Light Goods Vehicles

| Light Goods Vehicle

From 21 May 2022, transport companies and couriers using vans and car and trailers over 2.5 tonnes to transport goods in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland will need a Standard International Goods Vehicle Operator Licence and have a designated Transport Manager.

This will apply to you if you’re based in Great Britain or Northern Ireland and use:

vans or other light goods vehicles/light commercial vehicles
vans towing trailers
cars towing trailers

If this applies you then you will need to either:

add the vehicles to your existing goods vehicle operator licence, or
acquire a goods vehicle operator licence for the first time

| The New Rules

The new Operator Licence rules will apply to you if you use:

vans with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) over 2,500kg (2.5 tonnes) and up to and including 3,500kg (3.5 tonnes)
vans towing a trailer with a gross train weight (GTW) over 2.5 tonnes and up to and including 3.5 tonnes
cars towing a trailer with a GTW over 2.5 tonnes and up to and including 3.5 tonnes

However, you will not need a goods vehicle operator licence if any of these apply:

you only use your vehicles in the UK
you are transporting goods on a non-commercial basis (not for ‘hire or reward’)

| Transport Manager

As well as obtaining an Operator Licence, from 21 May 2022 you must also have a Transport Manager, who is responsible for things such as:

planning routes and scheduling delivery times
managing your team of drivers and administration staff
making sure drivers follow company and industry regulations
arranging vehicle maintenance, MOTs and tax payments
organising vehicle replacements

By 21 May 2022, you must either:

apply to get an existing member of staff (including yourself) temporarily recognised as a transport manager
employ someone with a Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) qualification
hire in an external qualified transport manager

| Here to Help

For more information and assistance, we are here to help!

If you currently operate, or intend to operate, in an EU member state and the new rules apply to you then you need to act now to obtain a Standard International Goods Vehicle Operator Licence and have a Transport Manager in place.