DVA supporting regulation

DVA's support to the Regulator’s Office

DVA’s Operator Compliance Team (OCT) carry out operator compliance audits and assessments on licensed operators to assess how effectively they manage their business. This makes sure that statutory undertakings and licensing conditions are met and includes checks for:

• goods vehicles: place of establishment, transport manager, vehicle maintenance, facilities, vehicle weights and driver’s hours are assessed and reviewed
• large passenger carrying vehicles (buses): place of establishment, transport manager, vehicle maintenance, facilities, and drivers hours are assessed and reviewed
• small passenger carrying vehicles (taxis): vehicle and driver licensing, booking records and facilities are assessed and reviewed

Audits carried out by the OCT also makes sure that the regulator is given a detailed report in support of goods vehicle operator and bus operator public inquiries and case panel hearings.

• A guide to public inquiries - Goods Vehicle Licensing
• Refusal/ revocation of bus operator's licence

More reports are also prepared by the OCT in support of public inquiry and case panel hearings to include the outcome of all recorded vehicle roadside encounters linked to an operator which have concluded within the last three years. They also include a record of annual vehicle test pass/ fail rates of an operator’s fleet, vehicle taxation compliance and any previous vehicle detention action.   

The OCT also gives the Regulator information about an operator’s compliance history where the infringements detected have been categorised according to EU regulations.

Other background checks are carried out to help the Regulator in determining whether a Goods Vehicle, Bus or Taxi licensing applicant is of good repute. Information is only reported to the regulator’s office once cases have concluded.

• TRU practice guidance - good repute and fitness
• Refusal/ revocation of bus operator's licence