Self-employed Transport Managers

HC Deb 30 June 2003 vol 408 c4W

Mr. Peter Duncan

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his policy is on the use of self-employed transport managers under(a) the Goods Vehicle Licensing of Operators Act 1995 and (b) EU directive 96/26. [122313]

Dr. Howells

The Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995 and Directive 96/26/EC require the holders of Standard National and International goods vehicle operators' licences to be professionally competent or to have a transport manager. A transport manager is an individual who is in, or who is engaged to be in, the employment of the licence holder and who has continuous and effective responsibility for the management of the transport operations. Transport managers must be professionally competent and of good repute.

The statutorily independent Traffic Commissioners are solely responsible for administering the goods operator licensing system. It is for them to decide if a nominated transport manager meets the requirements of the law, based on the individual circumstances of each operator.