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DfT plans operator licensing shake-up
Page 6
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Major reform of the operator licensing system is being planned by the
government — the TCs are concerned. Dominic Perry reports.
TI ILL GOVERNMENT has published a consultation paper proposing the biggest shake-up of road transport operator licensing since the 1968 Transport Act.
The paper, Modernising Operator Licensing, is designed to reduce red tape for operators and streamline the licensing process. Key proposals include: • The concept of a single traffic area for large operators • A revised fee structure with a single fee per vehicle, paid at the time of the annual test • Scrapping the margin concession and 0-licence discs for trucks.
Transport minister Dr Stephen Ladyman says: "The proposals take forward our commitment to The Future of Transport White Paper to provide better regulation of the road haulage industry.
"They will simplify procedures, reduce administrative burdens and maintain safety standards."
In particular, the concept of the single traffic area is something the bigger fleets have long been calling for.The consultation paper envisages a firm with multiple 0licences being allocated a 'lead TC', probably based in the region where the head office or the majority of depots is located, to look after all its licensing issues.
Any application for a new licence or additional vehicles would be handled by this 'I'C, no matter where in the country the application was for.
The paper also reveals much of the administration work will be transferred to VOSA's Leeds office. subject to the successful outcome of a pilot study. However, it adds: "The current regional network of offices would still be retained to support TCs in their public inquiry role and whatever licensing and other work still needed to be done regionally.
TCs have already expressed concerns that this switch to centralised administration could result in less oversight on their part, as staff would not know the Ts' working practices.
The proposal to abolish the 0licence disc and the margin stems from the greater use of IT systems which facilitate 24-hour updating of the licence.
Consultation ends on 31 March.