GovWire

You can apply to get help to run your new business safely and efficiently if it transports either goods or passengers by road.

The help youll get is through the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agencys (DVSA) road to DVSA earned recognition programme.

How the programme works

The road to DVSA earned recognition is a voluntary programme that takes up to 2 years to complete.

It works for organisations of any size.

There are no application or subscription fees.

What youll get

DVSA will support you as you work through a set of 8 milestones. This will include:

• help and guidance to create policies and set up processes to keep your business running safely and efficiently
• a tailored work plan for your business to help you prepare for and pass an audit so you can join the DVSA earned recognition scheme at the end of the programme
• direct access to the DVSA earned recognition team throughout the programme to help with any questions or issues you have

This will reduce the risk of things going wrong so you avoid things like:

• your drivers being fined or getting penalty points on their driving licence
• your vehicles being given a prohibition (this means you cannot use the vehicle until a serious safety issue is fixed)
• people in your business or the business itself being disqualified from using commercial vehicles

At the end of programme

Youll be able to arrange a DVSA earned recognition audit at the end of the programme.

If you pass the audit, you can apply to join the DVSA earned recognition scheme. This means:

• your vehicles will be less likely to be stopped for roadside checks
• you can reduce your running costs
• youll be able to prove youre an exemplary operator if youre bidding for work
• youll be able to apply to add extra modules to your accreditation, helping you secure more work

Eligibility

You must have had your first full vehicle operator licence granted within the last 6 months. This includes any type of operator licence for:

• heavy goods vehicles (HGVs)
• public service vehicles (PSVs)

Any time you had an interim licence does not count towards the 6-month time limit.

You must have also:

• appointed a transport manager (if you have a standard national or standard international licence) or another responsible person (if you have a restricted licence)
• had at least one person, partner, director or responsible person named on the operator licence attend a new operator seminar or currently booked to attend one - contact DVSA if you have not been sent details of how to book
• had no action taken against you (other than a formal warning) by the Traffic Commissioners of Great Britain on any of your operator licences

Who cannot apply

You cannot apply if:

• you only have an interim vehicle operator licence - you have to wait until your full licence has been granted
• your business or organisation already has had other vehicle operator licences in other traffic areas for more than 6 months
• youve changed the type of licence you have in the last 6 months but you originally got a licence more than 6 months ago

How much it costs

There are no application or subscription fees to join or be part of the programme.

Youll need to get an audit at the end of the programme if you want to join the DVSA earned recognition scheme. Youll need to pay for this. The providers set their own fees.

Apply to join

To apply, you must be either:

• a person, partner, director or responsible person named on the operator licence
• the transport manager named on the operator licence, with permission to apply

You need:

• your new operator licence numbers
• the date you attended the new operator seminar, or the date youve booked to attend

Start now

What happens next

DVSA will email or call you within 10 working days to arrange a video meeting to tell you more about the programme.

DVSA will ask you to fill in a self-assessment form about your business and send it back. It takes about 30 minutes to complete, and youll have 14 days to do it.

After DVSA has reviewed your self-assessment, they will work with you to introduce the programmes milestones.

Help youll get with each milestone

Youll have a set of 8 milestones that youll work towards.

It takes 1 to 2 years to work through all of the milestones. Once youve completed the milestones, you can get an audit and apply to join DVSA earned recognition.

You must complete the last milestone within 2 years of starting the programme.

DVSA will have video meetings with you every 3 months to discuss:

• your progress through the milestones
• what policies and processes you need in place to meet the next milestone

Youll be able to contact the DVSA earned recognition team throughout the programme if you need extra support.

Milestone 1: Meeting the terms of your operator licence

Youll get help to put policies and processes in place to meet the terms of your operator licence. This includes things like:

• keeping your business details up to date
• documenting the responsibilities of your staff
• having a properly qualified transport manager or other responsible person
• recruiting and retaining staff
• keeping your premises, staff and the public safe

Milestone 2. Keeping your vehicles safe to drive

Youll get help to document that youre keeping your vehicles safe to drive. This includes things like:

• setting up key performance indicators on vehicle maintenance, such as safety inspections and MOT pass rates
• carrying out and recording walkaround checks on vehicles
• planning and carrying out safety inspections

Youll also be introduced to some key performance indicators (KPIs). These are important measures to help you monitor, manage and improve your performance.

Milestone 3. Managing your drivers and other staff

Youll get help to set up processes and policies to make sure your drivers follow important rules.

This includes things like:

• setting up a process to monitor driver behaviour
• writing a policy to make sure staff and contractors meet work-related road safety rules
• setting up a process to make sure incidents, nearer misses and customer feedback are reported so you can identify patterns
• planning training for staff
• setting up a process to make sure changes to the law are recorded and communicated to all staff

Youll also get help to report on certain KPIs.

Milestone 4. Planning driver schedules and routes, monitoring drivers hours and vehicle compliance

Youll get help to put policies and processes in place to make sure your drivers follow drivers hours rules, that driver schedules and planned routes are safe, and that your vehicles meet legal requirements.

This includes things like:

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