We recently dealt with a case that perfectly illustrates what can go wrong when an operator licence isn’t properly managed—and how one key oversight can bring an entire business to a standstill.
Let’s walk through what happened, what should have happened, and what the consequences are when a Transport Manager resigns and the company fails to act.
So, what happened?
One of our clients, an external Transport Manager, reached out to us after deciding to resign from an operator licence they were managing. Their reason? Serious compliance failures involving a newly appointed Fleet Operations Manager.
Following an internal audit, the Transport Manager identified multiple areas of non-compliance and flagged these concerns to the company. They requested specific changes and improvements to bring the operation back in line with the rules.
But nothing changed.
What did the Transport Manager do?
Faced with continued inaction and escalating risk, the Transport Manager did what they are professionally obligated to do: they submitted their 28 days’ notice of resignation to the Traffic Commissioner.
This step is both a legal requirement and a necessary safeguard when a Transport Manager is unable to fulfil their duties due to non-cooperation or negligence within the business.
What should the company have done next?
Once a Transport Manager gives notice, the company must act quickly to protect their ability to operate legally. There are two immediate options:
Apply to add a new Transport Manager to the operator licence, or
Request a period of grace from the Traffic Commissioner to allow time to recruit a suitable replacement
Either of these steps signals to the Traffic Commissioner that the company is taking its compliance obligations seriously.
But what did the company actually do?
Nothing.
They didn’t apply for a new Transport Manager.
They didn’t ask for a period of grace.
They didn’t even notify the Traffic Commissioner.
The 28-day notice period has now expired, and the company is operating without a nominated Transport Manager on their licence.
What’s the impact of that?
This is where the consequences get serious:
Without a named and approved Transport Manager, the company is no longer legally allowed to trade.
Continuing to operate vehicles without one is a clear breach of licence conditions and could result in enforcement action—including suspension or revocation of the licence altogether.
The key takeaway
If your Transport Manager resigns, or you know they’re planning to step down, you must act immediately. Don’t assume you have time. Don’t assume it will sort itself out.
Failing to notify the Traffic Commissioner or secure a replacement could bring your operations to a complete halt—and getting back on track is often much harder than staying compliant in the first place.
Need help navigating operator licence compliance or replacing a Transport Manager? We’re here to guide you through the process—before it becomes a crisis.