The Operator Licence Regulation

This will introduce a uniform system of operator licensing across all member states of the European Union, which is not too different from the successful GB model already in place.

It will also electronically connect the national operator licence databases in all 27 member states that should become a powerful tool for cross-border enforcement of rules regarding roadworthiness and drivers' hours, a goal FTA has been calling for over many years. This should be achieved by 2013.

In future, from a specified date, all new candidates taking the Transport Manager CPC exams will be required to also pass the international element. However, FTA successfully argued that those who held a National CPC on the date specified will continue to be authorised to manage domestic operations and will be permitted to sit the international element to 'upgrade' to the full CPC qualification if they wish to be named on an international operator licence.

Full-time transport managers will continue to operate as of now, however a new requirement on those who offer their services to more than one operator will be faced with a restriction of not working for more than four operators, with a combined overall fleet maximum of 50 vehicles.

The Department for Transport (DfT) has stated that it will take this opportunity to undertake a full review of exemptions to GB O licensing.