Operators licence

[DNgroundworks]

Got talking to a bloke today who has a 7.5 tonne tipper and a larger skip loading wagon, he reckons that you need an operators licence for the 7.5 tonner as-well as the correct driving licence, could somebody clarify if you actually need one and what are they for?

[ken]

I’ve heard the same before but never researched it as I don’t own/drive either. I recently learnt that I having past my driving test in February 1998 do not have the correct license too tow any thing. I’ve towed allsorts in the past, lucky I have never been pulled!

[bobbi o]

yes,you need an o licence for a 7.5 tonner,but can,depending on your age drive it on a normal car licence. it will also need to undergo 6 weekly checks,supervised by your transport manager,who you will need to appoint at the time of applying for your o licence

[DNgroundworks]

Same here Ken i tow everyday, going for my test this month hopefully. so as well as needing the correct driving licence i think its C 1 you need another licence also, what for?

[DNgroundworks]

Also i know that if you passed you test before 97 you can drive a 3.5 tonne vehicle gross with a trailer and a 7.5 tonne gross vehicle but apparently you need another licence as well? hmm confused!

[Carberry]

Need another license to tow a trailer >750kg
Need money in the bank if you have a 7.5T in case vosa put it off road for mandatory repairs.
You will need a CPC to drive 7.5T after september 2013. Your transport manager will need one now.

[DNgroundworks]

not if you passed before 97 , 7.5 tonne gross train weight for the b+e

[lutonlagerlout]

AFAIK I am legit to drive 7.5 tonners on a normal license but i passed in 85
LLL

[GB_Groundworks]

All changes in 2013 all grandfather rights removed have to do test, 8 hours training a year and keep log books etc.

Yes if your running a +3.5 ton vehicle for commercial applications you needs a operators license, we have a restricted one for our 1 7.5 toner and tractor. Basically assures you keep it road worthy and maintained. You appointed a transport manager for a full o license which has to have certain qualifications to be hence why we run the restricted one. You have to have a base of operations, certain amounting in bank thinks it's £4k ish, place an advert in local papers etc. It's about £180 then £50 per additional vehicle and last 3 years if memory serves me right.

Category C1+E (7.5 Tonne and Trailer)
New Laws that affect this Licence
This licence category will allow you to drive a 7.5 tonne vehicle towing a trailer that exceeds 750kgs.
If you passed your car driving test prior to January 1997 then you will have gained a C1+E licence but this will be restricted to trailers not weighing more than 750kgs (Total train weight of vehicle and trailer can not exceed 8250kgs). If you are required to tow trailers that exceed 750kgs then you will be required to take a C1+E course and test, on passing the test you will be able to tow trailers up to 4500kgs (Total train weight of vehicle and trailer can not exceed 12000kgs). Although you may have the Category C1+E on your current licence you will be required to have a medical to comply with current licensing legislation, apply for a provisional C1+E licence and take a theory test. Once your provisional licence has been approved and returned to you your theory test can be arranged, the theory test is made up of two parts; the multiple-choice part and the hazard perception part. The multiple choice part is delivered using a touch screen computer monitor and a mouse for the hazard perception part, the computer records your responses through the use of a computer mouse button.

You need to pass both parts to pass the theory test. If you pass one part and fail the other you will fail the whole test, and you will need to take both parts again.

If you passed your car driving test after January 1997 you will have to take a category C1 course and test before progressing on to category C1+E. In order to take a Category C1 course you will be required to undertake a medical examination to comply with the higher medical regulations that this licence category requires which we can arrange for you. Once you have had your medical you will need to apply for your provisional vocational licence.

Once your licence has been approved and returned to you your theory test can be arranged, the theory test is made up of two parts; the multiple-choice part and the hazard perception part. The multiple choice part is delivered using a touch screen computer monitor and a mouse for the hazard perception part, the computer records your responses through the use of a computer mouse button.
You need to pass both parts to pass the theory test. If you pass one part and fail the other you will fail the whole test, and you will need to take both parts again.

Yes you need a c1 for 7.5 tonner and c1+e for a trailer behind a 7.5 toner bigger than 750kg basically if you tow a 1.5 toner behind 7.5 toner you need the old fashioned full artic hgv license plus a tachometer etc and the regular checks

Do I need an Operators Licence?
You need an operator’s licence to carry goods (or burden) connected with any trade or business if you "USE" a motor vehicle on a road with a gross vehicle mass (weight) of over 3,500 Kg (3.5 tons).

