16-01-06 1 in 6 Use Award-Winning Operator Self Service
VOSA’s award-winning online Operator Self Service is being used by 1 in 6 of the country’s operators and the volume of vehicle transactions has reached nearly 60% - a major cut in paper chasing.
Operator Self Service, which recently expanded its range of facilities, has attracted more than 17,700 licence holders and in December they made nearly 13,000 vehicle transactions - that’s 57% of all vehicle transactions for that month, and a record.
Since the summer of 2003, HGV operator licence holders have been able to directly add and remove vehicles from their licence online, while PSV licence holders joined the system six months afterwards. Licence holders have also been able to check, but not change, other licence details held by VOSA and track progress on their licence applications.
In November 2005, VOSA extended this round-the clock service substantially, and the latest figures show the most popular are:
Change of director 26.9%
Change of correspondence address 25.6%
Change of transport manager 19.36%
Change operating centre 11.07%
VOSA’s Head of Licensing Sharon McNair said, “This is another major step in VOSA’s transformation of its services to customers and keeps VOSA at the forefront of online service development. VOSA has worked hard to provide a practical, time-saving and user-friendly system for operators, and we are very pleased to continue to offer new facilities.
“What’s important is that licence holders find it useful and easy to operate. No longer do they have to request and complete paper application forms for almost all of the licence transactions they now undertake with VOSA. Virtually all the transactions can be completed by the licence holder themselves, or applied for online 24/7. Response to the new service has been fantastic.”
VOSA’s Operator Self Service has attracted positive comments from users:
“I have found the whole self service web site a massive help to me, and can’t imagine doing it the old way! The changing of names was very easy.”
Jon Todd, Logistics Manager for Macfarlane Transport Ltd
“I have found the whole system very useful and will certainly continue to use it.”
Simon Cullen, Transport Office, Associated Agricultural Oils Ltd
“Having just used the system for the first time, and being a bit ‘technophobic’ myself, I must say that it was a delight. Everything was adequately explained, the information was clear and readily available, with each field clearly defined. I for one will be returning to use the service in future, and think that this is a remarkable achievement.”
Russell Fielding, Managing Director, Logicraft Ltd
Operator Self Service in full
Operator licence holders can transact their 'O' licensing business online at www.transportoffice.gov.uk
Once you have registered and logged onto the Operator Self Service system, you will be
able to:
· access your own records
· track progress on your applications and view any objections
· transfer vehicles between licences held in different Traffic Areas
· add and delete vehicles from licences
· check your licence details held by VOSA
The new online services enable you to:
· change your correspondence address, telephone numbers or trading names
· apply to add and delete partners, directors, and transport managers (Standard National or Standard International licences only)
· add or delete an operating centre
· apply to increase or decrease the overall vehicle and trailer authority on a licence
· continue (renew) your licence online
· pay licence-related fees by credit and debit card
· receive licence-related correspondence and documentation electronically to your own secure mailbox*, avoiding any postal delays and dealing with paperwork
*A secure mail box has been created to allow licence holders to receive electronic licence-related documents, letters, and invoices from VOSA.
Joining VOSA’s Operator Self Service
Registering for Operator Self Service is easy. All licence holders need to do is:
· have their operator licence number to hand
· go to http://www.transportoffice.gov.uk/
· click on ‘Operator Licensing Self Service’ (top of middle column)
· click the register button
The registration pages will guide licence holders through the process. The user name selected will be confirmed by e-mail, and a password will be sent by post.
- Ends -
Notes to editor:
VOSA (Vehicle & Operator Services Agency) is an executive agency 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 accidents, defects and recalls
For media inquiries about VOSA, please contact: Zita Galambosi on 0117 954 2561 or zita.galambosi@vosa.gov.uk, or Marka Rifat on 0117 954 3208 or marka.rifat@vosa.gov.uk
Page last updated: 25/09/2006