OLAT stands for Operator Licence Awareness Training. It is a one-day course that gives operator licence holders, directors, partners and senior staff a working knowledge of the undertakings they signed up to when the licence was granted. In 2026 an OLAT course typically costs £120 to £250 per person; NCT’s one-day course is £120. It is frequently completed by restricted licence holders who do not need a transport manager, and it is one of the courses Traffic Commissioners most often require after a public inquiry.
Who is OLAT for?
OLAT exists because holding an operator licence carries personal, ongoing legal responsibilities that many licence holders have never been formally taught. It is most commonly taken by:
- Restricted operator licence holders, who carry their own goods and are not required to employ a qualified transport manager, but still carry the full weight of the licence undertakings.
- Directors, partners and owners of businesses holding standard licences, who share responsibility with their transport manager but often have had no formal training themselves.
- Operators directed by a Traffic Commissioner, where OLAT attendance is made an undertaking following a public inquiry, a compliance investigation or as a condition on the licence.
- Senior staff moving into fleet responsibility, such as depot or operations managers, who need to understand the licence they now help protect.
What does the course cover?
A good OLAT course walks through the operator licence system from the perspective of the person responsible for it:
- Operator licensing: licence types, undertakings and conditions, and the role of the Traffic Commissioner and DVSA
- Maintenance obligations: safety inspections, driver defect reporting and maintenance records
- Drivers’ hours and the Working Time Directive, and how tachograph records are managed and analysed
- Driver management: licence checks, Driver CPC, and infringement procedures
- What happens when it goes wrong: DVSA investigations, public inquiries and the powers of the Traffic Commissioner
The aim is practical: by the end of the day you should understand what your licence commits you to, what evidence a DVSA examiner would expect to see, and where your current systems fall short.
Is OLAT a legal requirement?
There is no law that says every operator must complete OLAT. In practice it becomes required in two ways. First, Traffic Commissioners regularly make OLAT attendance a formal undertaking, either at a public inquiry or when granting a licence, and an undertaking has the force of a licence condition. Second, it is widely treated as the baseline evidence of competence for restricted licence holders: if your compliance is ever questioned, being able to show recent OLAT attendance materially helps demonstrate that you take your responsibilities seriously.
OLAT vs Transport Manager CPC
OLAT is a one-day awareness course with no examination. The Transport Manager CPC is a professional qualification passed by CILT examination, required to act as the nominated transport manager on a standard licence. If you hold a restricted licence, OLAT is normally the right course. If you need to be named on a standard licence, you need the full Transport Manager CPC. Many operators sensibly do both: the transport manager holds the CPC, and the directors complete OLAT so the knowledge does not sit with one person.
Book your OLAT course
One day, £120 per person, delivered by experienced transport professionals. Suitable for restricted licence holders, directors and senior staff, and accepted where a Traffic Commissioner has required OLAT attendance.
Frequently asked questions
How long does OLAT take?
One day. There is no exam; you receive a certificate of attendance, which is the document Traffic Commissioners and auditors expect to see.
How much does an OLAT course cost?
Typically £120 to £250 per person in 2026 depending on the provider and format. NCT’s course is £120.
Does OLAT expire?
The certificate does not carry a formal expiry date, but refresher attendance every few years is good practice and is sometimes specified in undertakings. If your certificate is more than five years old, treat it as due for renewal.
My undertaking says a director must attend. Can I send my transport manager instead?
No. Where a Traffic Commissioner names who must attend, that person must attend. Check the exact wording of your undertaking before booking.
Is OLAT enough to run a standard licence?
No. A standard licence requires a nominated transport manager holding the Transport Manager CPC. OLAT complements that; it does not replace it.
This article was published in August 2026 by National Compliance Training. Regulations change, so always check the latest guidance from the Office of the Traffic Commissioner, DVSA and GOV.UK for the current position. This article does not constitute legal advice.
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