The Isle of Man government says its long-awaited O-licensing system could finally be rolled out next summer, when operators start providing details of the vehicles they run.
Despite complaints and concerns about the forthcoming legislative changes - currently being drafted by transport lawyer Murray Oliver - the Department of Transport (DoT) says it aims to introduce the regulatory side of the system 12 months after the administration process begins.
A DoT spokesman says: "Murray Oliver is finalising the draft regulations for approval by the attorney general's office. Once this has been obtained the regulations will be subject to final consultation."
The DoT spokesman adds that the regulatory system will be based on "the concept of protection of road safety and the level playing field used in the regulatory system in the UK."
The Department also says it has had to commission a structural survey of all the road bridges on major strategic routes due to concerns about lorries running over them with extra weight, which has been proposed to bring it more in line with weight limits in the UK.
Haulier Jon Bennett says: "They say they won't go to UK standards, but they will meet us half way. It's a move in the right direction, but why can't they go the whole hog?"
(BLOB) An investigation exploring IoM hauliers' concerns over the O-licensing system is on page 20.
