Dear Applicant,

Thank you for your interest in the post of Traffic Commissioner.

This is an important time for the Department for Transport. We are investing heavily in infrastructure and public transport to improve journeys, boost connections, level up the country and support economic growth. Central to our mission is delivering transport that works for everyone in our society.

We are recruiting for a new Traffic Commissioner to be based in the North East of England. Traffic Commissioners are the only tribunal function sponsored by the Department for Transport and fulfil a vital role in keeping the public safe and supporting industry.

The post holder will need to be able to engage confidently with a wide range of stakeholders and to demonstrate personal integrity as well as sound legal judgement and impartiality in all aspects of decision-making. We believe that our public appointments should be reflective of our society.

As part of the Department's commitment to diversity, we welcome applications from people irrespective of their disability, ethnicity, or gender, who can bring wide experience and dynamic ideas to the role. We are open to fresh talent, expertise, and perspectives, to help us better understand the needs of the communities we serve. This includes people who may have never applied for a public appointment - but could bring new ideas, insights, and energy.

If you are interested in the role of the Traffic Commissioner, I would like to encourage you to apply. Our dedicated Department for Transport Public Appointments Team would be happy to talk through the public appointment process and answer your questions.

Simon Lightwood MP [Minister for Roads and Buses]

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Traffic Commissioners have responsibility in their traffic area for:

• The licensing of the operators of goods vehicles and of buses and coaches (public service vehicles or PSVs);
• The registration of local bus services;
• Granting vocational licences and taking action against drivers of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and PSVs;
• The environmental suitability of centres designated as parking locations for HGVs.

Traffic Commissioners promote:

• The safe operation of goods vehicles and PSVs;
• Fair competition between operators;
• Reducing the burden on compliant operators;
• The safe and responsible conduct of HGV and PSV drivers.

The Traffic Commissioners' main functions can be summarised as follows:

• To ensure that people operating goods vehicles and PSVs are reputable (fit), competent, and adequately funded;
• To encourage all operators to adopt robust systems, so that there is fair competition and that the operation of goods and public service vehicles is safe;
• To consider on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport the fitness of drivers or those applying for public service vehicle or heavy goods vehicle driving licences based on their conduct;
• To consider, and where appropriate impose traffic regulation conditions to prevent danger to road users and/or reduce traffic congestion and/or pollution;
• To ensure public inquiry proceedings are fair and free from any unjustified interference or bias;
• To engage with stakeholders - listening to industry, meeting with local authorities, trade organisations, passenger groups and operators and presenting seminars.

The Traffic Commissioners' role is important to both commercial vehicle operators and the wider public. Commissioners operate in an exposed and sensitive position. They must maintain the confidence of a wide range of stakeholders and ensure personal integrity as well as sound judgement and impartiality in all aspects of decision-making. Traffic Commissioners must also have regard to helping the growth of the economy through the Regulators Code and The Economic Growth (Regulatory Functions) Order 2017.

In the performance of their duties Traffic Commissioners seek to act in accordance with the standards expected of those in public life, namely proportionality; accountability; consistency; transparency and targeting. Those values underpin their approach as modern regulators. Traffic Commissioners are subject to regular appraisals and peer review in line with the competencies identified for equivalent members of the tribunal judiciary.

Note: If a candidate holds or acquires a financial interest in a transport undertaking which carries passengers or goods by road or rail within Great Britain it is required that they within four weeks give notice of that acquisition in writing to the Secretary of State specifying the interest you have acquired. This is required in accordance with paragraph 2 of schedule 2 to the Passenger Vehicles Act 1981.

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Recruitment Timetable

Closing date
11pm on Tuesday 4 August 2026

Short listing
Week commencing 17 August 2026

Written Assessment
Week commencing 7 September 2026

Final panel
Week commencing 28 September 2026

How to apply

To help you succeed, we have provided application guidance on our public appointments campaign page .

In order to apply you will need to create an account or sign in . Once you are logged into your account, click on 'apply for this role' and follow the on-screen instructions. To apply, all applicants are required to provide:

• equality information (including the option of 'prefer not to say')
• information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues
• a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• a supporting statement
• a short professional biography (150 words)

We will ask you to check and confirm your personal details to ensure your application is accurate. You will also have the opportunity to make a reasonable adjustment request or apply under the disability confident scheme before you submit your application.

If you require any adjustments or have questions about the process, you should contact the team as early as possible using the email listed under 'Contact details' at the end of the advertisement.

For a confidential conversation, please speak with our partners GatenbySanderson:

Russell Brandon, Researcher
E: Russell.Brandon@gatenbysanderson.com