Does a race team need an operators license? in short, yes!

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Any business operating a goods vehicle over 3.5 tonne GVW requires an operators license. One UK business was recently fined £20,000 in court for not holding an operator’s licence when stopped at the roadside.  As an operator, you will have to prove you meet certain criteria and maintain a high standard of compliancy.

Although still seen on some race trucks, this can only be used if the truck and goods being transported are all owned by an individual and not in connection with a business. Eg. A person whose hobby is racing and they have bought a truck to transport their own car to the track.

If a race team is operating as a business it is therefore operating 'FOR hire & reward' and requires an operators license. This is no different to a scaffolding company whose main business is not transport although they are still required to hold an operators license for any goods vehicles they operate to transport their scaffolding. 

There are 3 different types of Operator Licenses, these are explained in more detail below.

• Restricted 
• Standard National 
• Standard International

Carriage of your own goods.

Example - The race team owns the cars and equipment and needs to transport them between the workshop and circuit.

A qualified transport manager is not required for a restricted license.

Carriage of your own goods in the UK & Internationally, Carriage of other peoples goods within the UK

Example - The race team doesn't own the race cars but provides the transport them between the workshop and UK circuits.

A qualified transport manger is required for this role, either internally or externally.

Carriage of your own goods &  other peoples goods in the UK & internationally

Example - The race team doesn't own the race cars but provides the transport between the workshop and an international/UK circuit.

A qualified transport manger is required for this role, either internally or externally.

In order to hold a standard national or standard international operators license, a qualified transport manger is required who possess either a National CPC or International CPC qualification. 

Most Race teams would not necessarily require a full time (internal) transport manger. An external transport manger is the solution for this. Completing a certain amount of hours per week depending on fleet size.