New rules for International Operators Licences

New EU rules from 21 May 2022, will mean that operators or users of vans and other light goods vehicles over 2.5 tonnes and up to 3.5 tonnes in weight that transport goods for hire and reward from the UK into, or through the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, will need to obtain an International Operators’ Licence.

This will apply to you if you’re based in England, Scotland or Wales and use:

• vans or other light goods vehicles (sometimes called ‘light commercial vehicles’)

• vans towing trailers

• cars towing trailers

You need to either:

• apply for a standard international goods vehicle operator licence for the first time

• add the vehicles to your standard international goods vehicle operator licence (if you already have one)

• apply to upgrade your standard national goods vehicle operator licence (if you have one) to a standard international goods vehicle operator licence

• apply to upgrade your restricted goods vehicle operator licence (if you have one) to a standard international goods vehicle operator licence

You’ll also need to have a qualified transport manager.

You must have a transport manager to get a standard international goods vehicle operator licence. This is someone responsible for things such as:

• planning routes and scheduling delivery times

• managing your team of drivers and administration staff

• making sure drivers follow company and industry regulations

• arranging vehicle maintenance, MOTs and tax payments

• organising vehicle replacements

You must either:

• apply to get an existing member of staff (including yourself) temporarily recognised as a transport manager

• employ someone with a Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) qualification

• hire in an external qualified transport manager

For more information on transport manager training click HERE or to speak to Logico about external transport manager services, please contact us HERE.