From autonomous vehicles and compliance schemes to the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and safety-focused standards, this year’s event demonstrated how the sector is tackling safety, efficiency, and sustainability, beyond electrification and infrastructure.
Autonomy driving safer and smarter mobility
Autonomy is no longer a distant concept - it’s already in use across the transport sector, enabled by strong UK regulation, including the Automated Vehicles Act of 2024, which paves the way for roll-out by 2027. David Wong, SMMT’s head of technology and innovation, shared modelling showing autonomous technologies could add £66 billion to the UK economy and prevent 66,000 serious accidents by 2040.
In a seminar at the CV Show, Chris Gall, Alexander Dennis’ group engineering director, Chris Ashley, RHA head of policy, environment & regulation, and Jamie Hodson, Oxa’s global head of regulatory & public affairs, explored the real-world deployment of autonomous systems.
Gall detailed the success of the “CAVForth” trial in Edinburgh, the UK’s first full autonomous service to carry everyday passengers. The trial operated over a six-month period using semi-dedicated bus lanes. Further work is now underway in Cambridge, where three Enviro100AEV autonomous electric buses will begin public operation from next month as part of the Cambridge Connect project.
Ashley highlighted that the technology’s potential lies in depot operations and closed environments, where routes are predictable and safety can be tightly managed. For Hodson, the sweet spot is repeatable, localised use cases such as solar farm patrols or airport baggage movements, which are already demonstrating automation’s efficiency and safety benefits today.
AI and Safety: Saving lives in real time
AI is also about protecting drivers and improving fleet performance in real time and Cappagh Browne, a sewer infrastructure specialist, shared results from its use of Samsara’s AI-powered safety platform. In one year, the company reduced accidents from 30 to four, cut maintenance costs by 20%, and prevented two serious incidents thanks to AI-triggered driver alerts.
The system uses cameras and sensors to detect fatigue, distraction, and collision risks, issuing in-cab warnings within 30 seconds. “We’ve saved two lives directly thanks to this system,” said Matt Reid, head of plant & transport at Cappagh Browne. “You can’t argue with results like that.”
Jonathan Ramsey of Samsara reinforced that AI’s role is not to replace drivers, but to enhance their safety and elevate performance. “AI helps us make better decisions, reduce waste, and build safer, more efficient fleets,” Ramsey said. “It’s about insight, not oversight.”
Raising standards with the MPRS scheme
In a step for compliance, IRTE used the CV Show to announce the first companies accredited under the new Maintenance Provider Recognition Scheme (MPRS), with DAF and Daimler Truck named as founding participants.
MPRS provides a structured, tiered framework to assess and improve vehicle maintenance standards, focusing on safety, efficiency, and environmental impact. Nick Elliott, specialist transport consultant and chairman of the IRTE, explained that while initial bronze and silver assessments can be completed online, higher-level accreditations require in-person audits, allowing for rigorous evaluation of people, processes, and facilities.
Traffic commissioner for the West of England, Kevin Rooney, added that, amid a growing skills shortage, initiatives like MPRS will be vital in attracting talent, supporting operators, and providing a trusted benchmark across the sector. James Reed, Daimler Truck’s dealer systems, programmes and process specialist, confirmed that all Daimler dealers will be required to hold an MPRS rating by the end of 2025.
Driving the future forwards
As the CV sector continues to evolve, AI, autonomy, and high standards in maintenance are creating a safer, more transparent, and more accountable industry. CV Show 2025 proved that this transformation isn’t just coming - it’s already underway.
The next edition of the CV Show will take place on 21 – 23 April 2026 and you can register your interest here.
