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Stormy debates over Operator Licensing requirements
There’ve been a series of sometimes stormy debates across Northern Ireland over the Department of the Environment’s plans to introduce new legislation to reform goods vehicle operator licensing, a move that will impact on some 15,000 registered operators in the Province.
The Road Haulage Association has hosted a number of exceptionally well attended information meetings to try to explain what the implications will be when O Licensing becomes law here by 2011 – but according to reports to Export & Freight, many people have come away just as confused as they were before.
Currently, there is considerable disparity between the Northern Ireland and Great Britain operator licensing system; the overall purpose of the new legislation is to bring the Province into line with the rest of the UK.
The move has been welcomed by both the RHA and the Freight Transport Association, but not all their members in Northern Ireland are as enthusiastic about the proposals. We’ve been speaking to hauliers, manufacturers, hire companies – and politicians.
The RHA’s Phil Flanders tells us that there are ‘a lot of unfounded rumours’ circulating within the industry here, and that it has been difficult to dispel them.
“All of our meetings have attracted big attendances; we’ve had more than a thousand people at them, so we appreciate the interest and the concerns are huge,” says Phil. “I am also aware there are a lot of unhappy people; people don’t like change, and they are becoming upset by the smallest of things. Our series of meetings have been aimed at trying to allay those fears.”
Objectives
So what is the aim of the legislation? Well, there are four main objectives - the safe and proper use of good vehicles; fair competition in the industry; protection of the environment; and more effective enforcements.
The main requirements will mean that all operators of goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes will have to obtain a licence. Presently only operators who carry other people’s goods for reward are required to hold a road freight operator’s licence.
Operators who carry their own goods in the course of their business will now also have to hold an operator’s licence – and that’s something that hasn’t gone down well in some quarters.
Fears
Alvin Doake from Cirrus Plastics in Portadown agrees that the O Licence will sort out the ‘cowboy’ element within the industry, but he adds: “It seems to be just another form of bureaucracy. I don’t think it’s fair that as a manufacturer carrying only our own goods we should have to foot this extra expense.”
He says he’s also tried to get clarification on other matters concerning PSVs and MOTs, but to no avail. “First time failure rates here for under three and a half tonnes and MOTs appear to be a lot higher than in England, so we could be disadvantaged in Northern Ireland.”
One haulier we spoke to, who admittedly hasn’t attended any of the RHA meetings, but obviously has a vested interest in the ongoing debate, was even more vociferous.
“I don’t know enough about it yet, but it will certainly be another expense on top of having to pay for a freight licence for every one of my trucks. I don’t think it’ll put us out of business – the fuel price will do that!”
Caroline Pearce from Gilford Van Hire was at one of the RHA meetings, and says many questions were left unanswered. “Many people I have spoken to are viewing it as another system of taxing us, or trying to find faults with us,” says Caroline.
“Some have claimed it will affect our van hire business, that we’ll not be able to operate, but that isn’t true. People renting from us, say to move house, will not need an O licence, but hauliers hiring a vehicle will have to prove to us that they have one. That much is clear. However, there are too many unfounded rumours that have to be quashed.”
And that’s exactly what the RHA has been trying to do. “It’s going to take time before everyone grasps what is exactly involved,” admits Phil Flanders. “It is going to cost operators money, but we believe it will be money well spent. Operators who take pride in their job will have nothing to fear.”
He said that a big percentage of trucks are currently unroadworthy, that Northern Ireland was third from the bottom of the table in that regard.and that the O Licensing system, with its high standards, should improve the overall situation.
“Our roads should be safer, as should the working environment for our drivers, and hauliers should look at it essentially as preventative maintenance that will save them expense in the long run.”
Earlier, the FTA’s Tom Wilson told us: “Operator licensing for all commercial vehicle operators has applied elsewhere in the UK since 1968 and the result has been a considerable improvement in safety standards and legal compliance.”
Types
There will be three different licence types – a restricted licence to carry own goods in the course of a trade or business, a standard national licence that will allow the carrying of own goods and goods for other people for hire or reward within the United Kingdom, and a standard international licence that will allow the carrying of own goods and goods for other people for hire or reward, both in the UK and on international journeys, including those to the Republic.
All operators will also have to have an environmentally suitable operating centre, the place where vehicles are normally kept when not in use, and the Department will have to be satisfied that the centre is big enough, with safe and suitable access and in an environmentally suitable location.
The legislation will also give new powers of enforcement, for example to impound illegally operating goods vehicle.
Politics
Politicians have also entered the debate. They’re seeking for the introduction of the Goods Vehicle Bill sooner rather than later. Legislation should be passed this summer and it’s scheduled to be on the Statute Books by 2011.
Sinn Fein’s environment spokesman Daithi McKay recently met with local representatives of the Freight Transport Association at Stormont.
“Ireland, north and south, has some of the worst transport standards in Europe and new legislation to bring the north up to speed has been on the table since the 1990s, but has never progressed by Direct Rule ministers.
“It is vitally important that we improve the reputation of the Irish freight and transport industry, it is important for road safety and it is important for our haulage drivers. This new Bill provides the opportunity to do that.”
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