Motorway and major trunk road services remain open 24 hours a day following advice from the government deeming them as ‘essential services’.

The welfare of commercial drivers is a priority. While some service stations have reduced their opening hours, fuel, toilets, food and drink remain available at all service stations 24 hours a day.

Drivers are able to plan their rest stop breaks using the below Highways England link. This information is updated every day.

http://www.trafficengland.com/motorway-service-areas

Please ensure you refer to the link below, or speak to your local traffic commissioner to keep up-to-date with any changes which may affect your fleet.

https://www.gov.uk/search/guidance-and-regulation?parent=%2Ftransport%2Fprofessional-driving-of-lorries-buses-and-coaches&topic=b4e41212-77b8-44ba-8fb5-6aa479b20d36&order=updated-newest

In normal circumstances, an application to renew a lorry or bus licence at age 45 or over must include a medical examination report (D4) which is signed by a doctor. NHS doctors cannot currently carry out these examinations therefore lorry and bus drivers are unable to obtain D4 medical reports required to support their application.

In these special circumstances, a D4 will not be required when applying to renew a lorry or bus licence until further notice. This will only apply if the licence has expired or is due to expire on or after 1 January 2020.

Please note: A bus or lorry licence renewed without the production of a valid D4, will only be valid for a period of one year.

This will not affect applications for renewal of licences made by those aged 65 or over, as these licences are already only valid for one year.

This notice does not apply to any application to renew small lorry (C1) and minibus (D1 (101)) entitlements included on car licences issued before 1997.

Please ensure you refer to the link below, or speak to your local traffic commissioner to keep up-to-date with any changes which may affect your fleet.

https://www.gov.uk/search/guidance-and-regulation?parent=%2Ftransport%2Fprofessional-driving-of-lorries-buses-and-coaches&topic=b4e41212-77b8-44ba-8fb5-6aa479b20d36&order=updated-newest

Transport for London recently announced that all road user charging schemes in London will not be in operation until further notice.

Following a request by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, TFL took action to help ensure London’s critical workers are able to travel round the capital as easily as possible during the national emergency.

In addition to the NHS staff, the suspension also helps other critical workers get to work, and allows essential deliveries to take place with more flexibility for fleet operators.

For many critical workers, driving is the simplest option to travel especially when roads should only be used by those taking essential journeys.

We are currently supporting many customers 24/7 as they operate to support the medical, food and infrastructure demands that this crisis brings; the news of the charging suspension is therefore very well received.

During these unprecedented times the suspension of these charging schemes could be subject to change at any time. Please ensure you refer to the link below for the latest information from TFL.

https://tfl.gov.uk/campaign/coronavirus-covid-?cid=coronavirus

The impact of the Coronavirus pandemic has led to Birmingham City Council delaying the introduction of its Clean Air Zone until 2021.

Following a request by the Council to the UK Government, the postponement was granted after serious concerns were raised about the impact the Coronavirus is having on the economy.

The official new launch date is yet to be confirmed, however, Birmingham Council have stated it will be under constant review while the impact of the Coronavirus is monitored.

The introduction of Clean Air Zones were also due in Leeds, Nottingham, Derby and Southampton, but are all now set to be delayed until 2021.

Clean Air Zones are part of the Governments strategy to improve Air quality across the country. Once the schemes are launched, all vehicles need to meet set criteria to avoid a daily charge for operating within a CAZ.

We’ve experienced a high uptake in Euro6 diesel powered vehicles as they meet the requirements set out in CAZ. Our customers have benefitted from future proofing their fleet on a finance package with manageable monthly payments, without a large outlay capital.

The latest information is available here: https://www.birmingham.gov.uk 

For useful information on Birmingham Clean Air Zone click here: https://www.brumbreathes.co.uk

Public Health England (PHE) has published advice for different scenarios of how social distancing and other measures can be implemented by employers in England to help protect workforces and customers from Coronavirus while continuing to trade.

Advice for transport businesses

• Social distancing should be maintained where possible but we recognise that on many forms of transport, staff will not always be able to stay 2 metres away from each other or passengers. Here are some examples of the advice given:If workers have to share enclosed spaces such as vehicle cabs, they should keep the window open for ventilation and they should be careful to avoid touching their face at all times. On leaving the enclosed space, they should wash their hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or more, or use hand sanitiser when they cannot wash their hands.
• For the use of private vehicles or when car-pooling, if the journey is essential, such as travel to work, and there is no option but to share a car with people who are not part of the same household, journeys should be shared with the minimum number of people at any one time. Good ventilation (i.e. keeping the windows open) and facing away from each other may help to reduce the risk. Private vehicles that are used by people from multiple households should be cleaned regularly using gloves and standard cleaning products, with particular emphasis on handles and other surfaces that passengers may touch.

