DVSA (opens in a new tab)
Regulates drivers, vehicles, and operators in UK road transport. Issues operator licences for goods vehicles (HGVs) and PSVs. Enforces roadworthiness and driver standards.
Enforces 14 Acts this sector relies on.
Sector
Transport & Logistics
Haulage, freight, aviation, maritime, rail, automotive and supply chain.
- Guides
- 44
- Regulators
- 14
- Legislation
- 38
- Journeys
- 12
Start here
See all 12Step-by-step routes through what transport & logistics businesses must do.
Curated by what's changing, what's most consequential, and where things go wrong.
Changing now
Deadline 1 July 2026
Meet the smart tachograph 2 retrofit deadline
Vans over 2.5 tonnes on international work need a smart tachograph 2 fitted
New to the sectorStart a transport and logistics business
Operator licensing and compliance from the start
Check you're compliantGoods vehicle compliance quick check
The established-operator self-audit
Also surfaceGrowing your goods vehicle fleet
Adding vehicles or moving up a weight class
If it's gone wrongResponding to DVSA enforcement or Traffic Commissioner action
DVSA or Traffic Commissioner action? Start here
Who regulates you
See all 14The bodies that set rules and enforce compliance for transport & logistics.
Ranked by how much of the legislation this sector's guides cite each one enforces.
CAA (opens in a new tab)
UK's aviation regulator. Responsible for aviation safety, airspace policy, economic regulation of airports, and consumer protection. Issues air operator certificates, pilot licences, and drone …
Enforces 9 Acts this sector relies on.
HSE (opens in a new tab)
Workplace health, safety, and welfare regulation across all industries. Enforces the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and related regulations. Investigates serious incidents …
Enforces 9 Acts this sector relies on.
MCA (opens in a new tab)
Maritime safety regulator responsible for implementing UK and international maritime law. Provides 24-hour search and rescue coordination. Issues certifications for ships and seafarers. Enforces …
Enforces 9 Acts this sector relies on.
ORR (opens in a new tab)
Independent safety and economic regulator for Britain's railways. Regulates health and safety for the mainline rail network, London Underground, light rail, trams, and heritage …
Enforces 7 Acts this sector relies on.
Traffic Commissioners (opens in a new tab)
Independent regulators responsible for licensing and regulating operators of heavy goods vehicles, public service vehicles (buses and coaches), and local bus services. Issue operator …
Enforces 5 Acts this sector relies on.
Key legislation
See all 38The Acts and statutory instruments that set duties for this sector.
Ranked by how many of this sector's guides cite each — the legislation most central to the sector appears first.
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Act
Merchant Shipping Act 1995 (opens in a new tab) Cited by 4 of this sector's guides
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SI
Air Navigation Order 2016 (opens in a new tab) Cited by 3 of this sector's guides
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Act
Postal Services Act 2011 (opens in a new tab) Cited by 3 of this sector's guides
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Act
Civil Aviation Act 1982 (opens in a new tab) Cited by 3 of this sector's guides
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SI
Space Industry Regulations 2021 (opens in a new tab) Cited by 2 of this sector's guides
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Act
Space Industry Act 2018 (opens in a new tab) Cited by 2 of this sector's guides
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Act
Air Travel Organisers' Licensing Act 2017 (opens in a new tab) Cited by 2 of this sector's guides
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SI
The Civil Aviation (Air Travel Organisers' Licensing) Regul… (opens in a new tab) Cited by 2 of this sector's guides
What's changing
See all changes
Legislation_Change
Environmental Permitting (Waste Controlling or Transporting) and Relevant Functions of Primary Authorities (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2026
Rate_Update
15 Jun 2026
Excise Duties (Surcharges or Rebates) (Hydrocarbon Oils etc.) (Amendment) Order 2026
Legislation_Change
1 May 2026
Aviation Safety (Amendment) Regulations 2026
All guidance for transport & logistics
44 guides for this sector.
Grouped by topic area, with the topic holding the most guidance first; within each, the most comprehensive guides lead.
Sector-Specific
33 guides
- Apply for development consent for major infrastructure How to apply for a Development Consent Order (DCO) for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. Covers the 6-stage application process, NSIP …
- Register and operate a sea-going ship If you operate sea-going passenger or cargo ships on coastal or international voyages, you must register the ship on the …
- Get an operator's licence for goods vehicles How to apply for an O-licence to operate goods vehicles for business. Covers Standard and Restricted licences, fees, financial standing, …
- Aviation cargo security compliance How to become a Known Consignor or Regulated Agent for air cargo. Covers CAA certification, security vetting requirements, cargo screening, …
- Run passenger or freight services on inland and categorised waters If you run trip boats, passenger launches, ferries or freight barges on canals, rivers, estuaries and harbours, you need a …
- Crewing and seafarer certification If you crew a ship and employ seafarers, your masters, officers and ratings must hold MCA certificates of competency to …
- Run a bus or coach business: licensing and compliance If you run local bus services, scheduled routes or coach and charter operations, you need a public service vehicle (PSV) …
- Goods Vehicle Operator Compliance Checklist A yes/no audit checklist covering all key goods vehicle operator obligations including O-licence conditions, vehicle maintenance, drivers, tachographs, and load …
- Vehicle Maintenance and MOT Understand vehicle maintenance standards and MOT requirements for goods vehicles.
- Support activities for transport: ports, airports and rail If you handle cargo or run support services at a port, airport or rail terminal — stevedoring, ground handling, terminal …
- Tachographs and Drivers' Hours Understand tachograph requirements and drivers' hours rules for goods vehicle operations.
