The report details performance against the strategic objectives to 2025 and evaluates the current state of the industry. The report includes assistance to operators on how to be more compliant, and specifically highlights:
- Vehicle maintenance
- Fair competition
- Bridge Strikes
There is also discussion of the current economic and security concerns alongside driver shortages and innovation within the industry. The report links to real cases to allow the reader to gain a deeper understanding of the issues seen at public inquiry.
Work undertaken around local bus services, digital improvements, assisting enforcement agencies and transport managers for light goods vehicle operators also feature.
A spokesperson, on behalf of the Traffic Commissioners, explained that:
“It is not in the interests of the goods or passenger transport sectors to have poor-quality operations competing with responsible operators. The Traffic Commissioners play an important and strategic role underpinning road safety and are a well-regarded means of ensuring fair play in both sectors.
“The licensing and tribunal service has adapted to the needs of society, and at times of crisis but it could go further. The report sets out the efforts the Traffic Commissioners have made to make that service more efficient and effective, highlighting the value of lawful compliance. It further identifies what needs to change to support industry growth and reducing the regulatory burden on applicants and operators.”
The Annual Report also contains statistics describing the licensing and regulatory activities. The data recognises the achievements of the commissioners and their support during the year, notably:
12,345 operator licence applications and variations determined
11,199 local bus registrations processed
1,066 public inquiries determined
224 preliminary hearings held
38 Senior Team Leader (STL) interviews held
15,613 vocational driver cases closed
Read the report:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6878cb100263c35f52e4dd34/TC_Annual_Report_2024-25.pdf