Backhouse Jones News.
Archive for August , 2009
Transport Tribunal service: new unified arrangement to take effect from 1 September
Thursday 27th August 2009On 1 September, the majority of the Transport Tribunal's functions are due to transfer into a new unified tribunal structure.
Unsafe lorries: Transport Committee urges VOSA to be given new powers
Thursday 27th August 2009In a report published earlier this week (24 August) on the enforcement activities of VOSA, the House of Commons Transport Committee has called for the Agency to be given additional powers and resources.
Graduated fixed penalties: updated FTA compliance guide
Thursday 27th August 2009Graduated fixed penalties: updated FTA compliance guide
Hgv blind spots: TRL report published
Thursday 27th August 2009The Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) has recently published a DfT commissioned report on heavy goods vehicle blind spot modelling.
MPs want action on unsafe trucks and buses
Tuesday 25th August 2009Vosa, the UK government agency in charge of vehicle safety testing, needs more teeth to get unsafe trucks, buses and their drivers off our roads.
Hauliers need better rates
Tuesday 25th August 2009British business must accept that it needs to pay more for road haulage because of soaring fuel costs, says the Road Haulage Association.
12 day rule
Tuesday 25th August 2009The European Parliament and Council have agreed the “road transport package”, which includes a (very) partial restoration of the old 12 day rule for coach drivers.
Concessionary fares.
Tuesday 25th August 2009DfT issued a consultation on the administration of concessionary travel from 2011 onwards.
Office of Fair Trading proposes referral of local bus services to Competition Commission
Thursday 20th August 2009The OFT has today published its market study into the supply of local bus services and proposes to refer the sector to the Competition Commission (CC) for more detailed investigation.
Employment Law Update August 2009
Wednesday 19th August 2009From this section you can access our very latest information updates available for download
Impact of the new Pensions Act – major changes for employers
Wednesday 19th August 2009The Pensions Act 2008
Road haulage prospects
Wednesday 19th August 2009The prospects for Road Haulage for the next two years are a direct reflection of the likely course of the UK economy.
Longer trailer work starts: and Stobart idea in detail
Wednesday 19th August 2009The RHA is engaging with the Department for Transport in its work on longer semi-trailers and is keen for input from members.
Doctors' notes should still be needed after seven days
Wednesday 19th August 2009The RHA is taking a prominent role in opposing plans for employees to be able to self-certify for illnesses involving absence of work for up to 14 days.
VOSA hopes for more ATFs
Tuesday 18th August 2009VOSA's new chief executive Alastair Peoples has admitted that the agency is hoping companies will step forward to open Authorised Testing Facilities (ATFs) once the formal contract terms have been finalised.
Possibility of legal tailgating in five to 10 years
Tuesday 18th August 2009Truck drivers could be travelling less than a metre from the vehicle in front "within the next five to 10 years" as a means of saving fuel and going green, according to consultancy Ricardo.
Driver CPC - acquired rights drivers and driver qualification cards
Wednesday 12th August 2009Any driver who acquires a licence to drive goods vehicles professionally from 10 September 2009 must also pass the driver initial Certificate of Professional Competence (DCPC) exam and will be issued with a Driver Qualification Card (DQC) that will be valid for a maximum of five years from the pass date.
Lorry overtaking restrictions: M42 ban made permanent
Wednesday 12th August 2009The daytime ban on lorries of 7.5 tonnes and over from using the outside lane between 7am and 7pm on a three-mile stretch of the northbound carriageway of the M42, between junctions 10 and 11 near Tamworth, became permanent on Monday (10 August).
Impounding for passenger vehicles
Wednesday 12th August 2009Legislation has been published which will introduce enforcement powers of impounding for public service vehicles (psvs) from 1 October, along the same lines as the existing system for goods vehicles.
NEW DRIVER FIXED PENALTY SCHEME EXPLAINED
Wednesday 12th August 2009Both VOSA and the Police now have the power to issue on the spot fines, deposits and immobilisations to both foreign and UK drivers. The new scheme is hoped to free some of the magistrates time in dealing with minor matters such as vehicle defects and overloading.
Rescue Me – but not at that price.
Wednesday 12th August 2009A recent decision in the High Court in Manchester has ruled that Recovery Operators, who recover a stranded vehicle at the request of the Police, are not legally entitled to keep possession over that vehicle until the recovery charges are paid, nor are they entitled to charge a commercial rate for the recovery of that vehicle.
McCartney reveals love for bus travel
Monday 10th August 2009Sir Paul McCartney has revealed that he doesn't let fame stop him from travelling on public transport.
Domestic Hours Rules to be reviewed
Thursday 6th August 2009The Government has launched a review of the UK Domestic Hours rules, which apply to buses on regular routes up to 50km
