HGV compliance expert Allison Kemp from AIM consultancy was on line to deliver a virtual masterclass to the year one next generation managers at University of West London for the Sept new term.

Allison's background in transport systems and compliance, with extensive data analysis of HGV tacho detail, was shared with the students.

An O licence permits you to trade in transport; three types of licence. The purpose of the tachograph: every vehicle over 3.5t, it’s the recording device of what commercial vehicles do. Training for legal compliance must be constantly read to update on new transport laws. Transport law changes quickly, you must be up to date.

Students enjoyed a highly interactive masterclass, ‘Twenty five per cent of vehicles are not MOT-ed. To be a good HGV transport manager you must have all your documents in place. All your compliance in place. You need to be sure raw data is correct.

DVSA earned recognition is at the top of my list. FORS is a strong standard to be achieved. Everything is moving to electronic. Lot of products out there to keep you compliant, many systems on the market to help with tacho data. You need the right person in the right vehicle with the right compliance.

Focused on O licence, Alison detailed driver hours, drivers permitted to operate appropriate vehicles. ‘Compliance falls into three divisions, training, analysis and tacho. DVSA will often come in, sometimes using a desktop form and dealing with drivers at roadside.’ Alison spoke on DVSA ‘earned recognition’. Earned recognition covers eight areas,’ screenshot discussion on how the eight fits into transport management, then think apply for earned recognition.’ ‘Be sure manual entries are going into the tacho.’ ‘ one hundred to five thousand pounds compliance fines.’ ‘A positive manual entry to tachograph often works well.’ If you have a vehicle moved three minutes this will not be allowed to assign for yard shunting.

Allison then outlined FORS, ‘Its a good thing to be on top of your data.’ Moving to Dangerous Goods safety, key to have barriers between driver and goods, you must keep such apart. I often do a spot check on ADR, you need regular check on kit, from wellingtons to batteries in the torch. They must be there.