What Type of licence do you need?
A Restricted Operators Licence - to operate vehicles within the EEC as long as you are only carrying your own goods. The main advantage of this type of licence is that there is no requirement to employ a transport manager with a CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) and the financial resources that need to be in place are less. However as the operator must maintain the same standards as an unrestricted licence holder it is advisable to have access to professional advice
A National Operators Licence - to operate on a "hire and reward" basis (charge for the transport of goods not owned) within the UK
An International Operators Licence - to operate on a "hire and reward" basis (charge for the transport of goods not owned) within the EEC
Requirements
CPC holder - not required for a restricted licence
Operating Centre – If not owned or leased, permission to park
A Statutory Notice must be advertised inviting objections about the operating centre - The wording of the notice is detailed in the GV79 form but must advertised in a newspaper which is in free circulation in the area of the operating centre
Maintenance Requirements – Either details of in house maintenance or signed agreement to maintain the vehicles including a copy of the inspection sheet to be used
Finances - Three months demonstrating access to sufficient funds to maintain the fleet
The Application Process
The applicant must complete a GV79 application form and send it to the Traffic Commissioner’s Office in Leeds along with the documentation detailed above. VOSA (Vehicle & Operators Services Agency) recommend that you apply ten weeks before you need the licence, if a quick decision is needed an interim licence can be applied for at an additional cost and it assumes that there will be no problems with application.

Costs
There are a series of fees which apply throughout the application process.

An application fee of £254 is required with the submission of the GV79 Application Form. An average application will take around 10 weeks, however, this can be reduced to around 6 weeks if an application is made for an interim licence but there is an additional fee of £66 for this. When the licence is granted a further licence fee and vehicle fees are required. The licence fee is a one off payment of £354 and lasts for 5 years. Vehicle fees of £48 per vehicle per year or £200 per vehicle for 5 years are also required at this time.

Edited By GB_Groundworks on 1305150372

[mickavalon]

Good to see that their doing all they can to help small business and promote growth, what better than more admin and charges, hurray for HM's finest!!

[local patios and driveway]

i tried for an o licence at our yard, like giles says you need just under 4k in the bank per vehicle thats on the license and this is to ensure you have funds readily available to maintain the vehicle no matter what. if you take it for its plate (mot) and it fails your 'o' is marked against you, to many bad points when it comes to the test can cost your lisence. its not like an mot where you can fail and fix, you are expected to have the vehicle in tip top condition at all times due to the 6 wek check you are having done, and its expected to pass everytime.

there are other issues like your exit on to the road must have, i think 100m, of clear vision both directions to be able to pull out on to the road safely which was our issue. other alternatives are you can put your vehicle on someone elses license at a cost, and have the 6 week checks done with that fleet, but you cannot park the vehicle overnight at say your house etc.

there are experts who will come and talk you through it at no cost, and access your situation.

as already mentioned, the small man really can struggle with these bloody rules.

[Dave_L]

Our trucks (mobile skips!) might not be the cheapest item of equipment to operate but they are so so useful in our day to do work.

Have just had to go through the rigmarole of applying for a new Operators Licence due to a company name change, so know about all the hoops you've got to jump through very well!

[DNgroundworks]

Right please excuse my feeble brain but just for instance, say if i wanted to have a 7.5 ton wagon setup, me personally id have to go to a test center and do the required training and associated test, once passed and the vehicle was in good condition and i was insured could i then not get aboard an drive away - legally?

And again for instance, as LLL passed before 97 if he wanted to could he not buy, insure and then drive away in said vehicle or does everyone have to piss about with this operators licence?

Am i right in thinking that the C1 driving licence is THE operators licence im getting confused about?

[DNgroundworks]

Right so still confused, Giles could i, as i have a yard, utilise the restricted one? what is the difference, and it what situations do the restricted and no restricted licences come into play?

[GB_Groundworks]

no, lll would have to do a medical etc and theory to drive the 7.5 toner as i read it,

the operators license is more a business tax, or insurance kind of that you keep your vehicle upto standard.

if your not running a 7.5 tonner for business say like a horse box etc you dont need one.

you can drive it home etc but if you are using it for business you should have an operators license.

yeah you only need the full one for carrying other peoples goods say haulage firm or if you run lots of wagons and have a transport manager, so the restricted one is what you need.

you could run without it but a run into vosa would be painful, with the paper work then you start with all the waste carriers license etc they love weighing the small firms down with lots of paper work