Goods Vehicles Operator’s Licences
Importance of an Operator’s Licence
An Operator’s Licence must be obtained by the “user” of the vehicle for all the vehicles they intend to “use”.
Operator Licensing requires that in the case of restricted licences, applicants are fit and proper persons that are of appropriate financial standing.
For standard licences, national and international and also for national transport operations, applicants must be of good repute, of appropriate financial standing, be professionally competent and employ a person who is also professionally competent.
How we help with gaining your Operator’s Licence
Before granting an Operator’s Licence, the Applicant must be of “good repute”. We can advise upon past record and convictions and rehabilitation. The position of a Company and Individuals convicted of offences may also require careful consideration before applying.
Traffic Commissioners do not look solely at convictions and circumstances surrounding particular offences but will also look at conduct involved. We can also advise on issues such as “fronting” and how the Traffic Commissioner treats hiring and lending of the licence.
Adherence to financial standing is a mandatory requirement and we can also advise on levels of finance required and how holders of Operator’s Licences can satisfy the Traffic Commissioner upon financial standing. It is fundamental that the Operator has funds to demonstrate that it is of appropriate financial standing, rather than financial resources being elsewhere. The burden of satisfying financial standing remains upon the Operator and we can advise and assist to how financial standing might be met where the Office of the Traffic Commissioner may have raised concerns.
We can also advise on how a designated Transport Manager must meet the requirements of Operator Licensing, giving “continuous and effective responsibility” for the management of the operations of the business that relate to carriage of goods. We can advise upon the issues of good repute and professional competence of a Transport Manager and deal with any representations to the Office of the Traffic Commissioner where the Traffic Commissioner may have concerns over the repute or competence of a Transport Manager.
Operator Licence exemptions
Some vehicles are exempt from an Operator’s Licence and we can also advise upon vehicle exemptions. We can assist with the application for the Operator’s Licence, or if the Operator wishes to change the type of vehicle or change of a Transport Manager or the addition of a new Operating Centre. We can also advise upon the surrender of the licence and provide legal representation at an Operator Licensing Public Inquiry. We represent at both environmental and disciplinary Public Inquiries.
For further information on Operator Licensing contact our Specialist Road Transport Law Solicitors on 03456 465 465.
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Natalie Abbott
Partner & Head of Employment
Natalie works in our Nottingham office. She is a Partner and Employment Law specialist with over 10 years’ experience representing both businesses and individuals across a range of employment services including settlement agreements, discrimination, dismissals and redundancy.

Anton Balkitis
Partner & Head of Transport
Anton Balkitis leads the Transport Law team and is a nationally recognised Transport and Motoring Law specialist at Nottingham-based law firm Rothera Bray Solicitors.

Olivia Maginn
Barrister & Senior Associate
Olivia Maginn is a transport and motoring law specialist at our Lace Market, Nottingham office.

Georgina Power
Associate Solicitor
Georgina Power is an Associate Solicitor in Rothera Bray’s Transport team and is based at our Lace Market office in Nottingham city centre.

Chelsey Sewell
Managing Paralegal
Chelsey Sewell is a paralegal in Rothera Bray’s transport and motorist offence department and is based at our Nottingham Lace Market office in the city centre.

Rebeca Large-Rodriguez
Paralegal
Rebeca Large-Rodriguez is a Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Transport and Motorist Offence department and is based at our Lace Market office.

Transport Manager Keeps Good Repute at Traffic Commissioner’s Public Inquiry
Traffic Commissioner’s Public Inquiry Eastbourne January 2021 We were instructed by a Transport Manager called to a Public Inquiry by the Traffic Commissioner. The Transport Manager had been an external Transport Manager on an operators’ licence held by a single vehicle bus company. Despite being granted a licence, the business had not in fact started […]Posted on 17th February 2021