What will the Traffic Commissioners expect from you over the next three years?
The Traffic Commissioner Strategic Objectives 2026–2029 and the Annual Report to the Secretary of State 2025–26 were published on 30 September 2026.
Together, they explain how the Traffic Commissioners intend to regulate the lorry and bus industries. They also show what operators and Transport Managers should be ready to demonstrate during an audit, application process or public inquiry.
This is not a reason to panic. It is a useful opportunity to check whether your systems are clear, current and easy to explain.
1. What has changed in the Traffic Commissioners’ approach?
1.1 The objectives build on existing priorities
The 2026–2029 objectives do not completely replace the 2023–2025 objectives. They develop the same central aims.
The Traffic Commissioners’ vision is:
“To champion safe, fair, and reliable transport for passengers and goods.”
Their two main objectives are:
“To deliver a modern and effective operator licensing regime that ensures operators are fit to hold a licence whilst minimising the regulatory burden on the compliant.”
And:
“To promote and develop a safe road transport industry, which delivers compliance, fair competition and protects the environment.”
What does this mean in plain English?
If you operate safely and can demonstrate compliance, the stated aim is to minimise unnecessary regulatory burden. The focus is not on creating more work for everyone. It is on making sure that operators who cannot demonstrate compliance do not gain an unfair advantage.
That makes evidence important. Can you show what you do? Can you explain why you do it? Can you produce the records when requested?
2. The four priority areas for 2026–2029
The new objectives set out four main themes.
| Priority area | What the Traffic Commissioners are aiming to do | What you should prepare for |
|---|---|---|
| Delivering a Better Service for Users | Improve licensing services, guidance, processing and IT | Submit complete information and keep your records accessible |
| Engagement | Work more closely with operators, consultants, stakeholders and affected communities | Keep up with guidance and understand current expectations |
| A Traffic Commissioner Service Fit for the Future | Support modern regulation, road safety policy and sensible legislative reform | Expect continued change in systems, policy and technology |
| Drivers | Support drivers through guidance, fair regulation and stronger attention to welfare | Be able to explain how you manage driver health, safety and wellbeing |
3. Priority one: delivering a better service for users
3.1 What is the aim?
The Traffic Commissioners will continue working with DVSA to deliver a properly resourced licensing service. They also want to understand better what communities and users need.
A key part of this is clearer guidance. The aim is for applicants to provide all the required information at the first attempt.
That matters to you. Incomplete applications and variations create delays. They also create avoidable correspondence. Nobody enjoys discovering that one missing document has held up an otherwise straightforward application.
3.2 Published service targets
The strategic objectives include these targets:
- Goods and standard public service vehicle applications should be determined within an average of 35 working days.
- Section 19 and Section 22 permit applications should be determined within an average of 35 working days.
- Local bus registration applications should be processed or referred to a Traffic Commissioner within 10 working days of complete information being received.
- Public inquiry cases should be listed for hearing within 12 weeks.
- Driver hearings should be listed within 10 weeks of the decision to call the hearing, with a view to reducing this to 6 weeks by May 2029.
- Clear support and guidance should be available throughout the application process.
- Improved IT should help streamline quality processes and support a modern tribunal function.
3.3 What does this mean for your Operator Licence?
The word to remember is complete.
When applying for an Operator Licence, adding vehicles or making a variation, check that your information is accurate and complete before submitting it. Keep copies of what you send and make sure the people responsible for the application understand the supporting evidence required.
Good Compliance Training should help you understand not only what the rules say, but how to build systems that work in the real world.
4. Priority two: engagement
4.1 Why does engagement matter?
The Traffic Commissioners intend to strengthen industry engagement to support compliance and promote road safety.
The published delivery plans include:
- Working with transport consultants on Traffic Commissioner expectations.
- Exploring alternative communication methods.
- Improving guidance for voluntary sector operators.
- Considering the perspective of victims of road incidents.
- Identifying Government data that could improve services or provide regulatory benefits.
The practical message is simple. Guidance and expectations will continue to develop. You should not rely entirely on what you were told years ago, or on a folder that has not been opened since the last office move.
A Transport Manager needs to stay informed and keep the operation moving in the right direction.
5. Priority three: a service fit for the future
5.1 What is being considered?
The Traffic Commissioners will work with Government to keep their function modern and sustainable.
This includes:
- Supporting the Government’s Road Safety Strategy.
- Helping inform policy development.
- Defining the Traffic Commissioner role clearly.
- Working with the Department for Transport on a modern working environment.
- Supporting the recruitment and retention of high-quality Traffic Commissioners and deputies.
- Advocating legislative reform that reduces unnecessary administrative burden and cost while maintaining robust road safety standards.
