Big changes are coming for van / LGV drivers and operators. Over the next year, the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) will be cracking down harder than ever on Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs) and their trailers. If you think this doesn’t affect you, think again.
If you run vans for work – in construction, car transport, deliveries, or any other trade – you are now a top target. The DVSA has had enough of unsafe vehicles, poor loading practices, and operators ignoring the rules.
This isn’t just about ticking boxes. It’s about lives.
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?
The DVSA checks around 20,000 vans every year. Over half of those checks lead to action, and not the kind that’s beneficial. What are the most common problems?
- Serious defects
- Insecure loads
- Overloaded vehicles
Vans are failing their MOTs four times more often than HGVs. They’re also involved in three times more serious or fatal accidents than HGVs.
In 2023-24, there were 3,000 major incidents involving vans, including tragic deaths. By comparison, HGVs were involved in fewer than 1,000.
This is not a small problem. It’s a dangerous one – and the DVSA is going after it.
HOW THEY’LL ENFORCE IT
The DVSA is doing more than just handing out leaflets. They’ll be:
- Targeting high-risk sectors, like construction and car transport
- Stopping vehicles roadside
- Issuing fines, penalties, and even prosecution
- Working with trade associations to push out clearer rules
And they’re not stopping with a warning. If you’re not compliant, they will act.
With 10 times more vans than trucks on the roads, the DVSA is under pressure to focus its efforts, and you don’t want to be in their sights.
A TRAGIC REMINDER: THIS IS REAL
This crackdown is being driven by heartbreaking events. One of the worst?
11-year-old Harry Dennis was killed when a scaffolding board flew off a van and hit the car he was in. The driver hadn’t secured the load properly, and claimed he didn’t have enough training.
He’s now serving a 4-year prison sentence.
Don’t be the next person in court saying, “I didn’t know.”
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO?
If you drive or operate vans, now is the time to act. Make sure:
- Your vehicles are roadworthy
- Loads are secure
- You understand your legal duties
- Your drivers are trained
Want help getting compliant?
👉 Enrol now in the Van Operator Licence Awareness Training
This online course will teach you everything you need to know to stay safe, legal, and one step ahead of enforcement.
DON’T WAIT UNTIL YOU GET STOPPED
This is your warning. The DVSA has its sights set on van operators. If you’re not prepared, you’re at serious risk – of fines, penalties, or worse.
Protect your business. Protect your people. Protect lives.
Enrol today – before it’s too late.👉 https://www.ntponlinelearning.co.uk/van-operator-licence-awareness-training/