Are you worried about compliance?
Do you struggle to ensure you are running legally and following the DVSA Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness?
Transport Compliance – What is it and why is it so important as an HGV or PSV Operator in Brighton?
For operators in Brighton, compliance is more than a regulatory obligation—it’s your license to operate and your shield against severe penalties or operational disruption. The Operator’s License is your formal promise to the Traffic Commissioner that you will run your HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) or PSV (Public Service Vehicle) business safely, efficiently, and legally. With evolving rules for the South East, it’s crucial to keep your systems up to date and audit-ready.
What obligations must Brighton operators meet?
- Maintain all vehicles in a roadworthy, safe condition with robust, scheduled preventive maintenance and full service history logs.
- Keep detailed, accessible records covering vehicle checks, servicing, defect repairs, tachograph downloads, and driver hours. Expect to retain and be able to produce 28 days of historic driver records domestically—and up to 56 days for international journeys, as recent regulation updates require.
- Ensure all drivers hold valid and current Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence), undertake refresher courses, and act on changes in legislation and best practices promptly.
- Adhere to the Working Time Directive and drivers’ hours rules to prevent driver fatigue and secure a compliant, responsible working environment.
- Schedule and document all walkaround checks, immediately reporting and repairing any defects—having proof readily available for spot checks and audits.
If you feel unclear about any aspect of compliance, The Transport Consultancy in Brighton can step in and implement tailored, compliant processes that keep your business safe, efficient, and legal.
How do Brighton operators protect their HGV/PSV Operator’s License?
The most effective way is to begin with a full compliance audit. The Transport Consultancy can conduct a detailed review of your Brighton operations, identifying gaps and providing a clear roadmap to complete compliance.
Why are regular compliance audits essential in Brighton?
- Regulatory Compliance – Prove your Brighton fleet meets DVSA licensing, vehicle and driver records, tachograph, and maintenance rules—especially with new 2025 South East guidance and the implications of Brexit for international routes.
- Safety Assurance – Enhance staff, passenger, and public safety with effective defect reporting, timely repairs, and active driver management.
- Operational Efficiency – Increase fleet up-time, optimize fuel usage, and improve scheduling by preventing avoidable breakdowns or delays.
- Risk Management – Address operational issues before they trigger DVSA penalties, PG9 roadside prohibitions, or even Operator License suspension.
Stay audit-ready by scheduling a compliance audit for your Brighton business today.
Tachograph Analysis and Smart Technology for Brighton Fleets
Proper tachograph monitoring is now more important than ever—especially with recent changes requiring:
- For domestic Brighton journeys: Retain and be able to produce 28 days of driver hours records.
- For international journeys: Provide 56 days of driver records, including digital tachograph downloads, analog charts, and manual logs.
- Prepare your fleet for mandatory Smart Tachograph 2 retrofits by 18th August 2025 for vehicles with Smart Tachograph 1, and 1st July 2026 for vehicles between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes GVW.
- Analyze all data for hours breaches and rest break infringements, and support drivers in rectifying issues and meeting evolving guidance.
Book a Tachograph Analysis Healthcheck with our Brighton consultants for full advice and process improvement.
Maintenance Planning, Record-Keeping, and PG9 Prevention in Brighton
Every Brighton operator must have a comprehensive six-month rolling maintenance planner. This ensures that every vehicle is scheduled in advance for PMIs, brake tests, services, and MOTs—typically every 6, 8, or 10 weeks. This planner helps allocate workshop time, keep your fleet roadworthy, and document compliance whenever requested by DVSA.
Missed inspections, incomplete service histories, or failure to address identified defects can quickly result in a PG9 (Prohibition Notice), preventing further operation until the issue is resolved and records are updated.
A robust maintenance planning system directly reduces risk, raises safety standards, and evidences continuous compliance to enforcement officers whenever needed. If you struggle with planning, our experts will provide a custom schedule and clear, practical guidance tailored to Brighton’s fleet requirements.
Avoiding DVSA Desk-Based Assessments, New Rules, and Ongoing Compliance in Brighton
With increasing DVSA enforcement and 2025 regulations—including Smart Tachograph 2 upgrades and new international hours record obligations—it’s critical Brighton operators keep every aspect of their systems ready for spot check or desk-based assessment.
- Monthly compliance audits and regular reviews ensure all tachograph, maintenance and accident records, driver files, and risk policies are current and easily retrievable.
- Address past enforcement warnings, complaints, and compliance incidents promptly to prevent escalation.
- Train staff and update processes as new tachograph technology and rules come into force—especially for international-facing fleets.
Proactively working with The Transport Consultancy minimizes the chance of compliance failures and supports your business through every upcoming change.
Monthly Compliance Audits – Keeping Brighton Operators Safe All Year Round
Arrange ongoing monthly HGV and PSV audit subscriptions for your Brighton business. These regular, proactive checks help capture new regulatory changes as they occur, keep your team fully trained, and give you confidence when DVSA or the Traffic Commissioner comes calling.
Continuous audits help you:
- Stay compliant through every change in law and technology (including Clean Air Zone, Smart Tachograph, and recordkeeping reforms).
- Prepare for any inspection, from daily roadworthiness checks to full desk-based DVSA investigations.
- Demonstrate best-practice compliance to insurers, customers, partners, and authorities.
Don’t wait for enforcement to knock—book your monthly audit for unbeatable compliance support in Brighton.