Individual Vehicle Approval inspection manual for light goods vehicles (N1) 

14th Jul 2025

Record-breaking fine imposed on fleet for repeated overloading offences

10th Jul 2025

Ending the sale of new, non-zero emission buses, coaches and minibuses

9th Jul 2025

Office of Rail and Road July 2025 newsletter  

4th Jul 2025

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Operator licensing: the baseline standard for all

Scheme provides benchmark for commercial vehicle safety and compliance

Your operator licence may only be made up of a few pieces of paper but it’s a vital document.

Having a licence means you can use vehicles to transport goods or people and earn income from doing so.

An O licence shows your commitment to compliance. That you’ve agreed to run safe vehicles. Check your drivers are working within the rules. And compete fairly with other operators.

When you’re bidding for work, you might be asked to show accreditation with other initiatives before you can go for a contract.

Schemes designed to promote road safety are always welcome. But it’s important to remember that sometimes the safety element is just one part.

That’s why the traffic commissioners regularly remind everyone that operator licensing is the baseline.

Gaining accreditation elsewhere doesn’t automatically mean there’s compliance with operator licensing requirements. And it hasn’t stopped some operators from appearing at public inquiry.

As a compliant operator, you know that it’s your responsibility first and foremost to achieve and maintain the commitments that appear on your licence document.

 

Read more

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/senior-traffic-commissioners-statutory-guidance-and-statutory-directions