The Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness was revised in 2014 to include the requirement “access to an adequate under-vehicle inspection facility”. In general, a mobile HGV mechanic may be able to perform inspections adequately during the brighter, summer months but in the depths of winter, it is unlikely that the quality of checking will be of the same standard.
You should retain all maintenance records for a minimum of 15 months.
Safety inspection intervals for all commercial vehicles should fall between 4 – 13 weeks. The standard interval is generally 6 weeks but depending on the type of work you’re doing, the mileage covered and the terrain the vehicle is usually travelling on, this can differ. For example, if you are involved in quarry work or regularly drive on building sites, these type of conditions can contribute to accelerated ‘wear and tear’ and inspecting vehicles more frequently would be recommended. Alternatively, if your vehicle accumulates low mileage and is only ever lightly loaded, it may be more practical to inspect every 8-13 weeks.
You need an operator licence if your business utilises goods vehicles above 3.5 tonnes. The licencing system is governed by the DVSA on behalf of the Traffic Commissioners across the UK. You must possess a valid operator licence before starting to operate vehicles – to do so beforehand is illegal and could prevent your application from being granted. You must complete a number of forms and meet certain criteria – click here for some tips on how to apply for an operator licence or call us today to arrange your free consultation.
It is not possible to bank CPC hours beyond your current 5-year period. For example, if you have a card that expires in September 2019 but have completed 35 hours by September 2017, you won’t be able to start your next cycle of training until after the expiry date.
On each driver’s online training account, there are validity dates listed at the top of the page. To register for access, you can enter a driver’s licence number and postcode here. A pass code is then posted out by DVSA and once this is entered along with the driving licence number, the training account should come up.