The Traffic Commissioners have the power to call the holders of LGV vocational driving licences to Driver Conduct Hearings (DCHs). At these hearing they have the power to suspend or revoke these vocational entitlements. For an owner driver this can be as serious as a call to Public Inquiry and proper advice and representation is essential.
An individual’s ability to hold a vocational entitlement is determined by his or her conduct in driving any vehicle not just LGVs – e.g. if an employee driver is convicted or receives a fixed penalty for speeding in his own private car, this has to be reported. The holders of Operator’s Licences must therefore ensure that drivers inform them of all such matters so that these can be reported.
An essential part of this is to carry out regular checks on and obtain copies of employee drivers licences. There are now a number of on-line services to facilitate this.
We have the necessary experience to advise on these systems and provide appropriate representation at DCHs.