Blog
Guidance for people running transport operations
Practical writing on Operator Licences, Driver CPC and drivers' hours, from the team building FleetOptix.
Spreadsheets vs fleet compliance software: when it's actually time to switch
A well-built spreadsheet can genuinely work for a small fleet — the honest question isn't whether spreadsheets are inherently wrong, it's at what point the manual effort of keeping one accurate stops being worth it.
Read the article →Load security and weight compliance: what a driver and operator are each responsible for
An insecure or overweight load is a shared offence — both the driver and the operator can be prosecuted, and DVSA issues around 2,000 prohibitions a year for insecure loads alone.
Setting safety inspection intervals that actually hold up
DVSA doesn't mandate a single fixed interval for preventive maintenance inspections — it expects operators to set one based on evidence, and to actually stick to it, which is where most PMI systems quietly fail.
The Working Time Regulations for mobile workers, and how they differ from drivers' hours
A 60-hour single-week cap, a 48-hour average, and night-work limits — the Road Transport (Working Time) Regulations sit alongside drivers' hours rules, not instead of them, and cover different things.
Driver training beyond CPC: what's actually worth investing in
The 35 hours keeps a licence valid, but it doesn't automatically make a fleet safer or more efficient — eco-driving, manual handling and defensive driving courses are optional, and worth choosing deliberately.
Traffic Commissioner public inquiries: what actually triggers one
A public inquiry is rarely the result of a single incident — it's usually the pattern DVSA has reported up that the Traffic Commissioner is responding to, and the outcomes range from a formal warning to revocation.
Smart Tachograph 2 becomes mandatory from July 2026 — what changes
Most newly-registered HGVs and PCVs, and vehicles on international journeys, need to be fitted with the second-generation smart tachograph from July 2026 — worth planning fleet renewals around, not discovering at the point of registration.
Fleet compliance software: what to actually look for before you buy
Most platforms in this space look broadly similar in a sales demo — the differences that actually matter tend to show up only once real records, real drivers and a busy week are involved.
What is an Operator's Licence, and who actually needs one?
If your business runs goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, or carries passengers for hire, you almost certainly need an O-licence issued by the Traffic Commissioner — and it comes with ongoing obligations, not a one-off application.