The DVLA is asking commercial drivers to test out a new website on which they can view their tachograph and Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) information. This service is available this week as part of the recently introduced DVLA Driver & Vehicles account – which offers the facility to check various vehicle and driver records. 

The beta launch of the overall service occurred back in August with the aim of giving drivers a centralised online location in which they could access their vehicle and driver info all in one place. The inclusion of the ability to view CPC and tachograph information has been described by the DVLA as the first of several additions to the account. 

Feedback Required to Help Develop the Service 

The DVLA has made the request for drivers to test the site in order to gain feedback that will help develop and improve what the service offers. In this initial version of the driver and vehicles account, drivers require a UK passport to sign up, allowing them to carry out a number of actions that include:

• Viewing their driving licence info, including penalty points and endorsements
• Viewing vehicles they have registered to them, including details of their MOT & tax status
• Setting up vehicle tax reminders via email and initially by SMS text
• Opting out of receiving vehicle tax reminders by post
•  Viewing their CPC and tachograph info
• Amending their contact preferences

Drivers with licences issued in England, Wales or Scotland are able to use this service, although they must be the registered keeper of a vehicle to see details relating to it. 

“Delighted” To Provide the Service – DVLA 

Speaking about the update, DVLA chief executive Julie Lennard had some positive words while reiterating the need for drivers to try out the site.

“We are delighted to be able to provide CPC and tachograph information for professional drivers on the Driver and Vehicles account.

Since we launched the account into public beta in August, we have worked to add more services, and we continue to do so, and we are encouraging drivers to test out the service and provide us with any feedback they have.”

Any motorists with a UK passport wanting to start using the service and provide feedback can do so by visiting gov.uk/driver-vehicles-account.

Working Towards a More Cohesive Haulage Industry

At Insite, we welcome any move that makes life easier for HGV drivers to work more cohesively. While it may seem like a minor change, this forms part of a broader move to improve working conditions for lorry drivers in the UK, coming hot on the heels of investment in new truck stop facilities, and we recommend drivers try the site and offer feedback. 

In the meantime, we will continue doing what we’re known for – offering industry-leading HGV licence acquisition programs via our national network of 60+ training centres staffed by some of the most experienced and talented instructors in the sector. This places us perfectly to meet any size of need and address the chronic shortage of HGV drivers in the UK.

To learn more about us and how we do things, why look around our website or get in touch? You can do so by calling 0330 818 8888 or clicking on ‘contact us’ today. 

At Insite, we inform our readers about the latest goings on in the UK’s HGV industry and today we bring you news about a potential future licensing change. The DVLA has called for evidence to be provided on driver licensing for people with medical conditions. This is with the aim of striking a balance between the needs of mobility needs of the driver and road safety risks.

It’s the job of the DVLA to assess an individual’s fitness to drive when they have a medical condition and ensure that licences are only issued to people who meet the necessary medical standards. However, at present, it’s the responsibility of drivers to tell the DVLA of medical conditions that may impair their ability to drive safely.

Longstanding Concerns About the Current System

There has been a longstanding concern about the current system surrounding the declaration of medical conditions in the UK. For instance, in other nations, doctors have a legal obligation to inform the driver licensing authorities when someone has a medical condition that could make them an unfit driver, whereas in the UK, they don’t.

The DVLA states that it’s vital that decisions made in this regard are based on up-to-date and correct information. Open until the 22nd of October, the new consultation is asking for external viewpoints on how legislative or policy changes may improve outcomes for the drivers involved and other road users.

Making the Most of the Rule Change While Maintaining Road Safety

The potential rule changes represent an opportunity for transport managers and companies experiencing driver shortages to recruit back drivers who may have previously been rejected. At the same time, an updated system would also do more to ensure that the UK’s roads are kept safer for all motorists by ensuring no one is driving when they shouldn’t be.

