In their annual report 2001/22, published in July, the Traffic Commissioners (TCs) for England acknowledged that the impact of the pandemic has continued to dominate their work over the past year.

Senior Traffic Commissioner Richard Turfitt said: “It has been a difficult year once more in the goods vehicle and PSV industries, with costs increasing and shortages affecting all operators, so we would like to acknowledge the hard work of our compliant operators in keeping our GB roads as safe as possible. Traffic Commissioners continue to operate successfully as a team and within the communities, which we have the privilege to serve.”

The report said that the number of cases coming before TCs at public inquiry has now returned to pre-pandemic volumes with 1392 public inquiries determined and 309 preliminary hearings held during the year. There were also 15,748 operator licence applications and variations processed as well as 14,551 local bus registrations. In addition there were 13,654 vocational driver cases closed.

TC Turfitt added: “We continue to explore how the service can be improved further and to support economic recovery, but progress has been made towards the target for determining applications within 35 working days from receipt. This is despite the receipt of a higher-than-average number of applications, during the course of the year.”

In their report they say that drivers must feel able to report issues with their health and to talk about their problems, recognising that driving can be a solitary job.

The TCs acknowledged the important role that drivers play and stated: “As a society, we must not lose sight of the importance of the driver and that driver’s welfare; that includes their mental health. hat challenge needs to be recognised across an industry, and where it may be harder to challenge societal expectations and gender stereotypes.”

The report estimates that 85% of roadside fines for infringements could be avoided if the driver had performed a walkaround check before beginning a journey.

There is no current requirement for maintenance providers to be formally qualified, but as vehicle engineering becomes more complex, the TCs say there is an argument for individual contractors to have formal qualifications so that standards can be maintained.

Claire Gilmore, TC for Scotland, added that access to properly equipped high quality maintenance services for operators in rural parts of the country, is sometimes difficult. “We must strive to ensure that proper roller brake testing facilities can be accessed regularly, and without difficulty, wherever operators are located,” she said. “Such access is imperative for road safety.”

The TCs have also noted a number of transport managers in the last year presenting certificates issued outside of the UK, despite the person having been resident here for a number of years. UK legislation states that transport managers must attain their qualification in their country of residence.

“The traffic commissioners do not accept a certificate of convenience”, they said. “Transport managers who have gone to another country because they find the exams easier can expect close scrutiny of their applications to see whether they can meet the requirement to effectively and continuously manage transport operations in Great Britain.”

Photo:  Richard Turfitt.