
VIP Transport Management Consultancy Ltd are proud to be an approved DVSA Earned Recognition Audit Provider. This is a government scheme encouraging transport operators to prove they meet driver and vehicle standards.
DVSA earned recognition for vehicle operators is a new way to prove your organisation meets driver and vehicle standards. As an Operator you regularly share performance information with DVSA. In return, your vehicles are less likely to be stopped for inspections.
What is DVSA earned recognition ?
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) earned recognition scheme is a new way to prove you meet driver and vehicle standards.
This means that you’re:
- continuously monitoring your own compliance
- using DVSA-validated IT systems
- compliant with vehicle and road safety standards
It’s a voluntary scheme that’s designed to work for operators of all sizes.

How it works
You need to have a DVSA-validated IT system for vehicle maintenance and drivers’ hours. This will monitor whether you’re meeting a set of key performance indicators (KPIs).
Every 4 weeks, your system will tell DVSA if you’ve missed any of the KPIs by a set amount. If this happens, DVSA will work with you to fix any problems.
DVSA will not have direct access to any of your data or systems.

What are the benefits
As a DVSA earned recognition operator you’ll:
- be an exemplary operator, and be able to prove this when you bid for contracts
- be less likely to have your vehicles stopped at the roadside for inspections
- be less likely to have DVSA enforcement staff visit your premises
- be able to use the DVSA earned recognition marque on your website and other publicity materials (but not on your vehicles)
- be recognised as a DVSA-accredited operator on GOV.UK
- have direct access to a dedicated earned recognition team in DVSA
Eligibility
Before you apply you need to make sure that you meet the following criteria:
- you’ve had a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) operator licence for at least 2 years
- the Traffic Commissioner hasn’t taken any regulatory action (other than a formal warning) on any of your operator licences in the last 2 years
- you have digital management systems for vehicle maintenance and drivers’ hours, which can track the KPIs and automatically report if they’re missed
- you meet the earned recognition audit standards
If you have multiple operator licences
The application can only be made for the whole business – not individual licences. You must report the data for all your operator licences.
If your organisation contains multiple legal entities operating under one group – using the same management systems – you can make a single group application.
The audit standards and key performance indicators would apply and be measured over the group as a whole.
An individual legal entity cannot be removed from the group accreditation unless it changes ownership or no longer exists.
How much it costs
There’s no application fee to join the scheme.
Audits
Your systems and processes must be audited by a DVSA-authorised audit provider (VIP Transport Management Consultancy Ltd):
- once your application has been reviewed
- every 2 years after you’ve joined the scheme
Audit fees are subject to size of operation, location and availibity. Please contact us today for a no obligation quotation.
Audit Support
If you are looking for assistance, guidance or someone just to come and help put the systems in place to help you achieve the Earned Recognition standards then contact our Affinity Partners Transport Accreditations UK. They have everything you will need including providing pre audit checks, system implementations to support before, during and after the audit.
Please see the links below that contain all the guides and documents you should need:
- DVSA Earned Recognition Scheme Guide – Download
- DVSA Earned Recognition Application Form – Download
- DVSA Earned Recognition Scheme HGV Audit Standards – Visit
- DVSA Earned Recognition Terms and Conditions Vehicle Operator – Download
- Earned Recognition Scheme Guidance Notes for Operator Application Form – Download
- Earned Recognition Scheme Self Assessment Check List – Download
- More information can be found by clicking here.
