Useful Links
- Information Portals
- The driver, vehicle and operator agencies
- Other Government Sites
- Campaigns
- Trade Associations
- Consumer Associations
- Other Useful Links
Please find below a selection of useful links to a range of government and trade associations websites connected with the commercial road transport industry.
Information Portals
Business Link is an easy to use business support, advice and information service managed by the DTI. Run by business people, they offer support services across the government, voluntary and private sectors.
Direct Gov is the place to turn to for the latest and widest range of government information and services online.
The driver, vehicle and operator agencies
Department for Transport
The central government department responsible for all transport throughout the UK.
DSA promotes road safety through improving driving standards.
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
DVLA facilitates road safety and general law enforcement by maintaining registers of drivers and vehicles, and collecting vehicle taxation (VED).
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Northern Ireland
DVLNI mirrors the role of the DVLA in Northern Ireland.
VCA is the UK's national approval authority for new road vehicles, agricultural tractors and off-road vehicles.
Vehicle and Operator Services Agency
VOSA provides a range of licensing, testing and enforcement services with the aim of improving the roadworthiness standards of vehicles ensuring the compliance of operators and drivers, and supporting the independent Traffic Commissioners.
Other Government Sites
A number of other Government Departments and agencies work with the DfT in its work. These include:
British Transport Police is the national police force for the railways providing a policing service to rail operators, their staff and passengers throughout England, Wales and Scotland.
Commission for Integrated Transport
The Commission for Integrated Transport (CfIT) is an independent body advising the Government on integrated transport policy.
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
DEFRA works for the essentials of life - food, air, land, water, people, animals and plants. Their remit is the pursuit of sustainable development - weaving together economic, social and environmental concerns.
Department for Work and Pensions
The driver, vehicle and operator agencies work with the DWP on enforcement schemes, ensuring that all drivers at the roadside are permitted and registered for work in Great Britain.
The Driver CPC is for LGV and PCV drivers who drive professionally throughout the UK. It is being developed as a requirement of the EU Directive 2003/59, which is designed to improve the knowledge and skills of professional LGV and PCV drivers throughout their working life
Freight Best Practice is the new name for the Transport Energy Best Practice programme. Freight Best Practice offers free information for the freight industry including: saving fuel, developing skills, equipment and systems, operational efficiency and performance management.
The Highways Agency is an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport who manage, maintain and improve the network of trunk roads and motorways in England on behalf of the Secretary of State.
The driver, vehicle and operator agencies work with Customs and Excise in the movement of freight internationally. We also work together to ensure the roadworthiness of vehicles entering Great Britain.
The driver, vehicle and operator agencies work with the Home Office in its enforcement of Immigration Laws through checking international freight and transport.
Institution of Highways and Transportation
The Institution of Highways & Transportation is the foremost learned society in the UK concerned specifically with the design, construction, maintenance and operation of sustainable transport systems and infrastructure.
For links to the various Local Authorities go to: www.direct.gov.uk and follow links to the Local Authority you are interested in
The driver, vehicle and operator agencies often work with Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services, ensuring consumer satisfaction and assisting with a variety of issues. In addition to this the driver, vehicle and operator agencies train Local Authorities for the checking of local taxi fleets.
In some areas we undertake this work on their behalf.
The LGA represents all local authorities in England and Wales plus police authorities, fire authorities and passenger transport authorities.
The driver, vehicle and operator agencies currently train MOD staff on vehicle fleet as well as monitoring standards of roadworthiness.
The driver, vehicle and operator agencies also work very closely with the Police in order to carry out roadside enforcement activity.
Real Time Information from the Traffic Agency
Trial project giving drivers real time information on congestion and road accidents.
Road Service (Northern Ireland)
Roads Service was established on 1 April 1996 as an Executive Agency within the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. Following Devolution on 2 December 1999, the Agency moved to the new Department for Regional Development. We operate within the context of the Department's overall Vision, Strategic Aims and Objectives.
Rural Transport Fund for Northern Ireland
The Rural Transport Fund (RTF) is administered by the Department for Regional Development and has been in existence in Northern Ireland since November 1998. Its primary objective is to reduce social exclusion in rural areas by improving or providing new transport opportunities for people with reduced mobility.
