21-07-04 Minister launches award winning on-line Operator Self Service for HGV Operators
David Jamieson MP, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport today launched VOSA’s first on-line transactional service, Operator Self-Service, at the premises of Exel Europe Limited in Barking.
David Jamieson said “We gave a commitment in 1997 to transform public services by e.enabling them. I am delighted to be here today to announce the full launch of such a service, an excellent example of how the Department for Transport and its agency, VOSA, is at the cutting edge of delivery of e.commerce. VOSA’s new on-line Operator self-service delivers that commitment for members of the goods vehicle transport industry.”
“This exciting, innovative VOSA on-line service, which is among the first real time transactional Government services available to business, will allow goods vehicle operators direct access to their own licence records and to track progress on applications.”
“It will also allow operators to add and remove vehicles from their licence at the touch of a button from their own computers any time of the day or night without the need to complete an application form and without any intervention by VOSA staff. This will dramatically reduce the time taken to add a vehicle to a licence from 14 days to within just a couple of minutes.”
“Additionally, Operators will shortly be able to pay their licence invoices and renew their licences on-line.”
“This is a major advance in service delivery to members of the goods vehicle transport industry and one which, DVO, VOSA and Traffic Commissioners have every right to be proud of. I am also delighted to say that the system recently came runner up in the Government Computing/BT Syntegra Innovations Awards 2004 for Government to Business services. And this is just a taster for other imaginative e.service delivery changes to come over the next few years from DfT, DVO and VOSA. I certainly recommend that operators take full advantage of this exciting new service.“
Operator self-service has put VOSA and Traffic Commissioners among the first in Government to deliver on-line real time transactional services to businesses. It is a major step forward in improving public service delivery to operators and will drastically reduce paperwork and the time taken for operators to get their vehicle discs and vehicles out on the road.
The new service will allow goods vehicle licence holders on-line access from their own computers to;
- register to join self-service
- set up separate access rights for members of their staff to allow more than one person in a business to amend vehicle records
- check licence details held on VOSA’s licence database for accuracy
- add and remove vehicles their licences
- transfer vehicles between licences held in different areas
- track progress on licence applications
- check for any objections to applications
- receive licence related correspondence via email
- get updating information from VOSA and Traffic Commissioners by email
Operators will also soon be able to pay their licence invoices and renew their licences on-line.
Also available on-line, using the VOSA web site (vosa.gov.uk) are a whole range of application forms, guides and advice for operators.
There is also a search facility of licence holders and details of their operating centres on the VOSA web site. This gives van rental companies and other users of haulage companies an ability to check on-line that a haulier they intend doing business with actually has a licence and will help cut down on illegal operations. It also allows residents and local councils to check on the legitimacy of use of operating centres in their area.
Statutory objectors and local residents can search on publications on the web site to check for applications to use operating centres in their area.
John Perry, Director of Engineering for Exel, said, “This is an innovative step for the industry and will enable all operators to move in time with the rapidly changing demands of the sector. As one of the first users of the service, we are thrilled to be part of this initiative which will enable Exel to respond more dynamically to the needs of its customers.”
Philip Brown, the Senior Traffic Commissioner for Great Britain said “Traffic Commissioners are pleased to see the launch of self-service which will enhance the administrative process for operators both at the application stage and in checking the accuracy of records held at Traffic Area Offices.'
The £1.5m Operator self-service development is part of the TAN21 transformation programme, which commenced in 2000. VOSA’s partners in planning and delivering the programme were HEDRA, Computacenter, Logica/CMG and PCL.
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Background Notes
The £1.5 m Operator self-service development formed part of VOSA’s TAN21 transformation programme set up as part of the proposals to replace a 15 year old mainframe legacy system and hardware used to process Operator licence applications. Development of the main software to deliver a licensing system commenced in late summer 2000 and was rolled out to internal users during the second half of 2001.
The self-service functionality was put into pilot in the latter part of 2002, with numbers invited to user the service being gradually increased over time. Following capacity testing in Summer 2003 it was decided to upgrade the ICT infrastructure to meet anticipated demand on both the self-service system and on search facilities on the VOSA web site, to ensure resilience and reliability for users.
Work on the infrastructure upgrade was completed just before Easter 2004 Access to on-line registration was made available just after Easter. Since then over 5,000 operators have successfully applied to register on-line and more are joining each day. Over 40,000 vehicle transactions have been now been completed on-line and over 24% of transactions done in June were completed using self-service.
Typical comments from users are
“Very impressed with the system. A significant timesaver “
“A major step forward in the O licence process”
“Has drastically reduced paperwork and the time delay in getting discs.”
“Would not like to revert to the “old way””
Notes to Editor
The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) was created on 1 April 2003 by merging the Former Vehicle Inspectorate and the Traffic Area Network Division of the Department for Transport. VOSA is responsible for:
- Processing applications for licences to operate lorries and buses and registering bus services
- Operating and administering testing schemes for all vehicles, including the supervision of the MOT testing scheme
- Enforcing the law on vehicles to ensure that they comply with legal standards and regulations
- Enforcing drivers' hours and licensing requirements
- Supporting Traffic Commissioners to help them make informed decisions on operator licensing, vocational drivers and bus registration requirements
- Providing training and advice for commercial operators
- Investigating vehicle accident, defects and recalls.
Should you require further information about VOSA, its work or help with stories or programming related to road safety and environmental protection please contact:
Jay Fordham or Miranda Roberts, VOSA, 0117 954 3334/3233
e-mail jeanette.fordham@vosa.co.uk / miranda.roberts@vosa.gov.uk
Page last updated: 25/09/2006