Briefing Notes

Alternatively fuelled and zero emission vehicles

The following briefing highlights the rules and regulations surrounding the use of alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFV) and zero emission vehicles (ZEV), between 3.5t and 4.25t maximum authorised mass (MAM), as a result of the changes introduced by The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 2025.

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Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness changes - April 2025

This briefing note illustrates the changes to the Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness as of April 2025. The guide was firstly updated in November 2024, with the inclusion of section 5.3a relating to brake testing changes planned for April 2025.

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Changes to the heavy goods vehicle (HGV) inspection manual

From 1 April 2025, some changes took effect in the heavy goods vehicle inspection manuals. These updated manuals have been published on the GOV.UK website.

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Direct Vision Standard Briefing Note

This latest briefing note on the Direct Vision Standard explains the current scheme requirements, the phase two requirements, and provides a comparison between the two.

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Clean Air Zone briefing note

Clean Air Zone briefing note which is updated monthly

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Mobility Package

This revised briefing note describes the main changes expected and clarifies the position for previous implemented changes following the end of the transition period.

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Operator Licensing - Notifiable Offences and Template Letter

Operator licence holders sign an undertaking to ensure that they notify the Traffic Commissioner of any relevant convictions or fixed penalties. The UK legislation lists notifiable offences and these are detailed in the briefing note, which also includes a template notification letter to assist in the event of an offence being committed.

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Operator licensing advertisement

This briefing note provides a template for operators in Great Britain to use when applying for new operating centres or major variations at specific operating centres.

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Northern Ireland Operator Licence Advert Template

This briefing note provides a template for operators in Northern Ireland to use when applying for new operating centres or major variations at specific operating centres.

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Small Trailer Concession

A briefing note examining the small trailer concession from operator licensing.

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Maintenance Agreements Briefing Note

This briefing note summarises maintenance agreements and includes a model agreement between an operator and a maintenance provider for safety inspections and/or the repair of vehicles and trailers subject to operator licensing

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Vehicles Used In Connection With Public Services

This briefing note aims to highlight the key decision areas for managers deciding whether vehicles used for utility and public body/public interest operations are in or out of scope of the EU drivers’ hours rules, and in particular the issuing of interpreting the term ‘vehicles used in connection with’ in relation to one specific concession.

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Refuse Collection Derogation

This briefing note aims to summarise the characteristics required to operate out of scope of EU drivers' hours rules in relation to the derogation for vehicles used in connection with refuse collection and disposal.

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Winter Gritting Domestic Drivers' Hours - Emergencies

This briefing note provides guidance on how the emergency exemption under domestic drivers' hours legislation can be used.

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Smart Tachograph 2

This briefing note explains the systems and features of the new smart tachograph unit and the challenges being encountered with the implementation process. The information is correct at the time of writing but subject to change.

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Stoneridge Digital Tachograph Manual Entry Guide

A guide on how to make manual entries on Stoneridge SE5000 tachographs

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VDO Siemens Digital Tachograph 1.4

A guide on sequences a driver should follow to account for unrecorded activity.

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Working Time Agreements

This briefing note summarises workforce/collective agreements and includes a template agreement Logistics UK members can tailor to their needs.

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Road Transport Directive Volunteering and Declaring Other Work

This briefing note provides a template for operators to ensure that any other work undertaken by drivers is captured and included as part of the Road Transport (Working Time) Regulations 2005. This may also include volunteering in certain cases.

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Working Time Compensating Absences

This briefing note aims to explain which absences need to be compensated in working time calculations and how much time should be added.

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Changes to Vocational Driver Licensing

The Government has made a number of changes to the driving test processes, many of which were intended to relieve pressure on the demand for tests. This note outlines those changes , and changes to licence entitlements for towing a trailer behind a light vehicle, along with other driver licensing reforms which were due to be made irrespective of the driver shortage, and finally includes an update on the category B licence derogation for alternatively fuelled vehicles.

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Towing Trailers With Small Vehicles

The actual weight that a small vehicle (not exceeding 3,500kg maximum authorised mass (MAM) can tow has for some time been an issue with operators of these vehicles. Due to no defining legislation the best practice calculation, recognised by much of the industry, has been to subtract the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) from the Gross Train Weight (GTW) which would result in the maximum towing capacity of the vehicle.

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Checking driver licences

This briefing note provides a checklist to assist operators when checking driver licences, and an example of a driver's declaration

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Eyesight Standards For Drivers In The UK

This briefing note confirms the minimum eyesight standards required for driving in the United Kingdom.

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Amendments to the Driver Certificate Of Professional Competence Directive

This briefing note proves an overview of the changes that came into force in July 2020, and highlights where further work is required.

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MOT Failures

Although HGV MOT fail rates have continued to drop year on year, the top failure items tend to remain the same. Logistics UK have been analysing the detail behind these failures, to identify the main causes. This guidance document highlights the common failure items and provides ideas on how to ensure those preparing vehicles for MOT don’t miss the defects DVSA will identify.

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Vehicle in-service standards

A guidance document on driver defect reporting and rectification

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Tyre Husbandry

With so much focus being placed on tyres condition, Logistics UK has developed some simple tips on how to check tyres to keep your Heavy Goods Vehicles and Trailers safe and drivers/operators compliant.

