Earned Recognition
You regularly share performance information with DVSA. In return, your vehicles are less likely to be stopped for inspections. It’s a voluntary scheme that’s designed to work for operators of all sizes.
What is DVSA earned recognition:
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) earned recognition scheme is a way to prove you meet driver and vehicle standards.
This means that you’re:
⦁ Continuously monitoring your own compliance
⦁ Using DVSA-validated IT systems
⦁ Compliant with vehicle and road safety standards
It’s a voluntary scheme that’s designed to work for operators of all sizes.
How it works:
You need to have a DVSA-validated IT system for vehicle maintenance and drivers’ hours. This will monitor whether you’re meeting a set of key performance indicators (KPIs).
Every 4 weeks, your system will tell DVSA if you’ve missed any of the KPIs by a set amount. If this happens, DVSA will work with you to fix any problems.
DVSA will not have direct access to any of your data or systems.
What are the benefits:
As a DVSA earned recognition operator you’ll:
⦁ be an exemplary operator, and be able to prove this when you bid for contracts
⦁ be less likely to have your vehicles stopped at the roadside for inspections
⦁ be less likely to have DVSA enforcement staff visit your premises
⦁ be able to use the DVSA earned recognition logo on your website and other publicity materials (but not on your vehicles)
⦁ be recognised as a DVSA-accredited operator on GOV.UK
⦁ have direct access to a dedicated earned recognition team in DVSA
Eligibility:
Before you apply you need to make sure that you meet the following criteria:
You’ve had a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) or public service vehicle (PSV) operator licence for at least 2 years.
The Traffic Commissioner hasn’t taken any regulatory action (other than a formal warning) on any of your operator licences in the last 2 years.
You have digital management systems for vehicle maintenance and drivers’ hours, which can track the KPIs and automatically report if they’re missed.
You meet the earned recognition audit standards.
If you have multiple operator licences:
The application can only be made for the whole business - not individual licences. You must report the data for all your operator licences.
If your organisation contains multiple legal entities operating under one group - using the same management systems - you can make a single group application.
The audit standards and key performance indicators would apply and be measured over the group as a whole.
An individual legal entity cannot be removed from the group accreditation unless it changes ownership or no longer exists.
Extra modules:
Extra modules are optional. Additional requirements made be needed for a module, this may include an additional audit standard or extra information being provided.
An application for any of the extra modules can be for the whole entity or at least one operator’s licence with all its operating centres.
You might have to share information related to the extra module – such as KPIs – with a third party.
Currently, the module is for High Speed Two (HS2). This is for HGV operators only. It’s one of the ways you can show you meet the requirements for the HS2 project.
How much does it cost?
There’s no application fee to join the scheme.
Audits:
Your systems and processes must be audited by a DVSA-authorised audit provider once your application has been reviewed every 2 years after you’ve joined the scheme. You might need to pay for this, depending on the provider you choose. The providers set their own fees. If DVSA grants you a concession, you’ll need an audit covering the appropriate section every year, up to April 2021. You need to tell your audit provider if you’re applying for extra modules. Extra modules are audited every year.
Here at MRH we are very proud to be one of the DVSA accredited Earned Recognition audit providers. With over 30 years of experience, we are able to get you over the line and achieve this prestigious certification.
We also have auditors distributed throughout the country which allows us the ability to offer a full multi-centre package at very competitive rates.