Over the nine years since its founding, AS Miles Consulting has been deeply involved in cases across various sectors, including state and private schools, councils, local authorities (LAs), and commercial companies. The firm has observed consistent challenges faced by fleet operators in obtaining clear and reliable guidance from regulatory bodies, particularly the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).
Andy Miles, Managing Director of AS Miles Consulting, highlighted a recurring issue where operators struggle to receive consistent and referable advice from the DVSA. “Far too many times, DVSA will either say ‘it is up to the operator to decide if the system/process is correct, and we’ll let it know if we disagree,’ or provide verbal advice without follow-up. This leaves operators without a benchmark or a defence if they are later subjected to a DVSA investigation or a public inquiry,” Miles stated.
The problem is compounded by local authorities, which often drive operators to cut costs, leading to the use of older vehicles with high repair bills and insufficient auditing or annual checks. According to Miles, “If something goes wrong, all hell breaks loose from the same council that had previously prioritized the lowest possible cost. These are the same local authorities that care only about cost when it comes to the services on which we put our children.”
Andy and his team at AS Miles Consulting advocate for a significant change in the industry: all types of Operator’s Licences (O-Licences) should require a qualified and nominated transport manager to ensure lawful and safe operations.
The company remains committed to addressing these issues and is awaiting further developments in the sector.