GDPR anniversary sparks licence check renewal reminder

Licence Check is warning fleet operators many drivers will need to renew permissions to access licence details with the DVLA.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) was introduced on May 25, 2018, by the EU to give consumers better protection and privacy.

For fleet and transport managers responsible for company vehicles, GDPR meant that it was necessary to re-mandate all drivers, vocational and otherwise, so that DVLA driver records could be accessed correctly using the updated authorisation necessary under the regulation.

Now, as we approach GDPR’s third anniversary, many companies will find that a significant proportion of their driver permissions will expire and need renewing this year, says Licence Check.

Latest figures from the risk management company show a 200% spike in licence re-permissions in June which coincides with the introduction of the original GDPR.

The regulation remains relevant in this country despite the fact that the UK is no longer part of the EU following the Brexit withdrawal agreement. The principles of the EU Regulation have now been incorporated into UK data protection law as the UK GDPR so that all businesses remain bound by its provisions.

Meanwhile, those businesses that operate or offer goods or services in the European Economic Area may also need to continue to comply with the EU regulation as well.

Increased automation has now introduced a growing number of methods of capturing digital driver authorisation which mean much lighter workloads for fleets.

Licence Check’s cloud-based DAVIS (Driver and Vehicle Management Solution) application, for example, now offers five, and soon to be six, methods of capturing and recording driver permissions.

“Licence checking software has come a long way and many providers, including ourselves, now offer several ways to obtain driver permission, most of which are fully digital,” said James Povah, senior developer at Derby-based Licence Check, part of the Ebbon-Dacs Group.  

“This can cut down administration time hugely for fleet operators and make what was once a truly onerous, time-consuming task much more straightforward, less stressful and increasingly efficient.”

Licence Check general manager, Terry Hiles, said that businesses needed to start planning now to ensure they gained new driver permissions before the current round expires.   

“It’s important to prepare to re-mandate your drivers and get a good understanding of your driver data now so that you can plan ahead and avoid a last-minute rush before the existing permission expires,” he said.

“Use system generated reports that show exactly when the greatest number of licence permissions expire and plan accordingly.

“Renewing driver mandates no longer has to be a headache, thanks to increased digitilisation and different operational methods. It actually presents a timely opportunity to ensure all your driver records are reviewed and brought up to date and in line with the regulation,” he said.