At present, the notifiable conditions that may impact a person’s ability to drive safely include the following:

• Heart conditions (including atrial fibrillation & pacemakers)
• Neurological conditions such as epilepsy
• Diabetes or having to take insulin
• Syncope (fainting)
• Sleep apnoea
• Glaucoma
• Epilepsy
• Strokes

Applying in England, Scotland and Wales only, anyone wanting to apply to provide input for the consultation should follow this link. The information provided as part of this early-stage request will help formulate a proposal that could support future changes to the existing legislative framework.

Teaching Students the Safe Way to Operate

At Insite, we have a keen focus on road safety, and it plays a central role in the HGV training instruction we provide. We welcome any change to the licensing system that results in the UK’s roads being safer for everyone, and we look forward to the outcome of the consultation.

We encourage you to provide your input before it closes on 22 October 2023. In the meantime, our team will continue to promote road safety through our industry-leading driver training programs via our national network of training centres. 

If you’d like to find out more about us and how we do things, take a look around our website or get in touch by calling 0330 818 8888 or clicking on ‘contact us’ today.

The UK government recently announced that it is postponing its proposed ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars, leading to uncertainty around when diesel HGVs will actually be phased out. While the announcement didn’t directly reference the medium and heavy truck sector, freight experts say that the phase-out dates for diesel lorries could still change.

A Volvo Truck spokesman stated that the close ties between all automotive markets, be it trucks, cars, buses, or vans, means nothing can be ruled out at this point. They added that the government needed to set a long-term target and stick to it as the road transport industry continues to deliver GDP at the same time as going through a massive transformation.

“We Need Support From Government”

Continuing to speak on the subject, the Volvo spokesman said that everyone knows that alternatives to diesel must be found. He said:

“We cannot continue as we have in the past; we must decarbonise, and to do that, we need support from government. Naturally, some of the policies required to support such a target will take the form of sticks, but there should be carrots, too.

As a country, we need to be ambitious; climate change is an undeniable fact, and we have to start making changes today, not tomorrow. The UK government’s target of net zero by 2050 should be the minimum we aim for; the Volvo Group target is net zero by 2040.

The UK road transport industry needs support in the short term to help this transition, but most importantly, it needs certainty. Without certainty, no one can plan, and without a plan, no one will make the investments necessary to deliver the transformation.”

Pushing Back Deadlines ‘Unhelpful’ – Logistics UK

Also vocal on the subject was David Wells, chief executive of Logistics UK, who said that moving the deadlines back was unhelpful and would disincentivise private investment coming into UK industry. He remarked:

“There is still much to be done, from delivering a charging network to confirming plans for alternatively fuelled vehicles, but our industry remains committed to achieving net zero.

As a sector, logistics works hard to deliver on time for all sectors of the economy – if new decarbonisation deadlines are to be achieved, it is vital for the health of the UK’s supply chain, and therefore our economy, that the government does the same. At a time when industry needs detail and action, delay just creates more uncertainty.”

Certainty an Important Commodity For UK Haulage

With so much change already made in the UK haulage sector and much more to come, it’s natural for those working in the industry to want certainty. The government will indeed have its reasons for delaying the phase-out of the sale of diesel and petrol cars, and it remains to be seen whether the same will affect diesel lorries in the same way.

While we wait for those questions to be answered, the Insite team will continue offering industry-leading HGV licence acquisition programs via our 60 UK training centres across the UK. Featuring the country’s most experienced and skilled instructors, we’re well-positioned to help businesses of all sizes overcome the challenges of driver shortages.

To find out more about us and how we work, browse our website. Alternatively, to talk with us about how we can help you, click ‘contact us’ or call 0330 818 8888, where our experts are waiting to assist.

After recent calls for investment to be made in improving truck stop facilities on the UK’s roads, the government has announced the launching of a £19m funding drive. Aimed at delivering improved rest stops and secure parking for lorry drivers, the fund is set to benefit a total of 39 roadside facility operators across England.

