Driver licensing
It is an offence for a person to drive a vehicle on a public road otherwise than in accordance with an appropriate licence for that vehicle. A company or person may also be prosecuted if they cause or permit the offence and most insurance policies will be invalidated if the driver is not properly qualified to drive. Operators must therefore establish a routine driving licence checking system covering all their employees or agents (such as agency staff). They should ensure that each of their drivers:
- holds a current licence for that category of vehicle
- have not been disqualified from driving
- comply with any conditions on the licence (eg wearing glasses or using L plates)
In 1997, there was a major change in driving entitlements for those passing their car tests (category B). Instead of being able to drive vehicles over 3.5 tonnes mam (Maximum Authorised Mass - the maximum the vehicle (or trailer) can legally weigh when fully loaded, regardless of its actual weight at any given time up) and up to 7.5 tonnes mam, minibuses and to draw larger trailers, the entitlements were considerably reduced. A licence for a car test taken on or after 1 January 1997 will only automatically give entitlement for category B together with other minor specialist categories, and the driver will have to take and pass additional tests to tow larger trailers or drive larger goods or passenger vehicles. Those granted the entitlement prior to 1997 can continue until their licence expires, or their medical status changes.
In the same year, holders of category C entitlement were also prevented from drawing single axle trailers with a mam of up to 5 tonnes and there were no continuing rights for existing holders. Therefore if drivers only hold a category C entitlement, the largest trailer that they can draw is just 750kg mam.
Always check driving licences regularly to ensure the required licence is held and valid.
For more information on driver licensing, please use the operator tools below