If you own your own fleet of commercial vehicles, then you have to comply with a lot of legislation, especially if you need to go into London. Safety is paramount, and if your vehicles are not up to date, it can cost a lot to retrofit them with the required equipment.

There is the Safer Lorry Scheme, and if you need to drive HGVs on London roads you must comply with it. All vehicles over 3.5 tonnes must be fitted with Class V or Class VI mirrors that provide the driver with a better view of cyclists and pedestrians around the vehicle. They must also have side guards fitted, as these prevent cyclists being dragged under the wheels. Failure to be compliant results in a £50 penalty charge or up to a £1,000 fine at a magistrate’s court. Take your pick! Companies who are not compliant will also be reported to the Traffic Commissioner who has the power to suspend your operating licence.

Direct Vision Standard

Then there is the DVS (Direct Vision Standard) which measures how well the driver can see from within the cab. This is measured by star ratings from 0 – 5. Only 3 star or better vehicles will be allowed in London from 2024. There is a fine of £550 each time a vehicle is found to be non-compliant. This means that fleet operators either need to upgrade their fleet or retrofit things such as windows in the lower passenger door, which can be expensive.

Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes also have to have Fresnel lenses or camera systems or proximity warning systems. They also need rear warning signs and audible left turn warnings.

The good news is that if you need truck and van rental in Bradford or trailer rental in Nottingham in order to head for London (and in the not-too-distant future, many other cities) then when you hire from us at TG Commercials Self Drive, you are already compliant. All of our vehicles are fully compliant with all of the latest legislation, and in some instances are ahead of it with more than is currently required. We are great believers in safety ourselves.

So, whether you require trailer rental in Nottingham, tipper hire in Sheffield, 7.5 tonne truck hire in Buxton, or truck and van rental in Bradford, then when you hire them from us you can have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that everything is in perfect order.