SENIOR TRAFFIC COMMISSIONER - Statutory Document No. 6 - VOCATIONAL DRIVER CONDUCT

Sep 18, 2026

Guidance issued by the Senior Traffic Commissioner for Great Britain explains how traffic commissioners should interpret relevant law concerning vocational driver conduct. It defines key vehicle and entitlement categories for large goods vehicles and passenger-carrying vehicles, links entitlement to driving-licence categories, and clarifies the roles of traffic commissioners versus other agencies. The document also covers professional competence requirements, driver qualification cards, continuing professional development, compulsory periodic training, and how referrals may be made when fitness to hold vocational entitlement is in question.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages73

Reading Time3 h 4 min

AccessFree to download

GUIDANCE

Legislation

DIRECTIONS

Annex A: Starting Points

Annex B: Starting Points – Military Drivers

Annex C: Examples of Negative and Positive Features

Annex D: Case Examples

Annex E: Offence Codes

Annex F: Referrals from the Secretary of State

Annex G: Mutual Recognition

SENIOR TRAFFIC COMMISSIONER Statutory Document No. 6 VOCATIONAL DRIVER CONDUCT | This document is issued pursuant to section 4C of the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 (as amended) . Representative organisations have been consulted in accordance with that provision. | | | --- | --- | | Contents: | Page | | GUIDANCE
Legislation
Other Relevant Legislation Case Law
DIRECTIONS
Referrals
Starting Points for Submissions Decision Making
Armed Forces Personnel Rehabilitation
Annex A: Starting Points
Annex B: Starting Points – Military Drivers
Annex C: Examples of Negative and Positive Features
Annex D: Case Examples
Annex E: Offence Codes
Annex F: Referrals from the Secretary of State
Annex G: Mutual Recognition | 1 – 15
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70 – 72 | Kevin Rooney Senior Traffic Commissioner GUIDANCE 1. The Senior Traffic Commissioner for Great Britain issues the following Guidance under section 4C(1) of the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 (“1981 Act”) and by reference to section 1(2) of the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995 (“1995 Act”) to provide information as to the way in which the Senior Traffic Commissioner believes that traffic commissioners should interpret the law in relation to vocational driver conduct. Legislation 2. Traffic commissioners refer to vocational drivers as those with driving entitlement for Large Goods Vehicles and/or Passenger Carrying Vehicles. Section 121 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (‘the 1988 Act’) defines these as: “large goods vehicle” means a motor vehicle (not being a medium-sized goods vehicle within the meaning of Part III of this Act) which is constructed or adapted to carry or to haul goods and the permissible maximum weight of which exceeds 7.5 tonnes; “passenger-carrying vehicle” means— (a) a large passenger-carrying vehicle, that is to say, a vehicle used for carrying passengers which is constructed or adapted to carry more than 16 passengers, or (b) a small passenger-carrying vehicle, that is to say, a vehicle used for carrying passengers for hire or reward which is constructed or adapted to carry more than 8 but not more than 16 passengers. 3. Entitlement to drive these classes of vehicles is shown by holding the following category on a driving licence: | Category C | Entitlement to drive vehicles over 3,500kg (with a trailer up to 750kg Maximum Authorised Mass) . | | --- | --- | | Category CE | Entitlement to drive category C vehicles with a trailer over 750kg. | | Category D1 | Entitlement to drive vehicles with:
• no more than 16 passenger seats
• a maximum length of 8 metres
• a trailer up to 750kg | | Category D1E | Entitlement to drive D1 category vehicles with a trailer over 750kg Maximum Authorised Mass.
The combined Maximum Authorised Mass of both cannot exceed 12,000kg. | | Category D | Entitlement to drive any bus with more than 8 passenger
seats (with a trailer up to 750kg Maximum Authorised Mass) . | | Category DE | Entitlement to drive D category vehicles with a trailer over 750kg. | 4. Category C1 and C1E indicate an entitlement to drive vehicles between 3,500 and 7,500kg maximum authorised mass (with a trailer up to 750kg) and to drive C1 category vehicles with a trailer over 750kg respectively. 1 These vehicles fall 1 The combined MAM of both cannot exceed 12,000kg within the definition of a “medium-sized vehicle under section 108 of the 1988 Act. It follows that a traffic commissioner does not have jurisdiction over these entitlement categories. 5. A vocational entitlement is normally used by those drivers in the course of an occupation or employment. Professional drivers of larger vehicles are expected to meet a higher standard 2 than those with ordinary driving entitlement. 3 Most drivers of these vehicles will also require a

FAQs

What is the purpose of the Senior Traffic Commissioner’s guidance on vocational driver conduct?

It provides information on how traffic commissioners should interpret the law in relation to vocational driver conduct under section 4C(1) of the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 and relevant provisions referenced in the document.

How does the guidance define vocational drivers for this context?

Vocational drivers are those with driving entitlement for Large Goods Vehicles and/or Passenger Carrying Vehicles, with vehicle classes and licence entitlement explained through referenced legislation.

What training and documentation requirements relate to DCPC for vocational drivers?

Drivers must obtain a Driver Qualification Card, carry it at all times to confirm DCPC test completion, and complete compulsory periodic training (35 hours every five years) as part of continuing professional development.

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Lucas Martin