OLCIS eNews – June 2026

June 2026

Tuesday 23 June 2026

Welcome to the June edition of Logistics UK’s Operator Licensing Compliance Information Service (OLCIS) enews update. This document is a monthly round-up of transport news items sent out as part of your OLCIS subscription. Its objective is to keep you up to date with news affecting your commercial vehicle operation. To view previous editions and access your other subscription benefits, visit the dedicated OLCIS hub.

We welcome any comments and suggestions for new topics you would like to see included within OLCIS enews. Contact Customer Services with any feedback.

News round-up

Further clarification on new £1 vehicle tax rate for some HGVs

Further to the item in May’s OLCIS enews, DVLA has confirmed that from 1 July 2026, some HGVs will qualify for a temporary £1 vehicle tax rate for 12 months.

DVLA has confirmed this will only apply to vehicles in the following tax classes:

• 1 (HGV).
• 2 (Trailer HGV).
• 16 (Small Island).
• 23 (Combined Transport).
• 57 (Special Types).

The £1 vehicle tax rate will be available for vehicles taxed between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027. Vehicles taxed before 1 July 2026 will be charged at the current rate, and no refunds will be issued.

If a vehicle is liable for the HGV levy, it will continue to be charged at the existing rate. A revised V149/1 will be published in due course.

DVSA introduces new feature to its MyVT service

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has introduced a new feature to its Manage your Vehicle Testing (MyVT) service, making it quicker and easier to submit multiple applications.

From 13 June 2026, users can submit up to 20 applications of the same type in one batch, removing the need to complete them individually.

This is part of DVSA’s programme to modernise the Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) process in response to industry feedback.

Recent improvements include:

• Fully digital applications.
• Online card payments.
• Simpler online forms replacing PDFs.
• Templates to re-use previous information.

Bulk submission is the latest step to reduce administration and improve efficiency. DVSA reports fewer errors and rejected applications because of these changes.

If users regularly submit multiple applications, they should log in to MyVT and use the new bulk feature once it goes live.

Reminder that regulatory flexibilities introduced for zero emission vehicles up to 4.25 tonnes are now live

A further reminder that the regulatory flexibilities introduced for zero emission vehicles up to 4.25 tonnes came into force on 1 June.

It now means these vehicles are no longer required to have a tachograph installed and the driver is required to adhere to GB domestic drivers’ hours, rather than assimilated hours. The vehicles have moved into Class 7 MOT. DVSA has issued guidance on what operators need to do to ensure they remain compliant with the roadworthiness testing requirements.

The Member Advice Centre has produced a briefing note for members on this topic, which can be downloaded here, alternatively, members can contact the Member Advice Centre for further information.

Top questions this month at the Member Advice Centre     

Q) What happens if we get a second-hand or hired vehicle with a digital tachograph, where the previous company has forgotten to lock-out its data?

A) The fact that the previous user has forgotten to lock-out their data will not prevent you from protecting your own data, nor will it let you have access to their data (if they remembered to lock it in previously). All locking-out does is signify the end of an operator’s interest in the vehicle and the data held on the vehicle unit. It is the locking-in of data before use that is the most important action.

If you fail to lock-in data before you use it in these circumstances, your data will only be able to be read by the previous company’s card, which could be a data protection issue.

Q) We’ve noticed that one of our drivers’ licences expires in September 2026, when he will be 47. However, he hasn’t been asked to have a medical since turning 45. Is that normal? Should we be worried about whether he still has the right entitlement to drive?

A) In most cases, there’s no need to worry. The DVLA usually issues vocational licence entitlements for up to five years at a time, unless there’s a medical reason to grant a shorter period. That means a driver can turn 45 during the life of their licence and not need a medical until the licence is next due for renewal.

So, if the entitlement remains valid until age 47, the driver can continue driving legally until that expiry date. When the licence comes up for renewal, they would then need to complete the medical process before their entitlement can be extended.

In the meantime, the driver must make sure they remain medically fit to drive and must tell the DVLA if they develop any condition that could affect their ability to drive safely.

Q) When changing over vehicles, one of our drivers has left their tachograph card in the vehicle they drove the previous day, which is now out on the road with another driver. Can they drive for a day, taking printouts until they get their card back?

A) A driver can only drive using vehicle unit printouts if their card has been lost, stolen, damaged or is malfunctioning. They must report this as soon as possible and can then drive for 15 calendar days by taking printouts.

In this driver’s case, there are two main issues. Firstly, the driver does not meet any of the set criteria for driving on printouts as their card is not lost, stolen, damaged or malfunctioning. Secondly, by driving on printouts and not having their card, they would have no record of the previous 28 days of activities.

Therefore, we would advise the driver does not drive in scope of assimilated drivers’ hours rules until they retrieve their tachograph card.

Compliance news: around the courts

Background

The operator holds a restricted goods vehicle operator’s licence authorising two vehicles. The licence named a single operating centre and stated that preventative maintenance inspections would be carried out by a maintenance provider at six-weekly intervals.

Information was later received from DVSA enforcement indicating that the authorised operating centre was no longer being used and that operations appeared to be taking place from an alternative site, although no formal application to change the operating centre had been made.

A public inquiry was therefore called to consider whether regulatory action was required.

Evidence

The operator did not attend the scheduled public inquiry and failed to provide the financial, maintenance, and compliance-related documentation that had been requested in advance, despite a follow-up reminder. A prior DVSA enforcement stop had identified a vehicle being operated under the operator’s instructions that was not specified on the licence. A prohibition was issued because of serious tyre defects, and further concerns were raised about tachograph compliance and driver record keeping.

A subsequent visit by DVSA enforcement officers found that the business was operating from a different location to the one authorised. During that visit, several weaknesses were identified, including:

• Poor maintenance documentation.
• No clear brake testing evidence.
• No forward planning or vehicle off-road (VOR) processes.
• Poor driver defect reporting.
• Limited emissions checks.
• No documented systems for wheel security, tyre management, load security, driver licence  checks, training, drivers’ hours monitoring, or working time compliance.

The operator later acknowledged that performance had fallen below the required standard and outlined intended improvements, but did not provide sufficient supporting evidence. Shortly before the hearing, the operator sought a postponement on health grounds but again failed to supply the requested documents or explain why attendance by video could not take place.

Summing up

In the absence of evidence to address the concerns raised, adverse findings were made on the basis that the authorised operating centre was not being used, relevant changes had not been notified, vehicle and maintenance undertakings had not been met, and financial standing had not been demonstrated.

Taking account of the seriousness and breadth of the compliance failures, together with the repeated failure to engage with the regulatory process, the Traffic Commissioner concluded that future compliance was unlikely.

The operator’s licence was therefore revoked, although no disqualification order was made.