Applications and Decisions: how to read the Traffic Commissioner's bulletin

Applications and Decisions (A&D) is the weekly bulletin each traffic commissioner publishes for goods vehicle operator licences. It lists new and changed licence applications, decisions made with and without a public inquiry, surrendered, terminated and revoked licences, and the deadline for objections. Each of Great Britain's eight traffic areas publishes its own edition on GOV.UK.

GOV.UK describes it this way: "Details of all applications for goods vehicle operating licences made to each traffic area office are listed in a weekly publication, 'Applications and Decisions'" (GOV.UK collection). Bus and coach licences have their own bulletin, Notices and Proceedings. This guide explains how to read an A&D edition, how to object to an application, and how it fits with the DVSA open data. It covers Great Britain only.

What Applications and Decisions is

A&D is the legal notice board for goods operator licensing. Publishing an application in A&D starts the 21-day window in which statutory objectors can oppose it, and publishing a decision makes it public.

Each edition is a PDF with a front page that shows:

• the publication number and date
• the objection deadline date, 21 days after publication
• the date of the next edition
• contact details for the Office of the Traffic Commissioner for that area

For example, the Wales edition No. 8977 was published on 30 September 2026 with an objection deadline of 21 October 2026 (Applications and Decisions, Wales, No. 8977). Statutory objectors can ask to receive editions by email, and anyone can subscribe through the Office of the Traffic Commissioner (GOV.UK collection).

The nine sections

Every edition uses the same nine sections. Entries are listed alphabetically, except in Section 5, and each has a reference number to quote in correspondence.

Section 5.1 is where to look for upcoming hearings. See Traffic Commissioner public inquiries. Sections 5.2, 7 and 8 explain why a licence has ended. See curtailed, suspended or revoked.

How to read an entry

An entry starts with the licence number and a type code, then the operator's name, the people behind it, the addresses and the authorisation asked for or granted. Type codes are R (restricted), SN (standard national) and SI (standard international).

A new application in Section 1.1 is laid out like this (placeholders, not a real operator):

OG2XXXXXX SN   EXAMPLE HAULAGE LTD
               Director(s): [director names]
               [correspondence address]
               Operating Centre: [operating centre address]
               Authorisation: 4 vehicle(s), 5 trailer(s)
               Transport Manager(s): [transport manager names]

Variation entries in Section 1.2 say what is changing, for example "New operating centre" or "Increase at existing operating centre", and the new authorisation at that centre. A&D shows what the applicant has asked for. The bulletin notes that "details published of applications reflect information provided by applicants".

The bulletin names directors and transport managers. HaulierScope does not publish those names. Our licence pages show the licence-level facts from the DVSA open data. See our methodology.

Where to find each area's bulletin

Each traffic area has its own GOV.UK page with the current year's editions (see traffic areas for which counties each covers). Find the area from the second letter of the licence number, or from the location of the operating centre.

Licence counts include goods and PSV licences (DVSA operator licence data, file dated 7 September 2026). The Eastern area is the largest with 13,143 licences, and the Welsh area the smallest with 4,744. Browse the latest Applications and Decisions by traffic area on HaulierScope.

To search across editions, use GOV.UK's Check vehicle operator licence applications service. It covers both goods and PSV bulletins by name, date and area.

How to object to an application

Only statutory objectors can object: the police, local and planning authorities, and some trade associations and trade unions. Their written objection must reach the traffic commissioner within 21 days of the application's publication in A&D.

Under the GOV.UK guide to representations, objections and complaints and the A&D notes, an objection must:

• be on the grounds that the applicant does not meet the licence requirements, or that an operating centre is unsuitable, or both
• be signed by an authorised signatory of the objecting body
• arrive no later than 21 days after publication in A&D
• be copied to the applicant at the same time it goes to the traffic commissioner

The Wales edition recommends sending objections to Environmental@otc.gov.uk with "Objection" in the subject line.

Neighbours have a different route, called a representation. Owners and occupiers of land near a proposed heavy goods vehicle operating centre can object on environmental grounds only, such as noise or fumes, and only if it affects their "use or enjoyment" of their land (GOV.UK). The deadline runs from the applicant's local newspaper advert, not from A&D: representations must be made in writing, signed, and sent "within 21 days of the date the advertisement appeared in the newspaper". GOV.UK publishes templates for both. For the operating centre rules behind this, see operating centre rules.

Our weekly changes report

A&D shows what operators applied for and what commissioners decided. The DVSA open data shows the licences in force. Our weekly changes report compares each new DVSA file with the previous one.

The weekly changes page lists:

• licences that appear for the first time (usually new grants)
• licences whose status changed, for example from valid to curtailed
• licences that are not in the newest DVSA file, shown as "not in the DVSA file dated" that file's date

The two sources answer different questions. Use A&D to see an application before it is decided, or the stated reason a licence ended. Use our changes page to see, in one list across all eight areas, which licences changed. If you need to know when a particular haulier changes, HaulierScope monitoring sends weekly alerts for the licences on your watchlist.

Frequently asked questions

How can I check the details of a vehicle operator licence application?

Use GOV.UK's "Check vehicle operator licence applications" service, which searches the Applications and Decisions (goods) and Notices and Proceedings (PSV) bulletins by name, date and area. You can also open the weekly bulletin for the operator's traffic area on GOV.UK. New applications are in Section 1.1 and changes to existing licences in Section 1.2.

How can I check the details of an HGV operator licence application?

HGV applications appear in the weekly Applications and Decisions bulletin for the traffic area where the operating centre is. Section 1.1 shows the applicant's name, licence type, directors, operating centre, vehicles and trailers asked for, and the transport manager. The front page gives the objection deadline. Decisions follow in Section 2, or in Section 5 if the application goes to a public inquiry.

How do I object to an operator licence application?

If you are a statutory objector (police, local or planning authority, or certain trade bodies), send a signed written objection to the traffic commissioner within 21 days of the application's publication in Applications and Decisions, and copy it to the applicant. If you live or own land near the proposed operating centre, make a representation on environmental grounds within 21 days of the applicant's newspaper advert. Our guide to objecting to an operator licence application explains both routes step by step.