Firms at risk over grandfather rights by Andrew Stone FAMILY-RUN
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haulage firms risk losing their livelihoods because of ignorance over new rules over grandfather rights, a training company has warned.
NTP Services, based in Whaplode, Lincolnshire, said the risk lies with firms where 0-licences are held by people who are managers in name only, yet have little to do with the day-to-day running of the business, often because they are close to retirement.
Daryl Moore, business development man ager at NTP Services, said: "We began to realise there was a problem when people started asking us about 0-licence refresher courses and Operator CPC training. People were calling, explaining that the original business owner actually held the 0-licence, but asking if one of the younger staff members could take the training in their place."
The refresher courses must be taken by the 0-licence holder, but many firms did not realise this, said Moore.
Transport managers who have been operating licensed goods vehicles since before 1 Janu ary 1975 have until 4 December 2013 to apply to the Department for Transport (DfT) for a replacement Transport Manager Grandfather Rights (GFR) Certificate (GV203).
Failure to do so, could result in businesses facing infringements from Vosa and, at worse, having their 0-licences taken away. "This isn't one of those cases where transport managers can afford to bury their heads in the sand," said Moore. "Without a valid 0-licence, together with up-to-date refresher and CPC training, transport businesses across the country could be barred from operating."