The DVSA is set to roll out its remote enforcement approach across the UK after a successful 18-month trial in the South West.
The method, which the DVSA outlined at the Microlise conference earlier this year, will see the DVSA checking on companies’ compliance remotely using desk-based assessments and data collection.
At the RHA Compliance Conference in the Ricoh Arena on 8 September, the DVSA head of transformation enforcement Caroline Hicks told delegates: “If we contact you about the enforcement office, don’t ignore us. Because this is how we’re going to decide how compliant your culture is.”
Hicks also revealed that the government agency planned to start trialling its earned recognition scheme in the coming weeks, which will see it using telematics data made available to it by hauliers to determine the compliance of their operations and, in theory, reduce the amount of stops they are subject to.
Hicks said: “It’s about identifying ways an operator that has a culture and history of compliance can work with us and share information with us to lessen the burden of enforcement on it.”
She added that the DVSA had worked closely with the industry, including the RHA, to develop the system. “It’s not just something we’ve sat and decided to do,” said Hicks, “this is something that’s been designed in collaboration with the industry. We’ve had a number of events with 45 operators at each one, which represented the whole of the industry.”
- See this week’s Commercial Motor (24 September) for a full report on the RHA Compliance Conference
- This story originally appeared in the 17 September issue. Why not subscribe and get 12 issues for just £12?
