The Risks of Restricted Operator’s Licences

Most businesses know that they require a Restricted Operator’s licence in order to carry their own goods, if the vehicles they are using have a maximum permissible weight in excess of 3.5 tonnes, but how many are able to achieve the same operational compliance standards as Standard National and Standard International licence holders, who are required by law to employ or retain the services of a professionally qualified transport manager?

The answer appears to be not many and the type of operator that appears to be most at risk are those for whom driving is ancillary to their main business activities such as platform lifts and access firms, plant & tool hire firms, skip-hire firms, scaffolding company’s, caterers, and shop-fitters and the like.

Ask a driver of any of the above operator’s vehicles what they do for a living and they will almost certainly respond with “I’m a plant fitter/service engineer or scaffolder or caterer/chef or shopfitter/chippy”.

Ask a lorry driver what he does for a living and regardless of the sector they work in or the size and type of vehicle they drive, they will invariably reply “I’m a lorry driver”.

The reason I point this out, is because these attitudes pervade throughout all tiers of businesses. Managers and directors of companies who consider that they are not transport operators because their main business activity might not involve the use of a goods vehicle need to think again! 

Not only are they transport operators, but they are also operating in a highly regulated industry where maintaining compliance is critical. 

There are two key questions to ask when stress testing your operation. 

The first is “What is our exposure to risk?” and the second is “How likely is it that the regulator will come checking?”  Well, the answer to both of these questions is the same – every time one of your vehicles takes to the road!

What would happen if your ability to operate your own fleet was suddenly revoked, suspended or curtailed? How would the plant, tools and equipment, scaffolding, materials or catering equipment get to site? Would the cost of buying in transport from a compliant operator price your business out of the market? What would be the impact of a very large fine on your business? How would the directors make a living if they were disqualified from being a director, potentially for up to 15 years?

If you run a business that holds a restricted operator’s licence and you feel you may not be compliant in all areas of your transport operation, give us a call for free, friendly and professional advice. Can you afford not to?

Call Steve Rounds & Associates Limited on 01543 321535, email [email protected] or visit https://www.steverounds.co.uk/restricted-operators-licence