Ask the MAC – 05 Mar 2026

Fanning the flames…

Q. Are there any legal requirements for fire extinguishers to be carried onboard goods vehicles?

A. Vehicles that carry dangerous goods products must carry a serviceable fire extinguisher that is both suitable for the size of the vehicle as well as the type of load carried. They are also a legal requirement for public service vehicles, however for any other vehicles, this would be down to risk assessment and company policy.

If a fire extinguisher is fitted, our understanding is that as the extinguishers must be ‘maintained in good and efficient working order’, they would be subject to the same testing and inspection regime as those found within other environments, such as an office.

The Member Advice Centre has written a Fact Sheet on fire extinguishers for ADR vehicles, which can be found here. British Approvals for Fire Excellence also has a table which outlines the requirements laid out in the British Standard, BS5306-3, which can be found here.

Stuck in limbo…

Q. We applied for a new operator’s licence at the start of January 2026 but have yet to hear back from the Office of the Traffic Commissioner (OTC) on whether it has been approved or rejected. Do you know how long it takes for the OTC to make a decision on this, as we need to make alternative arrangements if we are waiting on a decision much longer?

A. The Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain have published an update to their vehicle operator licence application processing times, which can be found here. The latest figures show that in 2025, the average goods application was processed in 34 working days, which is a slight increase on the 32 working days in the figures prior to this. If a public inquiry is needed, the average goods application is processed within 114 working days, a substantial decrease from 150 days in the previous figures.

Logistics UK’s Member Advice Centre can contact the OTC, with the operator’s permission and licence details, to enquire on the status of our member’s operator licence applications and get an answer on their status. However, this would only be the case when the processing time has passed the 34 working day period. Contact us at [email protected] or call us on 0370 605 0000 to discuss this in more detail.