Logistics UK responds to publication of Traffic Commissioners annual report

The Commissioners provide updates on their strategic objectives to 2025 and evaluate the current state of the industry.

The report addresses topics such as:

• Delivering a better regulatory service
• Changes to bus services
• Transport Manager CPCs
• Drivers and continuous control

There is also discussion of some very important current issues such as maintenance shortages, drivers’ hours and periods of grace. The report now links to real cases to allow the reader to gain a deeper understanding of the issues seen at public inquiry.

Work undertaken around local bus services, such as bus open data, enhanced partnerships and bus franchising also feature.

Publication of this report has inevitably been delayed by the General Election.

A spokesperson, on behalf of the Traffic Commissioners, explained that: “The report represents an assessment of the service, as of April 2024, and part way through a period of considerable change for the support functions. Those changes are intended to result in improved services.  

"Following changes in the Traffic Commissioner team and assurances of the importance of our work, there is further work to do. The Traffic Commissioners need to be able to support innovation in bus service provision, to prepare fleets for the future and to deliver ever-improved guidance about the legal standards. There is an opportunity to work with stakeholders to shape OTC processes and to pursue the recommendations made for the Traffic Commissioner function.”

The Annual Report also contains statistics describing the licensing and regulatory activities. The data recognises the achievements of the Commissioners and their support during the year, notably:

11,383 operator licence applications and variations processed

11,332 local bus registrations processed

1,283 public inquiries determined

156 preliminary hearings held

41 Senior Team Leader (STL) interviews held

15,584 vocational driver cases closed

Chris Yarsley, Logistics UK's Senior Policy Manager commented: “The Traffic Commissioners remain the foundation of Great Britain’s operator licensing regime and are crucial for enforcing the rules critical for road safety and for removing unsuitable operators from the sector.  

"In addition to providing useful statistics that demonstrate the evolution of the road transport market, the report also directs several comments and recommendations to the Department for Transport regarding how the Commissioners are supported in future, as discussed in the Department’s Function Review from 2023, and Logistics UK hopes that these discussions conclude swiftly, with industry stakeholder involvement."

Download the full report here.

Published On: 10/10/2024 14:45:46

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