Told by the Traffic Commissioner to Do OLAT? What Happens Next

The letter or written decision has landed and somewhere in it is a line saying a director, partner or transport manager “will attend an operator licence awareness training course”. It might follow a public inquiry, a variation, or simply the grant of a new licence. Either way, it is now a promise recorded on your licence — and it needs dealing with properly.

What Is an OLAT Undertaking?

An undertaking is a formal promise you give the Traffic Commissioner, recorded on your operator licence. An OLAT undertaking commits named people to attend Operator Licence Awareness Training — a one-day course on the duties that come with holding an O-licence: maintenance, drivers’ hours, record keeping, notifiable changes and the undertakings you signed up to when you applied.

Traffic Commissioners use it in a few typical situations:

• New licences — particularly where the operator is new to the industry.
• After a public inquiry — often alongside an audit or other undertakings.
• Variations — where the Traffic Commissioner wants extra comfort before increasing authority.

Step 1: Read the Wording Carefully

Undertakings are written for your case, so the details vary. Look for four things:

1. Who must attend. It may name a director, all directors, a partner or the transport manager. Everyone named must attend — not a colleague on their behalf.
2. The deadline. Recent decisions have used wording such as “within 8 weeks”, “within two months of the date of this decision” or a fixed date.
3. The type of course. Some undertakings simply say an operator licence awareness training course. Others specify a trade association or another accredited provider, and many allow online attendance where the virtual course meets the criteria set by the traffic commissioners.
4. The proof. Typically a copy of the certificate sent to a named Office of the Traffic Commissioner, sometimes within a set number of days of attending — 28 days is common — and by a final date.

Step 2: Book Early — Do Not Run the Clock Down

A deadline of eight weeks sounds generous until illness, holidays or a full course knock you past it. Book a date well inside your deadline, so that if something goes wrong you still have room to rebook.

Step 3: Attend the Whole Course

OLAT is a full day. Online courses check identity at registration, and attendance means being present and engaged for the whole session — not logged in with the camera off while you run the yard.

Step 4: Send the Certificate — and Keep a Copy

Send the certificate exactly as the undertaking says: to the right Office of the Traffic Commissioner, quoting your licence number, within the time allowed. Keep a copy with your licence records and a note of when and how you sent it.

Does OLAT Count Towards Driver CPC?

Our OLAT course also counts as 7 hours of periodic Driver CPC training for anyone who holds a vocational licence, uploaded to DVSA on the day. Operators and transport managers who do not drive still attend and receive the same certificate of attendance — they just do not need the CPC hours.

Book OLAT With CPC Express

We run Operator Licence Awareness Training online on weekdays and one Saturday a month, starting at 08:00. It is £89.99 per person on weekdays and £99.99 on Saturdays, with no VAT to add. You will find the next available dates on the booking page.

New operator who has just been granted a licence? You may also find our guides to interim licences and the statutory newspaper advert useful if you are planning a variation.

Frequently Asked Questions