TMCPC Introduction Webinar

Post-Grandfathering Enforcement

The UK road haulage sector operates under a strict operator licensing regime overseen by Traffic Commissioners. A core requirement is that standard national or international licences must have a qualified transport manager holding a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC), rooted in retained EU Regulation 1071/2009.

Previously, some long-standing managers benefited from transitional acquired rights, allowing them to continue without the full CPC. Those provisions expired on 20 May 2025, after which all transport managers must hold the qualification. This change closed a long-standing loophole and aligned the UK more closely with professional competence standards.

The real-world stakes are severe. Without a compliant transport manager, operators face mandatory licence revocation once any grace period ends, as confirmed in recent Upper Tribunal decisions. This can ground fleets overnight, disrupt supply chains, and lead to lost revenue in an industry already strained by driver shortages and rising costs. Traffic Commissioners have powers to disqualify individuals from future roles or require re-qualification.

Smaller operators feel the pinch hardest: the CPC typically involves multi-day training, exams, and fees often exceeding £1,000-£2,000, plus time away from operations. Yet the counterargument is that unqualified management has contributed to persistent compliance failures, including tachograph misuse, maintenance lapses, and drivers' hours breaches, undermining road safety.

Recent Traffic Commissioner guidance also emphasises continuous professional development (CPD) for qualified managers, shifting from passive to proactive training to evidence ongoing competence. This adds another layer of obligation in a sector facing broader pressures like decarbonisation, tachograph upgrades, and potential operator licensing reforms.