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'AIX Major change to 0-licence plan

1st April 1977, Page 5
1st April 1977
Page 5
Page 5, 1st April 1977 — 'AIX Major change to 0-licence plan
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MAJOR CHANGES to the draft regulations on admission to the occupation of road haulier have been warmly greeted by the industry this week.

On Tuesday the Department of Transport released details of the revised Goods Vehicles Operators (Qualifications) Regulations, which were circulated for comment before Christmas (CM December 24).

And the Freight Transport Association is jubilant that most of the changes which it proposed to the draft have been "taken on board." The biggest revision concerns the issuing of certificates of professional competence to operators and transport managers.

Under the original plan the judgement of professional competence was geared to the renewal of an 0-licence.

An FTA spokesman said this week: "It could be five or six years before this caught up with a company and therefore before an individual knew if he would be judged professionally competent."

But now individuals who qualify under "grandfather rights' provisions will have two years to get, for themselves, a certificate from the Licensing Authority confirming their competence.

The FTA was concerned that transport managers would have trouble in changing their jobs if the original plan had stood.

• The definition of the transport managers' function also pleased the FTA. Originally the plan said that the manager was the person responsible for operation and maintenance of the vehicles. • "In some cases this job is done by two people and so two certificates would be needed. Under the new plan the manager is redefined as the person responsible for management of the transport function. That means only one person need get a certificate," said the FTA spokesman.

Managers also now have to be "in full-time employment by the applicant" for the 0-licence.

The new proposed regulations will mean that from January 1978 two types of operator's licence will be available.

Standard licences will be issued to operators working on hire and reward and ownaccount work and restricted licences to own-account only.

The standard licence will go only to operators who can satisfy three basic conditions — that they be of good repute, good financial standing and be professionally competent.

There will be special grandfather rights for hauliers and managers already in the business (for licensing purpoies the operator can put forward his transport manager as answering the professionally competent requirement). They will be regarded as professionally competent so long as they have worked in road haulage since before January 1, 1975.

People who joined the industry after December 31 1975 but before January 1,1978 will be allowed until January 1 1980 to obtain a certificate by examination.


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