Independent HGV & PSV Transport audits

Transport Compliance audits & operator licence audits

Our independent transport compliance audits examine Operator Licence obligations, vehicle maintenance, driver management, tachographs and record-keeping helping you identify risks and take practical corrective action.

INDEPENDENT TRANSPORT COMPLIANCE AUDIT

What is a Transport compliance audit?

A transport compliance audit is a structured, evidence-based assessment of the systems and records used to manage a licensed transport operation. It examines whether your day-to-day arrangements support the obligations attached to your Operator Licence and relevant road transport legislation.

 

Nationwide Transport & Training conducts HGV and PSV Operator Licence audits to identify gaps in maintenance controls, driver management, tachograph procedures, training and regulatory administration. We review the evidence behind your processes—not simply whether policies exist.

 

Following the audit, you receive clear findings and prioritised recommendations to help your team address weaknesses and strengthen compliance.

Identify Compliance
Risks

A Transport Compliance Audit identifies potential weaknesses in vehicle maintenance, driver management and Operator Licence compliance before they develop into more serious regulatory issues.

Assess Regulatory Compliance

An independent assessment of your systems, procedures and records against Operator Licence undertakings, DVSA guidance and applicable transport regulations.

Prepare For Regulatory Scrutiny

An Operator Licence Audit helps identify gaps in compliance evidence and assess your readiness for DVSA enquiries, Traffic Commissioner reviews and Public Inquiries.

Improve Compliance Standards

Our Transport Compliance Audits provide management with an independent assessment, highlighting areas for improvement and recommending practical corrective actions to strengthen ongoing compliance.

Comprehensive transport audit

what does our transport compliance audit cover?

A Transport Compliance Audit provides an independent assessment of an HGV or PSV operator’s systems, procedures and records to establish whether they meet applicable transport regulations and Operator Licence requirements. Our Operator Licence Audits examine key areas including vehicle maintenance, driver management, tachograph compliance, drivers’ hours and record-keeping, helping identify weaknesses before they develop into more serious regulatory concerns.

Our independent Transport Compliance Audits help operators prepare for DVSA investigations, Traffic Commissioner enquiries and Public Inquiries by assessing the effectiveness of their existing compliance arrangements. Following the audit, we provide a detailed report highlighting findings, areas for improvement and practical recommendations, together with a clear corrective action plan to help strengthen ongoing compliance and demonstrate effective management of Operator Licence responsibilities.

Independent Findings. Practical Improvements.

More Than a Checklist: A Transport Audit You Can Act On

Effective transport compliance auditing tests whether your controls work in practice. Our auditors examine sampled evidence, identify areas of non-compliance or concern, and distinguish urgent actions from longer-term improvements.

Our aim is to give business owners and Transport Managers a clear picture of the operation’s compliance position, supported by practical recommendations rather than generic advice.

A Clear, Structured Audit Process

How Our Transport Compliance Audit Process Works

01

Discuss Your Operation

We establish your licence type, fleet size, operating centres, audit purpose and any Traffic Commissioner or DVSA deadlines.

02

Agree The Scope

We confirm the audit criteria, independence requirements, documents needed and practical arrangements for evidence review.

03

Examine The Evidence

We assess selected records, systems and procedures, speak with relevant personnel and identify compliance gaps.

04

Prepare Your Report

We document findings, explain their significance and provide practical, prioritised recommendations.

05

Plan Corrective Actions

Your team receives an action plan to address deficiencies, improve controls and track progress.

06

Review Next Steps

We explain the findings and discuss any separate training or compliance support required, subject to audit independence rules.

Tailored to Your Operation

How Much Does a Transport Compliance Audit Cost?

Our comprehensive Transport Compliance Audits are available for £795.00 + VAT, providing an independent assessment of your transport operation and its compliance with operator licensing requirements.

Our audits cover key areas including operator licence undertakings, vehicle and trailer maintenance, driver management, tachograph compliance, transport manager oversight, and compliance policies and procedures.

Following the audit, you will receive a detailed report highlighting areas of good practice, identifying any compliance weaknesses and providing clear, practical recommendations for improvement.

