OLAT Training

OLAT (Operator Licence Awareness Training)

If you have been granted a Restricted Operator Licence, you have agreed to the same legally binding operator undertakings and have all the same responsibilities as a standard Operator Licence holder, even though you may be new to the transport industry. As the Director signing the application for a Restricted Operator Licence, you have personally taken on a number of legal responsibilities. It is essential that you understand and comply with all your licence undertakings and that you maintain a healthy Operator Compliance Risk Score (OCRS). The best way to ensure that you are up to date and compliant is to attend O Licence training every few years.

You can choose to attend one of our classroom-based courses in person, at our accredited training centre in Braintree, Essex; or join us online, via the Zoom platform, from a location of your choice. 

• OLAT Courses LGV

  If you hold a Restricted O Licence for Road Haulage, this will be because your organisation needs HGV/LGVs either to transport your own goods to your customers, or to carry equipment to and from locations. You might not consider yourself to be in the transport industry as such, but importantly, you are legally classified as an operator and you should regularly attend one of LGV OLAT courses and complete O Licence training every few years.

  LGV OLAT Courses cover:

  • Operator Licencing
  • Drivers’ Hours monitoring
  • Managing drivers
  • Current transport issues
  • Managing vehicles
  • Traffic enforcement

  
  

• OLAT Courses PCV

  As the holder of a Restricted O Licence for Passenger Transport, you only need to transport people on a small scale and it is not your primary business activity. You might operate one or two vehicles (that can carry up to 16 passengers) which are quite likely used to provide a community bus service, or to shuttle guests to and from your hotel, or staff to and from their place of work within your organisation. In all cases, transporting passengers is not your organisation’s primary function, so might not be as aware of changes in the law or best practice. Regular O Licence training will help you to stay compliant, so you should attend one of our PCV OLAT courses every few years. every few years.

  PCV OLAT Courses cover:

  • Operator Licencing
  • Drivers' Hour monitoring
  • Managing drivers
  • Current transport issues
  • Managing vehicles
  • Traffic enforcement

  
  

OLAT Training - Frequently Asked Questions

• What is OLAT (Operator Licence Awareness Training) and who should attend?

  OLAT stands for Operator Licence Awareness Training and is highly recommended for all holders of Restricted Operator Licences. An organisation which holds a Restricted O Licence may not need to employ a transport manager – however, the directors of the organisation are jointly responsible for ensuring that they comply with transport legislation and fulfil their O Licence undertakings. Even if they do employ a qualified transport manager, the directors are still legally responsible, so it is important that they attend an OLAT course from time to time.

• How often should a Restricted O Licence holder attend OLAT Training?

  In order to understand your legal responsibilities and be confident that you can fulfil your O Licence undertakings, it is strongly recommended that you attend an OLAT course every few years to keep current with transport legislation and industry best practice. If you come to the attention of the authorities, you will almost certainly be required by the Traffic Commissioner to attend a two-day OLAT course.

• Does Operator Licence Awareness Training involve taking exams?

  As a Restricted O Licence holder, you are not required to hold a Transport Manager CPC qualification, and therefore, you will not need to sit any exams. Your OLAT training is designed to increase your knowledge and awareness of your legal responsibilities so you can ensure that you can consistently comply with transport legislation and best practice.

• Can I book an OLAT course online?

  Our OLAT courses are all available to book online. We have courses to attend in person at our training centre in Braintree, or online from your home or office. Book an OLAT course here.

  You can also choose to attend OLAT training courses online, from your home or office. Click here for details of online courses.

  • What are the different types of Operator Licence or ‘O Licence’?

    In the UK, an Operator will be issued with either a Standard Operator Licence or a Restricted Operator Licence. These are also known as a Standard O Licence or a Restricted O Licence.

    Restricted O Licences are generally granted to organisations who, although they may use larger vehicles to transport equipment or resources that they need to carry out their core business, are not primarily delivery or distribution organisations.

  • What might make the Traffic Commissioner take my O Licence away?

    A Traffic Commissioner will take away the O Licence of an organisation which fails to fulfil their O Licence undertakings. Sometimes they will insist that you attend a training course so you can put right what you have been doing wrong, and you will get another chance to improve your processes and keep your O Licence. This is entirely at the discretion of the Traffic Commissioner.

