It finds that, in the short term, replacing computer systems and changing procedures will lead will cut lead times for digital operator licensing from an average of nine to seven weeks.
Meanwhile, it suggests that more work is required on fleshing out benefits and developing potential legislation to enable future changes.
The review suggests 22 recommendations; four tabled by the DfT and the rest offered by consultants working on the review, informed by inputs from stakeholders.
The traffic commissioners report that they have already started work with the DfT and DVSA to implement some of the findings of the triennial review.
Additionally, further changes not requiring amendments to regulations are planned for introduction “in the near future and over the coming 12 months”, says the review.
Main developments arising are as follows:
Proposals to separate the traffic commissioners’ dual role of tribunal and operator licensing have been put on the back burner, wioth the DfT concerned about “risks to quality control in dealing with the non-compliant, possible extra pressures on enforcement costs and more [costly] appeals.”
Changes to statutory documents are being actively considered to improve the efficiency of processes for “generally compliant” operators – through, for example, improved guidance to staff and applicants, greater use of delegations to competent staff and increased use of informal hearings as alternatives to full public inquiries.
O licence application checking will be partially automated, with processes also accelerated by using staff resources to vet and proactively seek more accurate information where required.
From the beginning of 2016, the DfT has asked OTC (Office of the Traffic Commissioners) to publish average times on a quarterly basis for how long operator licence transactions take, split between goods vehicles and public service vehicles.
The DfT has also asked the traffic commissioners to introduce a package of non-legislative changes by April 2016, all aimed at improving guidance, improving understanding and speeding processes.
For the future – and still subject to consultation, the basis on which fees are currently levied will be revised to reflect costs of different types of transactions and sizes of operator.
This could include the removal of the five-yearly renewal requirement but also increasing fees for larger operators while reducing them for SMEs.
The traffic commissioners also observe that there is an imbalance between fees levied on the passenger and haulage industries, in terms of the contribution each makes to the licensing system and the resources required.
“Restructuring of fees will address that situation,” says the report