To qualify for an Operator's Licence, the inidividual must be:
- of good repute
- of an appropriate financial standing with available capital and reserves equal to or exceeding the aggregate of € 8,385.74 ( LM3,600 ) when only one vehicle is used and € 4,658.75 ( LM2,000 ) for each additional vehicle to be authorized
- professionally competent: proof of competence may be through examination and/or experience or, by exemption
Good repute
An operator is considered as being of good repute if s/he:
- has not been convicted during the last 5 years of serious criminal offences carrying a conviction of a term of imprisonment of 3 months or more or a fine of at least 460, or of 2 or more crimes connected with violence
- has not been found guilty during the last 2 years of any crime carrying a conviction for an offence concerning the use of any motor vehicle
- has not been declared unfit to pursue the occupation of road transport operator under any rules in force
- has not been convicted of serious, repeated offences against rules concerning pay and employment conditions in the profession or road transport, in particular, rules relating to driving, weights and dimensions, road or vehicle safety, or damage to the environment
Financial standing
The term financial standing incorporates all available resources, including the purchase cost of the vehicle(s), and any other asset such as premises, plant and equipment, own property, working capital etc. Complying with the criteria of financial standing helps to ensure that an operator does not overburden himself with operating vehicles he cannot safely and legally operate.
There are no limits on the number of vehicles that can be registered under each Operating Licence, subject to the terms and conditions being met as required under the Financial Standing criteria.
Professional competence
Professional Competence can be compared to a standard measure of skills that one would require in order to operate safely, legally, effectively and efficiently. Such skills may have been obtained through years of experience and/or a combination of training and experience. As in all professions, having the necessary knowledge and competence to apply it in a real working environment is essential; and so it is with transport operations.
Thus, the conditions relating to professional competence consist of the possession of specified knowledge relating to:
- civil law
- commercial law
- social law
- fiscal law
- business and financial management of the undertaking
- access to the market
- technical standards and aspects of operation
- road safety