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10-Year Old Tyre Ban

In February 2021, the implementation regarding a ban on tyres aged 10 years and older fitted to lorries, buses and coaches came into force in England, Scotland, and Wales. In November 2023 Northern Ireland introduced legislation to align the requirements across the entirety of the UK.

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ABS Malfunction Indicator Lamps

This briefing note outlines recommended procedures for operators and drivers to follow should ABS Malfunction Indicator Lamps become illuminated during a journey.

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Operator's guidance of Vehicle Safety Defects and Recalls

A numbers of concerns have been raised about the effectiveness of the vehicle safety defects and recalls procedures in the UK, both in regards to the process that manufacturers/producers/distributors follow in the identification and rectification of defects and in the operator’s understanding of their obligations to check and manage vehicle safety defects and recalls.

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Working with Gas Powered Vehicles

Logistics UK has been working with members to identify both training requirements and training provisions for gas powered vehicles. This guidance document highlights the risk to those who may operate and/or work on gas powered vehicles, and outlines a framework of suggested training to be undertaken to demonstrate a minimum level of competence.

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Working Safely With Alternatively Fuelled Vehicles

Logistics UK have produced this briefing note to both raise awareness of the risks associated with running and working on these vehicles, and to offer advice on some steps that can be taken to ensure that risks are identified, and effective mitigations put in place.

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Guidance for workshop staff on checking Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) on HGVs

Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are becoming increasingly more common on today’s trucks and trailers; however, there is very little guidance available from manufacturers or the authorities on how to check these systems. Logistics UK has worked with its members to produce some simple guidance on checking these systems which we hope other users will find of use.

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Load security code of practice updates

This briefing note provides and overview of the changes in the load security code of practice.

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Longer Semi Trailers

A briefing note summarising the specific regulations required to operate longer semi trailers, which have been introduced into general use.

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Direct Vision Standard Q&A

This briefing note has been designed to provide you with information to help you understand and operate within the area covered by London’s Direct Vision Standard (DVS) and HGV Safety Permit Scheme, which became enforceable from 1 March 2021. It has been arranged in a question-and-answer format based on queries received by Logistics UK’s Policy Team and Member Advice Centre.

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Changes to Highway Code: Hierarchy of Road Users

On 29 January 2022, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) published changes to the Highway Code. The changes made include the amendment of 35 previous rules, the introduction of 12 new and renumbered rules and a new section on the Hierarchy of Road Users.

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Scotland Parking Prohibitions

At the end of 2023 new parking rules came into effect in Scotland. Local Authorities and Police Scotland have the powers to enforce the new legislation. This briefing note explores the new requirements, who it applies to and what it means to the logistics sector.

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Use Of Mobile Phones Whilst Driving

In March 2022 the law changed on driving whilst using a mobile phone to incorporate almost all uses of the device, this will have effect in England, Scotland and Wales. This briefing note examines the changes, exemptions and explains the offences and penalties for drivers and employers. It also offers guidance for employers to help draw up a policy on the use of mobile phones in company vehicles.

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Use Of Rebated Fuel

From April 2022 the permitted uses of rebated fuel ('red diesel') were significantly reduced. Almost all of the previous permitted uses in commercial operations are no longer allowed. This briefing note examines what the remaining exemptions are and what operators who can no longer use rebated diesel and biodiesel can do to manage the transition process.

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Low Carbon Fuels

Low carbon fuels can be used as a replacement fossil fuel and provide significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emission savings. However, they are not zero emission at the tail-pipe which has led to uncertainty for vehicle operators about their long term use as a transport fuel. With even stricter emissions reporting rules now required for some companies, there is considerable interest from operators, despite the higher cost of these types of fuels compared to conventional fossil fuels.

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ADR 2025 Updates

Every two years the ADR regulations are updated and 2025 is a change year. This briefing note summarises the main changes in ADR 2025.

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Carriage of fireworks

This briefing note is specifically aimed at the carriers who only occasionally are asked to deliver a consignment of fireworks, or to include some fireworks within a mixed load of other items.

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Carriage Of Lithium Batteries

As an increasing number of items containing lithium batteries brings more operators under the scope of the new requirements, this briefing note aims to assist operators who do not regularly carry dangerous goods in identifying the actions required to transport these items in accordance with the ADR and IMDG regulations.

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Carriage Of Dangerous Goods Packed In Limited Quantities By Road & Sea

The carriage of dangerous goods clearly needs rules and regulations to ensure that these goods are transported safely. When carrying larger quantities of most hazardous goods there will be requirements for every aspect of the carriage. from the vehicle, the containers or packages, the driver and any crew and any documentation, all of these will need to meet set standards in order to make the transport operation legal, compliant and, above all, safe.

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Section 19 & 22 Permits

This briefing note examines several areas where industry-established understanding of the legal situation has been revisited, including whether a not-for-profit organisation can continue to use the permit system, drivers’ hours, and Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).

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Lorry Driver Overnight Subsistence Allowance

A change introduced by HMRC in April 2017, with regard to the lorry driver overnight subsistence allowance requires the operator to apply for an approval notice to continue to be able to pay the driver this subsistence.

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