Road Legal

Road transport is subject to more legal issues than almost any other industry. The Road Legal section covers all the areas of law within the industry. 

ROAD LEGAL SECTIONS: Drivers' hours, tachographs and the WTD | O-licence law | Vehicle law | Roadside law | Health and safety | Employment law | Environmental law

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Drivers' hours, tachographs and the WTD

How much work can your drivers do – and what records are you legally required to keep?

• Working Time Directive (WTD / RTD) explained 
• EU drivers' hours law explained 
• Digital tachographs 
• Compliance and record-keeping 
• Records required in the cab 
• Offences, infringements and penalties 
• Defences and exemptions 

O-licence law

If you operate commercial vehicles, you almost certainly need an operator's licence. Find out how to apply for an O-licence, and how to keep it.

• Applying for an O-licence 
• Management responsibilities and the CPC  
• The Traffic Commissioners' powers 
• Changing and varying your O-licence

Vehicle law

Roadworthiness, vehicle testing and weights and dimensions – here's how to keep your fleet running.

• Vehicle licensing and tax (VED)  
• Vehicle safety regulations, lighting and C&U
• Vehicle checks and maintenance requirements
• HGV testing and MoT testing
• Weights and dimensions / vehicle plating
• ADR and hazardous goods
• Special types (STGO) and abnormal loads

Roadside law

How your vehicle can be stopped on the road – and how to avoid it.

• UK traffic law / the Road Traffic Act 
• Enforcement agency powers and roadside prohibitions 
• Vehicle weight and size limits, overloading and axle loads 
• Speed limits and overtaking 
• Lorry bans 
• Parking, loading and unloading
• Load security

Health and safety

Transport is a risky business – here is the information you need to keep your employees safe.

• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 
• Management responsibilities and corporate manslaughter 
• Workplace safety and risk assessments
• Workplace accidents and RIDDOR
• Workplace equipment and PUWER
• Load-handling and LOLER
• Hazardous substances and COSHH
• Mobile workers and subcontractors
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Employee medical conditions and health checks
• Drugs, alcohol and breath tests

Employment law

Hiring, firing, TUPE and conditions of work – how to keep on the right side of employment law.

• General HR law and contracts of employment
• The recruitment process
• Checking a candidate's criminal record
• Staff and worker management
• Transfer of undertakings / TUPE
• Disciplinary and dismissal procedures
• Union law and industrial action
• Discrimination, equality and harassment
• The Equality Bill

Environmental law

No operator can ignore the environment – here is what you need to know about your obligations.

• Environmental requirements for operating centres
• Operating centres, pollution and Hazchem regulations
• Waste disposal, licensing and certificates
• Animal welfare

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ROAD LEGAL SECTIONS: Drivers' hours, tachographs and the WTD | O-licence law | Vehicle law | Roadside law | Health and safety | Employment law | Environmental law