Each will receive a share of £11m from industry and a further £8m from the Department of Transport with a view to significantly enhancing facilities for lorry drivers. As part of the funding, HGV parking capacities will be expanded, as well as the addition of better welfare facilities such as restaurants, rest areas and showers.

The HGV Parking & Driver Welfare Grant Scheme

The government is providing the funds via its HGV Parking and Driver Welfare Grant Scheme as part of its £100m joint investment with the industry. Coincidentally, the second window of the roadside facilities operators’ bid for additional funding to continue improving lorry facilities across England – which closes on 20 November – has also been launched.

This latest move is part of the Government’s 33 actions to tackle the shortage of HGV drivers in the UK, as well as boost retention and recruitment. Speaking on the matter, Roads Minister Richard Holden had this to say:

“Day and night, our lorry drivers and hauliers work tirelessly to deliver essential food, goods and medical supplies up and down the country. As we continue supporting the haulage sector in playing their crucial role in helping to grow the economy, these first winners will help ensure lorry drivers have great facilities where they can safely park, sleep and rest.”

‘Welcome News for Professional Drivers Using the UK’s Road Network’

Between now and March 2025, the government and industry are set to spend as much as £100m in order to improve roadside facilities for HGV drivers. Kate Jennings, Logistics UK director, was positive about the move, stating:

“Today’s announcement will be welcome news for the professional drivers using the UK’s roads network, who are often forced to take legally mandated rest breaks in their cabs, without access to hygiene facilities, due to a chronic lack of welfare provision on key routes.

This announcement is a positive step forward, and our members operating in England will welcome the planned improvements to accessible facilities for them during the course of their working days.”

Improving Roadside Facilities For UK Drivers is Essential

At Insite, we are fully behind all government and industry efforts to improve roadside facilities for lorry drivers in the UK. Not only are the improvements long overdue, but they’re critical in both retaining current drivers and attracting much-needed new talent to the sector. It will be great to see the enhancements being made over the coming months.

In the meantime, Insite will continue to support the industry by providing leading, scalable corporate HGV training programs via our national network of LGV training centres. To learn more about what we do, please take a browse of our website. Alternatively, to speak to us, click ‘contact us’ or call 0333 818 8888, and we’ll be more than happy to assist.

According to new research carried out by research firm R2C Online, commercial vehicles suffer, on average, five defects – some of which require the vehicle to be taken off the road – on an annual basis. That’s equivalent to a problem every 10 weeks and illustrates the large number of unscheduled repairs that impact fleet operations.

R2C – a company that offers connected software platforms for maintenance management and vehicle compliance – discovered this fact by analysing all reports for the past year. More precisely, of the 1.3 million registered vehicles, more than 6.2 million defects were raised during inspections by technicians or drivers.

A Possible 75,400 Defects On Any Given Day

Extrapolating these figures over the entire UK commercial fleet, R2C’s researchers concluded that there could be 75,400 defects on the approximately 5.5 million trucks and vans operating in the UK on any given day. They warn that it’s vital that these issues are picked up, both for safety reasons and to mitigate the cost of unscheduled repairs and associated downtime.

Speaking on the matter, R2C’s commercial director, Ash Connell had this to say…

“The issue of unscheduled repair is something which has always affected fleets, but our figures show that on average each vehicle will be hit by some problem every 10 weeks or so.

This means that a thorough inspection process and efficient maintenance and repair systems for managing these problems is hugely important, or fleets will be hit by unplanned costs, delays for workshop time and interruptions to their operations.”

“Availability Of Repairers Crucial to Reduce VoR”

The comprehensive report also stated a robust inspection procedure between operators and drivers is vital, highlighting more than 3.8 m daily reports via R2C’s Driver Pre-Use Check App in 2022 alone, along with 1.3 m further inspections.

Connell continued: “Our data shows that drivers and fleet operators can work hand-in-hand to ensure compliance and roadworthiness for their vehicles.

