Goods vehicle compliance quick check

An operator's licence for every goods vehicle over 3,500kg gross plated weight used in your business: a restricted licence to carry only your own goods, or a standard national or standard international licence to carry other people's. Apply to the traffic commissioner through the Vehicle Operator Licensing service An identity disc in the windscreen of each vehicle specified on the licence: the traffic commissioner sends one for each vehicle you add The continuation fee paid every 5 years: you are contacted when it is due Relevant changes reported to the traffic commissioner within 28 days of happening: make them through your Vehicle Operator Licensing account Enough money available to keep your vehicles fit and serviceable, and for a standard licence, evidence of financial standing for as long as you hold the licence A safety inspection schedule for every vehicle and trailer, at intervals you set by age, mileage and type of work: a vehicle or trailer aged 12 years or more needs inspecting at least every 6 weeks. Use your own workshop or a maintenance contractor A daily walkaround check of each vehicle in service, with a defect reporting system for drivers: DVSA publishes an example defect report form Safety inspection records and drivers' defect reports kept for at least 15 months An annual test (MOT) for each lorry and trailer: book it at an authorised test facility, the first one 12 months after the vehicle was first registered Tachographs calibrated by an approved tachograph centre: digital and smart units every 2 years, analogue units inspected every 2 years and recalibrated every 6 A driver tachograph card for each driver: drivers apply on GOV.UK, online or by post Tachograph data downloaded from each driver card at least every 28 days and from each vehicle unit at least every 90 days, kept so you can show it to enforcement officers for 12 months A Driver CPC for each professional driver, kept current with 35 hours of periodic training on approved courses every 5 years Motor insurance covering business use of every vehicle Employers' liability insurance from an authorised insurer, covering at least £5 million, with the certificate where employees can see it