What does best-in-industry compliance really look like—and how do leading operators use it as a competitive edge?
That’s what we explored in our latest webinar The Road to Earned Recognition: Building industry best practice and compliance into your fleet, with Phil Breen, Earned Recognition Account Manager for the DVSA and Jess Partridge, National Compliance Manager at Wolseley.
Between them, they offered both the regulator’s view and a real- world operator’s perspective on what it takes to achieve and maintain Earned Recognition status, and why it’s worth it.
1. Compliance: It’s Cheaper (and Safer) Than the Alternative
Phil Breen set the tone with a simple but powerful statement: “compliance should always be cheaper than non-compliance.” It flips the traditional view—positioning compliance not as a cost centre, but as a strategic asset that can provide real business value.
He was clear that the DVSA’s role isn’t to create more red tape. Their approach: enable, prevent, respond—is about helping operators succeed, not just catching them out.
Earned Recognition works because it rewards that effort. Operators benefit from fewer roadside stops, ongoing DVSA support, and access to new opportunities—whether that’s eligibility for TfL contracts, HS2 work, or simply building a reputation that customers trust.
2. Real-World Stories: Why Culture Matters
Phil shared some stark examples: vehicles arriving for MOT with Coke cans taped over exhausts, tyres so worn the inner liner was visible. These aren’t one-offs—they point to a deeper issue where safety culture breaks down and risks multiply.
The takeaway? A strong safety culture isn’t a ‘nice to have’ it’s a frontline defence against reputational, operational, and legal fallout. And it must extend beyond your own fleet.
Phil urged operators to look outward too: Are your contractors and partners as committed to compliance as you? If not, in the eyes of the regulators and customers alike, their failures can become your liability.
3. Earned Recognition: What’s In It for You?
So, why consider the DVSA’s Earned Recognition Programme?
In short, it’s a voluntary scheme that rewards operators who are already doing things right. By sharing key compliance data with the DVSA, you can reduce the likelihood of roadside stops and audits. That means less disruption to your business and more time to focus on what matters.
4. The Audit Process: Support, Not Stress
The DVSA’s position is clear: the Earned Recognition audit isn’t designed to catch you out; it’s designed to help you improve. Think of it as a comprehensive, evidence-based review, more like a business health check than a bureaucratic hurdle. The goal is to make sure you’ve got the right systems, training and documentation in place so if something does go wrong, you’ve got the evidence to show you were doing everything right.
Once you’re up and running, operators submit KPIs every four weeks, giving both you and DVSA a real time view of compliance. These include:
Safety Inspection Records
Defect Rectification
MOT pass rates
Driver hours compliance
Working time
O licence compliance
But here’s the key: if something’s off, you won’t be punished, you’ll be supported. Phil explained that most operators get in touch proactively if they think an alert might be triggered. When they do, DVSA’s approach is collaborative: they’ll speak with you, your transport managers, or even your drivers to work through the issue.
It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being open, proactive and committed to improvement. That’s what Earned Recognition is really for.
5. Operator Results: How Wolseley Turned Compliance into a Competitive Advantage
Jess Partridge showed what’s possible when compliance becomes a strategic priority.
Over the past three years, Wolseley has used the programme to transform their transport operation from the ground up. The results speak for themselves:
PMI slippages cut from 3-4 per month to just 3-4 per year
Tachograph infringement rates dropped to 4%, with a push for 1%
£33 million invested in fleet and transport technology in four years
New revenue from third-party contracts and backhauling opportunities
But Jess’s most telling comment came when he described two serious incidents in the past year: “Five or six years ago, I’d have lost sleep over incidents like that. But now, we’re confident in our systems — we know we’ve done everything right, and we’re not worried about fallout or negative press”.
This isn’t just about passing audits. It’s about confidence. Control. And creating a culture where compliance isn’t a burden, it’s a business advantage.
A Connected, Tech-Driven Compliance Ecosystem
What powered Wolseley’s transformation wasn’t just good intent, it was the right tools and processes working together:
FleetCheck as a centralised platform for fleet oversight<
Fully digital documentation across 250 depots
Automated defect rectification in collaboration with maintenance suppliers
Remote audit capabilities for real-time, location-agnostic compliance checks
Driver compliance scoring to proactively manage risk
Power BI integration to extract operational insights across multiple systems
The cultural shift was equally important. Branch managers now take fleet compliance seriously, and transport has evolved from a cost centre to strategic advantage
“Because we’ve concentrated on compliance and fleet transport so much in the last three years, the engagement with the branch managers now is, again, absolutely fantastic. They take it very seriously… and it’s hats off to the work we’ve done with transport fleet compliance.”
Beyond the Basics
Wolseley didn’t stop at regulatory minimums. They reduced their PMI schedule internally from eight weeks to seven, creating a built-in compliance buffer. They also:
Introduced a Wolseley Permit to Drive, applying HGV-level compliance to van drivers
Created a branded internal Transport Identity to unify depot culture
Upgraded to a Standard National Operator Licence, unlocking new growth
Centralised control over vehicle movements and utilisation across 250 sites
All of this has redefined how transport is viewed inside the business; no longer a cost centre, but a commercial engine.
6. Our Takeaways
Three things became clear to during this session:
1. The gap is widening. Clients, local authorities, and major contractors are increasingly looking for Earned Recognition status. If you’re not there yet, you might find yourself at a disadvantage.
2. Good operators are more profitable. They’re winning contracts, reducing operational costs, and building sustainable businesses. Compliance isn’t holding them back – it’s helping them get ahead.
3. Great operators think differently. Wolseley’s “Permit to Drive” system treats vans like HGVs because “they’re just as big a risk.” That mindset separates good operators from great ones.
Next Steps: How Can You Raise the Bar?
If you’re thinking about what’s next for your fleet, now’s a great time to review your own compliance culture. Are you confident in your processes? Do you know your supply chain inside out? Could Earned Recognition help you take things to the next level?
There are plenty of resources out there, and as a DVSA validated software supplier for Earned Recognition, we’re always here to chat through your options or help you get started.
Want to know more or talk through how Earned Recognition could work for your business? Get in touch—we’re here to help.
