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Operators on the Isle of Man say they have been left in the dark over plans to introduce an O-licensing system on the island following a consultation last year.

The Department of Transport (DoT) has been under increasing pressure to introduce legislation ever since a cyclist was struck and killed by a wheel that came off a tipper truck in 2006 on the island.

Transport lawyer Murray Oliver was appointed  to oversee the formation of new rules, and the government published responses to its consultation in February. However, haulier Jonathan Bannett says that since then, information has not been forthcoming.

Bannett, chairman of the Island Road Transport Association, a group set up to provide a voice for hauliers about the changes, also says he has concerns about the plans.

"I am very interested to know how they will police something like an O-licence," he says. "We want it to be policed, but how are they going to do it?"

Bannett adds that the proposed system should also be simplified, and that the date for its introduction should be brought forward from September 2011. "On the whole, we are happy with the result of the consultation, although a few points need tweaking with regards to training; how they will determine who is and isn't a reputable haulier; and grandfather rights," he says.

Road  Haulage Association area manager Jeff Marriott says he hasn't had a response to his call for the island's weight limits to be modernised.

"The current weight limits of 16, 24 and 30 tonnes respectively for four, six and eight-wheeled rigid vehicles should be examined, along with the 38-tonne articulated vehicle limit," he wrote in his consultation response.

"This policy penalises the Isle of Man haulage industry who are obliged to source vehicles built to European standards."

The DoT did not respond to calls from Commercial Motor.