Scottish National Driver Information and Control Centre
NADICS provides a co-ordinated traffic management service for Scotland's strategic road network
Transport Energy is a division of the Energy Saving Trust; a non-profit company established by the Government to help the UK meet its international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Information on transport around London.
We are an independent world recognised organisation providing research, consultancy, advice and testing for all aspects of transport.
United Kingdom Accreditation Agency
The United Kingdom Accreditation Service is the sole national accreditation body recognised by government to assess, against internationally agreed standards, organisations that provide certification, testing, inspection and calibration services.
The Transport Office is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
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Campaigns
A list of driver, vehicle and operator agencies and DfT Campaigns can be found here.
Trade Associations
The DfT works with a number of Trade Associations. These include:
Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers
ATCO allows its members to exchange information with each other, and allows us to provide information on public transport matters to the public.
British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association
Trade association for the car rental, contract hire and fleet management industries.
CITA - International Motor Vehicle Inspection Committee
CITA is the international association of public and private sector organisations actively practicing compulsory inspection of in-service motor vehicles and their trailers, or with responsibility for authorising and supervising inspection organisations.
Confederation of Passenger Transport
CPT is the voice of the passenger transport industry.
Community Transport Association
CTA is the national representative body of the UK voluntary sector transport.
European Chemical Transport Association
Comprehensive site covering all aspects of safe and legal chemical transportation, including best practice guides and discussion forums.
The FTA supports the multi-modal transport interests of British industry.
The GEA is a trade body representing the garage equipment manufacturers.
The NFU is the democratic organisation representing farmers and growers in England and Wales.
Retail Motor Industry Federation
The RMIF aims to help its members, consumers and the motoring sector as a whole in many ways. It provides services for members, the opportunity to join various quality schemes and an advice line for consumers.
The RHA offers a voice for the haulage industry in the UK.
Scottish Motor Trade Association
The SMTA is a Trade Association established in 1903 to “encourage, promote and protect” members of the Motor Trade in Scotland.
Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders
SMMT work to encourage and promote, in the UK and abroad, the interests of the motor industry.
The Vehicle Builders & Repairers Association
The VBRA represents the vehicle body repair and commercial vehicle bodybuilding industry in the UK.
These links are intended to be useful to our users and are not intended to suggest the DfT’s endorsement or preference of any of the above organisations. The DfT is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
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Consumer Associations
Sometimes we can't help you with an appeal, query or problem. When this is the case the Citizens Advice Bureau may be able to help. The CAB website offers an advice guide including information about vehicles and elements of the driver, vehicle and operator agencies work that may impact upon you.
The Bus User Complaints Tribunal is a statutory body established by the Scottish Parliament to pursue the interests of passengers who feel that a bus company has not satisfactorily dealt with their complaint.
Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services
The driver, vehicle and operator agencies work closely with LACORS to ensure consumer satisfaction and fairness relating to all aspects of our work.
The Office of Fair Trading is a Government body that seeks to maximise consumer welfare by protecting consumers by preventing abuse; empowering consumers by giving them access to information and redress, and promoting competitive and responsive supply A variety of information can be found at the Office of Trading website relating to these consumer issues.
Trading Standards exists to ensure fair trading and consumer protection. Contact Trading Standards for free advice.
The Transport Office is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
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Other Useful Links
REACH, the new European system for regulating chemical safety, will affect most businesses in Europe in one way or another, even those who would normally not consider themselves involved in chemical regulation
The purpose of the site is to list Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Replacement Brakelinings that comply with the provisions of Directive 2002/78/EC.
Digital Tachographs
Managed on behalf of a number of UK government agencies, provides up to date, accurate information on all aspects of the implementation of digital tachographs.
Comprehensive route planner covering the whole of the UK.
Index of Foreign Departments of Transport
This is an index of the Department for Transport and its opposite numbers in other governments.
Listen to the latest traffic news for your area
Real - time traffic information for England's motorways and major A roads from the Highways Agency
The Transport Office is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
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Page last updated: 19/05/2009