Click the link below for all the different scenarios and advice for all sectors: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/social-distancing-in-the-workplace-during-coronavirus-covid-19-sector-guidance

During the Coronavirus outbreak, drivers may not be able to complete the required periodic training to maintain a Driver CPC card. Therefore, the Department for Transport has issued the following temporary changes for professional driver qualification requirements:

• Where a Driver CPC card expires between 1st March 2020 – 30th September 2020, drivers can continue driving.
• During the same period, military drivers (who follow a different training programme), will be allowed to drive in civilian situations.
• Driver CPC regulations will not be enforced by the DVSA during this period. Police forces have been informed.
• Enforcement Officers can still stop and check to see that a Driver CPC card has been recently held.
• Drivers should still carry expired Driver CPC cards.
• From 1st October 2020, drivers affected by this temporary change will be required to comply with original Driver CPC rules.

These legislative measures are subject to change periodically. Please ensure you refer to the link below, or speak to your local traffic commissioner to keep up-to-date with any changes which may affect your fleet.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-temporary-changes-to-driver-cpc-requirements

It is always recommended that a pre-use inspection is carried out prior to putting vehicles that have been stood idle back into service. The traffic commissioners recognise that operators will want to start using vehicles as soon as possible, but they’re may experience delays due to the demand experienced by vehicle inspection services.

Therefore, for fleets that are unused during this period the following principles can apply:

• The PMI schedule is frozen or paused during the period that the vehicle is not used.
• The time to the next inspection can include any relaxation that applies to relevant vehicles.
• If the vehicle has exceeded its normal or, if it qualified for relaxation, it’s extended PMI period, a technically competent person (technician if possible), is to carry out an enhanced walk around check, which includes tyre pressure measurement and brake performance test. The brake performance test, if not undertaken on a roller brake tester, will need to include a measured temperature check of the brakes after a road test. The temperatures are to be recorded and retained.
• Vehicles over 12 years old and more than 50% or 4 weeks, whichever is greater, over their PMI cycle will receive a full preventative maintenance inspection before use.
• Regardless of the combination of relaxations applied, no vehicle will be put into service if more than 17 weeks has elapsed since the last full PMI.

These legislative measures are subject to change periodically.

Please ensure you refer to the link below, or speak to your local traffic commissioner to keep up–to-date with any changes which may affect your fleet.

https://www.gov.uk/search/guidance-and-regulation?parent=%2Ftransport%2Fprofessional-driving-of-lorries-buses-and-coaches&topic=b4e41212-77b8-44ba-8fb5-6aa479b20d36&order=updated-newestt

DFT have announced that heavy goods vehicles will be exempt from dangerous goods (ADR) annual inspections until further notice. 

If your vehicle is due for its ADR annual inspection and you are continuing to use it, you will need to download and complete a declaration of compliance. A copy can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-dangerous-goods-vehicle-adr-annual-inspections#what-you-need-to-do

For each vehicle, at least 10 days before the inspection expires, you must return the completed document to the DFT by emailing adrbooking@dvsa.gov.uk. The declaration allows DFT to issue a waiver for the technical inspection.

To ensure your journeys are covered by the waiver, you must carry a copy of the following documents in the vehicle:

• The DFTs confirmation email
• ’Authorisation 945’ issued by the Department for Transport

It is important that you continue to comply with the ADR requirements while the exemption is in force. You must make sure:

• All required equipment and equipment for personal protection is carried on the vehicle and available for use
• The vehicle has the correct number and size of serviceable fire extinguishers – these should be easily accessible
• The driver carries the right documentation, including instructions in writing, transport documents and drivers’ training certificate
• All the required vehicle documents are in the vehicle

When does the waiver process not apply?

You cannot get a waiver for:

• A new non-type approved dangerous goods vehicle being put into service for the first time
• A vehicle where the details on the ADR1C document have changed – for example, a change of owner or the products it’s allowed to carry
• A dangerous goods vehicle which is not covered by The Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) Regulations 1988 – for example, a vehicle or trailer (including the maximum load it can carry safely when it’s being used on the road) that’s less than 3.5 tonnes (this is sometimes called the ‘gross vehicle weight’)

For further information visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-inspection-waiver-for-tank-vehicles