Whether you are preparing for a DVSA investigation, a Traffic Commissioner Public Inquiry, or simply want reassurance that your operation is meeting its legal obligations, our audits help you identify risks, strengthen compliance and demonstrate effective management.

Regulatory Audit Requirements

Has the Traffic Commissioner Required an Independent Audit?

Some operators are required to commission an independent Operator Licence audit following regulatory correspondence, an undertaking or a Public Inquiry. The scope, timescale and independence of the auditor matter.

We can review the wording of the requirement and discuss whether our audit service is suitable. An audit required by the Traffic Commissioner should follow the applicable guidance, and the auditor must be genuinely independent of the operation being assessed.

Important distinction
A standard independent Operator Licence compliance audit is not automatically the same as a DVSA Earned Recognition audit. Where a specific accreditation or authorised auditor is required, this must be checked before appointment.

Auditing an operation that we already advise or manage may raise independence issues. We assess these before accepting an instruction.

Audit Types & Regulatory Preparation

Transport Audits for Every Stage of Operator Licence Compliance

01

Independent Operator Licence Audit

A proactive transport compliance review for operators seeking independent assurance and a practical improvement plan.

02

Traffic Commissioner Audit

Evidence-based audits where a Traffic Commissioner has required an independent audit or a licence undertaking specifies an audit deadline. We first review the exact terms to confirm suitability and independence.

03

DVSA Audit & Desk-Based Assessment Preparation

Review your maintenance and driver records, audit trail and management controls before responding to a DVSA enquiry or preparing for an assessment.

04

Pre-Public Inquiry Compliance Review

Identify current risks, document corrective measures and support preparation for regulatory scrutiny.

05

Restricted Operator Licence Audit

Assess the maintenance and driver compliance systems of businesses that operate HGVs alongside construction, manufacturing or other commercial work.

06

HGV & PSV Fleet Compliance Audit

Tailored assessments for haulage, logistics, bus, coach and other licensed transport operations, from small fleets to multi-site businesses.

Clear answers to your transport compliance audit questions

Transport Compliance Audits Questions Answered

FFF

FFF

Get Support With Your transport compliance audit

let’s discuss your Transport Compliance Audit

Whether you operate a single HGV, manage a growing commercial vehicle fleet or require an independent PSV Compliance Audit, Nationwide Transport & Training provides professional Transport Compliance Audits and Operator Licence Audits to help assess your regulatory compliance and identify areas for improvement.

Tell us about your business, the vehicles and drivers you operate, and why you require an audit. Whether you’re arranging a routine independent Transport Audit, preparing for a DVSA investigation, responding to Traffic Commissioner correspondence or facing a Public Inquiry, our experienced transport compliance specialists can assist.

We will take the time to understand your transport operation, discuss your existing compliance arrangements and establish the appropriate scope of your audit. We’ll explain the assessment process, the documentation required and what you can expect from our detailed audit report and corrective action plan.

Complete the form to arrange your Transport Compliance Audit or request a quotation from our team.

Prefer to talk? 0121 289 7541

google-review-logo
Danny Dixon
Nationwide carried out a full compliance audit of our operation and the whole process was straightforward from start to finish. The audit was extremely thorough and highlighted a few areas where we could strengthen our procedures. The report was clear, practical and easy to follow, giving us a much better understanding of where we stood and what needed attention.
Mark Wilson
We asked Nationwide Transport & Training to carry out an independent compliance audit ahead of a review of our systems. They went through our maintenance records, drivers’ hours, tachograph procedures and Operator Licence requirements in detail. The feedback was constructive and, most importantly, gave us a clear action plan rather than simply pointing out problems.
Julie Richardson
We arranged a compliance audit because we wanted an independent review of our systems and records. Nationwide identified several areas we could improve and helped us understand what good practice should look like. The audit gave us the opportunity to address those issues proactively and made us much better prepared for regulatory scrutiny.
David Law
The team at Nationwide clearly understand Operator Licence compliance. Our auditor took the time to understand how our business operates and explained the findings in plain English. We received a detailed report afterwards with recommendations prioritised so we knew exactly what to deal with first. I would happily use them again for future compliance audits.