It’s such an important area of fleet management, and the numbers we have illustrate how essential driver checks are to maintaining a safe fleet. They’re the people that see these vehicles every day, and with the regularity that problems occur they are a vital cog in the machine..”

Connell added that the availability of repairers is also crucial to minimise VoR, stating that R2C has almost 1,700 workshops in its system.

“Our figures show that every single vehicle suffers a defect every 10 weeks or so. On average alone, that means in a 10-vehicle fleet, every week a fleet manager will need workshop space for unplanned work. Capacity should be a paramount concern for fleets when you understand the level of work needed.”

Keeping the UK’s Roads Safe for All Drivers

Safety is of primary importance in the HGV industry, and the figures shown in this report paint a stark picture of the pressures that operators are under. Daily walkaround checks cover most common issues, but the highlighted number of potentially unsafe vehicles driving on the UK’s roads on any given day represents a worrying statistic.

As such Insite will continue to focus on safety and routine checks as a central part of our industry-leading, scalable HGV licence acquisition programs. Our national network of more than sixty training centres places us ideally to meet any size of need.

To learn more about what we do,  take a moment to browse our website. Alternatively, to speak to us, click ‘contact us’ or call 0333 818 8888 and we’ll be delighted to assist.

HGVC has long had an environmental focus, and we take every chance we get to do what we can to combat the challenges of climate change. As such, you can visit us at the Resource & Waste Management Expo at Birmingham’s NEC on the 13th and 14th of September, 2023.

Focusing on crucial ecological matters that include material processing solutions, sustainable waste management, net-zero and the circular economy concept, RWM 2023 offers a fantastic opportunity to join the movement towards a greener future for industry and society.

Industry Experts & Cutting-edge Technologies

The Resource & Waste Management (RWM) Expo is part of a larger trade show, the Environmental Services & Solutions Expo (ESS). The ESS also includes the Flood & Water Management Expo, Energy, Fuels & Decarbonisation Expo, Recycling & Waste Management Expo and the Contamination & Land Remediation Expo.

This makes it the ecological focal point for the UK and Europe, highlighting strategies for biodiversity conservation, environmental emergency response, net-zero emissions, resource management and water scarcity, as well as featuring the latest cutting-edge technologies.

12,000 International Visitors Expected

RWM is expected to draw in more than 12,000 international visitors, bringing together entrepreneurs, industry pioneers, and professionals to learn, collaborate and inspire one another. HGVC’s attendance is part of our commitment to a cleaner future.

We’d love for you to visit our exhibit at the show to tell you more about our work to support the UK HGV industry and make it greener, such as our partnership with More:Trees, who plant a tree on our behalf for every person who undertakes one of our training courses.

Reduced Carbon & Improved Habitats

This off-sets the carbon created by vehicles used during training, with each tree absorbing around 75-90kg of CO2 over the duration of one of our HGV courses. This partnership has resulted in 4,519 new trees being planted, equalling over 1,355 tons of sequestered carbon.

Not only does this work help to combat climate change, but also provides more natural spaces and new wildlife habitats. In turn, this supports biodiversity and the cross-pollinator species that are vital to plant life around the world.

Helping to Create a Greener UK Haulage Industry

HGVC is the only training provider offering carbon-neutral training in the United Kingdom and we’re on a mission to help create a more resilient and greener haulage industry. So, if you’re attending RWM in September, why not drop by and see us? We’ve got lots of interesting and exciting things to show you.

In the meantime, we’ll continue to support the sector by providing industry-leading, scalable HGV licence acquisition programs across our huge nationwide network of 60+ training centres. To learn more about what we do and how we do it, please take a moment to browse our website, which shows you everything you need to know.

Alternatively, if you’d like to talk with us about your training needs, click ‘contact us’ or call 0333 818 8888, and we’ll gladly give you the answers you seek.