Van fleets are being warned that treating light commercial vehicles differently to HGVs from a compliance perspective could leave businesses increasingly exposed following serious road incidents.
According to transport law specialists LMP Legal, investigators are now looking far beyond the individual driver after collisions, examining areas such as vehicle condition, fatigue management, training records, supervision and internal policies.
The warning comes as the Government prepares new regulatory changes for heavier electric vans from June 1, including relaxed MOT schedules and removal of some tachograph requirements for certain 3.5-4.25 tonne vehicles.
At the same time, RoSPA has published a new best practice guide urging fleets to adopt a far more structured approach to occupational road risk.
The guidance focuses on practical measures many van operators still lack, including:
- Regular vehicle safety checks and documented maintenance processes
- Clear driver training and fatigue management procedures
- Stronger journey planning and incident reporting systems
- Better oversight of grey fleet vehicles used for work
- Senior leadership involvement in road safety culture
For fleets, the message is increasingly clear: van operations are no longer viewed as a lower-risk, lighter-touch part of transport compliance. Expectations around evidence, oversight and duty of care are rapidly moving closer to HGV standards.
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