Minibus Compliance
Castle Minibus is dedicated to raising safety standards, promoting best practise and ensuring their clients have the knowledge and support to be confident in their decisions about minibus safety.
In 2017 following calls to over 300 schools to inform them of a change in guidance from the DVSA from 17 week to 10 safety inspections, it was apparent to Castle that 70% of schools had a very poor understanding of minibus compliance and so Castle Minibus wrote the UK’s only Minibus Compliance Course for schools. As well as education on the legal issues surrounding minibus compliance Castle is developing services to support school transport managers to help them with the daily administration and tasks demanded of them under the Section 19 Permit including onsite safety inspections, a free app to help report daily vehicle checks and online risk assessments.
Approved by RoSPA
Delivering the only compliance course for schools
Free app for daily walk around checks
Supplying only factory-built minibuses with additional safety feature
Online driver risk assessments for regular evaluation
Call today to see what we can do for you 01869 253744
Castle’s six pillars of compliance
Castle identified six pillars of compliance that are covered in the minibus compliance course, if these six pillars are considered and best practice is in place a school can be confident, they’re compliant.
10-week safety inspections
10-week safety inspections
Under both the Section 19 Permit and O-licence schools are required to have independent safety inspections completed on their vehicles. Castle have a fleet of independent engineers who will come to your school to complete these checks, all arranged by your Castle account manager.
Responsibility and documentation
Responsibility and documentation
Those operating under an O-licence must appoint a transport manager by law. This can be a daunting task for anyone, so Castle developed the Minibus Compliance Course which includes the roles and responsibilities of a school transport manager.
Daily walk-around checks
Daily walk-around checks
One of the most important aspects of compliance is the daily walk-around check. Often overlooked by busy staff and teachers with higher priorities Castle aims to make this task easier to complete and record with our free app for both Apple and Android.
Permits
Permits
Schools can operate minibuses in one of two ways; under a Section 19 Permit, if they are not operating their minibuses for reward or hire or under an operator’s licence. Operating under the correct legal framework is imperative.
Licensing
Licensing
A D1 licence holder can drive a minibus with no weight restrictions. A standard B car licence allows drivers who are over 21 to drive a minibus with a GVW of under 3.5 tonnes (or 4.25 tonnes with specialist equipment) if they are volunteers and are driving for social purposes only.
Vehicle weights
Vehicle weights
The gross vehicle weight includes fuel, your passengers, drivers and luggage or equipment, so schools need to be clear on the weight they are adding to light-weight vehicles to ensure that you are not driving an over-weight vehicle.
Contacting us
Castle Minibus recommend best practice minibus management; All drivers of vehicles with over 8 passengers should have a D1 licence and should be driving a factory-built minibus.
Talk to Castle Minibus today about your minibus compliance concerns on 01869 253744 or email compliance@castleminibus.co.uk