- International Road Haulage Permits and Cabotage How to comply with post-Brexit international haulage rules including TCA permit-free access, ECMT permits for non-EU countries, cabotage and cross-trade …
- Run a rail operation: licensing and safety If you operate passenger or freight trains, or use the rail network, you need a licence and safety certificate or …
- Driver CPC Requirements Understand Driver Certificate of Professional Competence requirements for HGV and bus drivers, including the National and International Driver CPC types …
- EV Charging Infrastructure Install EV chargepoints and access government grants.
- Smart tachograph requirements and transition Smart tachograph v2 requirements, the transition from analogue and digital units, retrofit deadlines for international and domestic vehicles, and how …
- Freight forwarding and customs: representation, warehousing and dangerous goods If you forward freight, clear goods through customs on behalf of others, or run a bonded warehouse, you may act …
- Avoid overloading and secure your loads How to comply with load security requirements and avoid overloading offences. Covers the DVSA code of practice, maximum weight limits, …
- Operate a pipeline: safety and environmental duties If you transport products by pipeline, you must notify the HSE before construction, run a written safety management system, and …
- Transporting Dangerous Goods (ADR) Comply with ADR regulations for transporting dangerous goods by road.
- Vehicle excise duty and HGV Levy for goods vehicles Current VED rates for heavy goods vehicles by weight band and axle configuration, and the status of the HGV Road …
- Run a taxi or private hire business: licensing and compliance If you run a taxi (hackney carriage) or private hire (minicab) business, your vehicles, drivers and — for private hire …
- Facing a Traffic Commissioner Public Inquiry What triggers a Traffic Commissioner public inquiry, how to prepare your case, whether you need legal representation, what outcomes to …
- Clean Air Zones and emission requirements for goods vehicles How Clean Air Zones affect goods vehicle operators. Covers the CAZ classification framework, current zones and charges by vehicle type, …
- Compliance for van and light goods vehicle operators What applies when operating vans and light goods vehicles under 3.5 tonnes. Vans do not need an operator licence but …
- DVSA Enforcement and Your Operator Compliance Risk Score Understand how DVSA uses the Operator Compliance Risk Score to target enforcement, what Green, Amber and Red ratings mean for …
- Insurance for goods vehicle operators What insurance goods vehicle operators need. Covers mandatory motor fleet insurance under the Road Traffic Act 1988, goods in transit …
- Which land transport rules apply to your business Land transport covers very different businesses — road haulage, bus and coach, taxi and private hire, rail, and pipelines — …
- Which warehousing and transport support rules apply to your business Division 52 covers two related kinds of business — storing goods (warehousing, cold storage, fulfilment) and the support activities that …
- Which water transport rules apply to your business Water transport spans very different businesses — sea-going passenger and cargo ships, canal and river trip boats and ferries on …
- Land transport compliance checklist A checklist for land transport businesses — road haulage, bus and coach, taxi and private hire, rail, and pipelines. Section …
- Warehousing and transport support compliance checklist A checklist for warehousing and transport-support businesses — storage and cold stores, freight forwarding and customs, and cargo handling at …
- Water transport compliance checklist A checklist for water transport businesses — sea-going passenger and cargo ships, crewing and seafarer certification, and inland and categorised-waters …
Compliance & Legal
11 guides
- Get your aviation and spaceflight licences and certificates Air transport is one of the most heavily licensed sectors in the UK. This guide takes you through operating licences, …
- Set up and run a safe warehousing and storage operation Whatever you store and however you handle it — pallets in a distribution centre, chilled and frozen goods in a …
- Air transport: compliance checklist Use this checklist to confirm your air transport business (SIC division 51) meets its obligations before you begin commercial operations. …
- Set up and run a safe air transport operation Air transport operations expose your people to aircraft-handling risks, fuel, noise, working at height on and around aircraft, and manual …
- Set up and run a safe postal and courier operation Every postal or courier operation must meet universal workplace duties before it tackles the activity-specific licensing and authorisation regimes. This …
- Set up and run a safe land transport operation Whatever you move and however you move it — goods by road, passengers by bus, coach or taxi, freight or …
- Set up and run a safe water transport operation Whatever you operate and however you operate it — sea-going passenger or cargo ships, canal and river trip boats, ferries …
- Postal and courier compliance checklist Use this checklist to confirm you have met every regulatory obligation that applies to your postal or courier operation — …
- Meet your postal and courier regulatory duties Postal and courier operators in Great Britain may need a goods vehicle operator's licence if they use vehicles over 3.5 …
- Which postal and courier rules apply to you If you operate or plan to operate a postal or courier business in Great Britain, you must comply with workplace …
- Which air transport regulations apply to your business Running an air transport business — passenger airline, cargo carrier or spaceflight operator — carries a heavy, sector-specific licensing load …
All journeys
- Growing your goods vehicle fleet What changes when you grow your goods vehicle fleet, from O-licence variations to OCRS scrutiny
- Start a transport and logistics business Launch a transport or haulage business with the right operator licence
- Goods vehicle compliance quick check Quick compliance check across all goods vehicle operator obligations
- Responding to DVSA enforcement or Traffic Commissioner action What to do if your transport business faces DVSA enforcement action or a Traffic Commissioner public inquiry. Covers …
- Set up a land transport business
- Meet the smart tachograph 2 retrofit deadline Work out which of your vehicles need a smart tachograph 2 before the 1 July 2026 international deadline, …
- Getting started with international road haulage Upgrade your domestic haulage operation for international road freight
- Set up a water transport business
- What to do when stopped by DVSA at the roadside How to handle a DVSA roadside inspection, what examiners check, your rights during the stop, prohibition powers, and …
- Set up a warehousing or transport support business
- Set up a postal and courier business
- Set up an air transport business Learning path for new air transport operators — passenger airlines, cargo carriers and spaceflight operators. Work out which …
Subsectors
SIC 2007 divisions covered by this sector.