Home News Features Compliance

đź•’ Article read time: 2 minutes

Category B derogation consultation review


In 2018 the UK secured a derogation from the European Commission allowing category B licence holders to drive alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) up to a gross weight of 4.25 tonnes, as opposed to the standard 3.5 tonnes licence entitlement.

This was to mitigate impacts on vehicle payloads owing to the increased weight of batteries and other alternative fuels compared to petrol and diesel engines, while still allowing the vehicle to be driven on a standard driving licence.  

DEROGATION TO REMAIN

Logistics UK welcomed the original derogation which supported operators who wanted to decarbonise their van fleets without imposing additional administrative or cost burdens from reduced payload or additional category C or C1 licence acquisition. Following discussions with Logistics UK and industry, the government confirmed in August 2022 that it had no plans to remove the derogation and published a consultation reviewing areas of it.   

BARRIERS TO UPTAKE 

However, van operators have reported barriers to uptake under the current rules of the derogation, including the five hours’ mandatory classroom training that have to be undertaken before the derogation can be utilised, as well as the prohibition of towing a trailer using an AFV between 3.5 tonnes and 4.25 tonnes.   

The safety of all road users is a top priority for Logistics UK members, and the business group campaigns for enhancement and improvements to the already-stringent regulations that support safe road freight operations. However, given that recent driving licence entitlement changes mean that category B drivers can already operate conventionally fuelled vehicle and trailer combinations over the AFV derogation’s 4.5 tonne limit without additional training, and that there are no known stability or safety issues, Logistics UK says it seems unnecessary to introduce a higher level of requirements simply because of the vehicle’s propulsion technology.  

Logistics UK members have made it very clear that current legislation already places responsibilities on operators to ensure drivers can competently and safely use AFVs and do not agree that a voluntary accreditation is necessary either, an option proposed in the consultation.  

DECARBONISATION IN THE SLOW LANE 

The original derogation’s aim to encourage more van operators to move away from fossil fuels has not been realised as hoped for. Demand has been lower than expected due to the way the derogation was set up, which has in turn negatively impacted vehicle manufacturers’ investment in vehicle development of heavier alternatively fuelled vans. 

Therefore, Logistics UK has welcomed the consultation and supports the proposals to remove the mandatory five hours’ training requirement and to allow all AFVs up to 4.25 tonnes to tow a trailer up to seven tonnes maximum authorised mass (MAM). The business group has also supported the expansion of the derogation to other alternatively fuelled vehicle types as this will simplify and streamline driver vehicle allocation, especially for the construction and events sectors that use specialist vehicles and people carriers, as well as equipment.  

BROADENING DEFINITIONS OF AFVS 

The consultation also looked at the definition of eligible alternative fuels, something that Logistics UK is keen to maintain. Continuing to include low carbon fuels in the definition will allow significant greenhouse gas emission savings to be made by operators that cannot fully electrify – and give them the confidence to invest in vehicles that can use low carbon fuels – until the market can provide appropriate zero emission vehicles.  

Denise Beedell, Senior Policy Manager, Logistics UK, said: “With challenging decarbonisation deadlines for the van sector, it is vital that the derogation, with these amendments, must be urgently and permanently incorporated into law, to provide greater confidence for manufacturers and van fleet operators to make the necessary investments to this important part of the van sector.”  

*www.logistics.org.uk/van

Published On: 08/12/2022 16:00:46

 

Comments Section

If you are a Logistics UK member login to add comments.

There are no comments yet.



Latest articles

Incoming Transport Minister Heidi Alexander must prioritise logistics to support growth, says Logistics UK CEO

Following the resignation of Transport Secretary Louise Haigh MP, Logistics UK, one of the UK’s biggest business groups and the only organisation which represents all of logistics, says the incoming Secretary of State, Heidi Alexander MP, must seize the opportunity to drive Labour’s growth mission by prioritising logistics and acknowledging its foundational role in the economy.

Read time: 2 minutes

View article

Out and About & In the Mix

A snapshot of where the Logistics UK policy team have been and who they've seen in the past week.

Read time: 2 minutes

View article

Flying Scotsmen?

Transport Scotland’s National Speed Management Review Consultation could see the speed limit for HGVs on single track roads raised to 50 mph.

Read time: 2 minutes

View article

Next page

Generation Logistics case study

E-news archive

You can also view our e-news archive here.

E-news archive

Interested in Membership?

Get in contact using the Membership Enquiry Form.

Membership Enquiry Form

Logistics Magazine Portal

The hub for finding relevant and informative features, news & compliance guides from Logistics Magazine

Logistics Magazine Portal Home

Sponsorship Opportunities

Learn more about advertising on the new digital Logistics Magazine, with a variety of advert options to reach 30,000 relevant readers.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Magazine Contents

News

Logistics Magazine will cover all the latest news on stories breaking in the industry, including developments on COVID-19,  Brexit, Clean Air Zones, transport law and decarbonisation.

News

Features

Our frequent features will tackle the broader issues affecting logistics such as the COVID-19 vaccination programme, technology and innovation, the political and economic landscape, global trade and the drive to reduce emissions across all transport modes.

Features

Compliance

Each month we explore a different topic in depth in our popular Compliance section, while each week we will publish answers put to our Member Advice Centre team.

Compliance

View Supplements and Previous Printed Editions

View Supplements and previous printed editions of Logistics Magazine here.

Previous