The Annual Report also covers PSVAR, the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations, and the Bus Open Data Service, known as BODS. It discusses artificial intelligence, smarter regulation and maintenance recognition schemes.
These topics do not mean that every operator must immediately introduce a new digital system or an AI tool. They do show that the regulatory environment is continuing to modernise.
6. Priority four: drivers and welfare
6.1 Is driver welfare now part of compliance?
Driver welfare is specifically included in the new objectives.
The Traffic Commissioners state that they will:
“Support drivers through guidance, engagement and fair regulation while championing their welfare.”
They also intend to promote driver welfare, health and safety, and embed these considerations within guidance provided to operators and Transport Managers.
This means you should be able to show what you do about driver health, fatigue, safety and wellbeing. Saying that you care is a good start. Being able to demonstrate a process is better.
That might include showing how you:
- Review drivers’ hours and tachograph records.
- Identify concerns about fatigue.
- Make sure drivers receive suitable information and training.
- Record relevant issues and remedial action.
- Escalate problems when they are identified.
This is not about producing a glossy welfare policy that nobody follows. It is about having arrangements that work and records that support what you say.
7. What does proportionate regulation mean?
The Annual Report describes the Traffic Commissioners’ approach as proportionate and evidence-based.
A spokesperson, on behalf of the Traffic Commissioners, said:
“Our role is to deliver proportionate, evidence-based decisions that promote road safety and fair competition in both Goods and PSV sectors.”
The report also explains the importance of early intervention. Without specialist regulation, some issues might only be addressed through criminal proceedings after harm has occurred. Traffic Commissioners aim to help maintain standards and prevent unsafe operators and drivers from putting other road users at risk.
The approaching 100th anniversary of the Traffic Commissioners is also described as an opportunity to consider how the regulatory system continues to serve the public interest.
8. How to get ready for your next audit
8.1 What should you check first?
Use this practical checklist:
- Keep maintenance and defect records current.
- Make sure remedial action is recorded.
- Keep drivers’ hours and tachograph records complete.
- Check that licence and training records are accessible.
- Review whether your current Operator Licence details remain accurate.
- Make sure staff understand their responsibilities.
- Check that your Transport Manager has enough involvement and authority.
- Review how driver health, fatigue and wellbeing are addressed.
- Practise explaining your systems out loud.
That last point matters. An auditor may not only ask for a record. They may ask how the system works, who checks it and what happens when something goes wrong.
Can you answer without opening six browser tabs and calling someone who left the company in 2022? If not, your system may need attention.
8.2 What questions should your team be able to answer?
Your team should be able to explain:
- Who checks vehicle defects?
- How are defects recorded and closed?
- Who reviews drivers’ hours and tachograph information?
- What happens when an infringement is found?
- Where are your maintenance records kept?
- How do you monitor driver training and licence information?
- How does the Transport Manager exercise continuous and effective responsibility?
- What evidence can you produce if requested?
The recurring theme is evidence. You need to be able to show it, explain it and produce it.
9. Where can Compliance Training help?
Open Road Training provides a two-day Transport Manager CPC Refresher and Compliance Awareness course for road haulage and passenger transport operators.
The course is built around DVSA expectations and the practical questions an auditor may ask. It costs £350 plus VAT. You can also add up to 7 hours of Driver CPC per day attended, up to a maximum of 35 hours, subject to eligibility.
Other options include:
- One-day Operator Licence Awareness Training.
- Three-day combined OLAT and Compliance Training for office and administration staff and Restricted Operator Licence holders.
- Home study Transport Manager CPC with online examination.
- Full 10-day Transport Manager CPC courses with examinations at our centre.
ADR and Driver CPC courses run every month. Full Transport Manager CPC courses are scheduled for November 2026.
Training takes place at 29 Hope Street, Motherwell, ML1 1BS, conveniently opposite Motherwell train station. We also discuss group and workplace training requirements with employers.
10. Summary: what should you do now?
The Traffic Commissioners’ 2026–2029 priorities are focused on safe, fair and reliable transport.
The key points are:
- The objectives develop the previous priorities rather than replacing them completely.
- Compliant operators should benefit from a regulatory approach that aims to minimise unnecessary burden.
- Complete and accurate applications matter.
- Driver welfare is now clearly embedded in guidance for operators and Transport Managers.
- Public inquiry and driver hearing targets place greater importance on producing evidence promptly.
- PSVAR, BODS, AI, maintenance recognition schemes and smarter regulation will remain part of the wider conversation.
- Your records should be current, accessible and easy to explain.
If your systems need attention, do not wait for an audit letter to become your training plan. View the latest Course Dates, or contact Open Road Training on 01698 598 665 or info@open-road.org.