    The Traffic Commissioner may also insist that you undertake a systems audit to identify the weaknesses which have led to your lack of compliance. You don’t have to wait for this to happen; you can commission your own Transport Systems & O Licence Audit on your own initiative. This is a very good idea as it will show up any areas that you need to strengthen, so that you can avoid coming to the attention of the Traffic Commissioner.

    To avoid putting your O Licence at risk, you should attend an OLAT course or Transport Manager CPC Refresher course every few years and make sure you are complying with transport legislation and following best practice. Company directors who employ a transport manager should still attend OLAT training from time to time, to ensure that they understand their legal responsibilities. The organisation’s directors/partners/owners are, ultimately, jointly responsible with a transport manager for the management and compliance of the O Licence. Even if your transport manager shoulders the responsibility for day-to-day management, the directors/partners/owners are still legally liable for any failure to fulfil O Licence undertakings, or breaches of transport legislation.

    We can advise which course you need. Call 01376 552999 for advice.

  • What is an ‘S’ Mark and what should I do if I receive one?

    An 'S' mark is a prohibition given by a Police Officer or DVSA examiner when a vehicle is checked at the roadside and found to have a serious defect which is indicative of a significant failure in the maintenance of the vehicle. The DVSA will make a full assessment of the operator’s procedures. They will examine how you manage vehicle maintenance, but will also scrutinise your entire organisation. You may be called to a Public Inquiry, and the Traffic Commissioner may decide you should lose your O Licence. In some cases, you could also face prosecution.

    If you are given an S Mark, you would be well-advised to arrange for a Transport Systems Audit to highlight any potential problem areas. You might also wish to consider seeking legal representation. You should also attend a two-day Transport Manager CPC Refresher course or OLAT (Operator Licence Awareness Training) course as a matter of urgency.

  • What should I do if I am summoned to a Public Inquiry?

    First, take positive action immediately after any incident which could bring you to the attention of the authorities. It can take some months for the dreaded letter to arrive. If you have already improved your processes and practices, you will make a much better impression than if you do nothing before facing the Traffic Commissioner.

    Secondly, read the papers from the Traffic Commissioner very carefully. Get some legal advice and representation. It will be worth it.

    Thirdly, try to understand where you went wrong. A transport systems and O Licence audit will help to pinpoint errors and weaknesses.

    Fourth, attend either a Transport Manager CPC Refresher course or an Operator Licence Awareness Training (OLAT) course, depending on the type of O Licence that you hold. Booking or attending a course before the inquiry may count in your favour.

    Fifth, set in place robust systems to ensure you don't make the same mistakes again. A systems audit will provide recommendations for strengthening your processes and your compliance.

    Sixth, make your case to the public inquiry. Having a legal representative to speak for you will help you to make your case clearly at the public enquiry and may improve your chances of keeping your O Licence.

  • What happens at a Traffic Commissioner’s preliminary hearing?

    The Traffic Commissioner may require you to attend a preliminary hearing if the area in which they believe you are non-compliant is limited to a fairly narrow issue. Unlike a public Enquiry, this type of hearing is not held in public. However, this should not be mistaken for an informal chat; it is a serious, formal legal proceeding and you should prepare carefully for it.

    We recommend that you take this as seriously as a public enquiry and consider having legal representation to help you make your case. We also recommend commissioning a Transport Systems & O Licence Audit, so you can identify any weaknesses in your processes and correct them. You should also attend an OLAT course as soon as you can. If you have a transport manager, they should attend a Transport Manager CPC Refresher course as soon as possible.

    Taking these steps can help you to explain to the Traffic Commissioner that you acknowledge and understand that you have made mistakes and failed to comply in some areas, but that you have also taken steps to ensure that you have strengthened your systems and will be able to comply consistently in future.

    The Traffic Commissioner will not suspend or take away your O Licence at a preliminary hearing. However, if they are not satisfied with your evidence, and believe that your lack of compliance is likely to be an ongoing issue, they may decide to take you to an official public inquiry – at which they may suspend or take away your O Licence, or reduce the number of vehicles which your O Licence entitles you to operate.