DVSA and CPT’s experience exchange

Strong partnerships with the industries we regulate are essential for us in keeping Britain’s roads safe. That’s why DVSA took part in a new experience exchange with the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), representing the UK’s bus and coach industry. 

Building on DVSA’s job‑shadowing programme with the Road Haulage Association in 2024, the exchange ran from October 2025 to March 2026. It brought senior leaders from DVSA and CPT together for immersive visits designed to give a practical understanding of each organisation’s work and the pressures they face. 

How it worked 

The exchange ran both ways with CPT directors joining DVSA at test centres and enforcement operations to see how intelligence and technology are used to target non‑compliance.  DVSA colleagues also spent time with CPT members, including Go‑Ahead and Lakeside Coaches, to understand the realities of running safe, reliable passenger services.

Key moments 

October 2025: Former DVSA Chief Executive Loveday Ryder spent a day with CPT’s Operations Director, Keith McNally. DVSA Director of Vehicle Services, Rich Hennessy, also visited Martin Dean, Managing Director of UK regional bus company Go‑Ahead, to gain insight into daily operational pressures.  December 2025: Loveday hosted Keith at Stratford‑upon‑Avon for vehicle inspections and discussions on delegated examiners, Driver CPC, operator licensing and future autonomous vehicle work.  February 2026: Rich Hennessy and Enforcement Services Director, Marian Kitson, hosted Martin Dean of Go-Ahead and Neal Hall, Managing Director of Lakeside Coaches, at Avonmouth to observe enforcement activity and discuss apprenticeships and heavy‑vehicle recruitment.  Why this matters 

Collaboration like this sits at the heart of DVSA’s Vision to 2030 and supports the Department for Transport’s Road Safety Strategy. By working more closely with industry, we can better target enforcement, improve guidance and support operators to stay compliant. 

The passenger transport sector is complex, with operators balancing vehicle roadworthiness, accessibility requirements and service delivery. Spending time within that environment helps DVSA better understand operational realities and the impact of our regulatory decisions.  

Equally, when industry leaders spend time with DVSA enforcement teams and see the intelligence‑led, technology‑enabled work involved in identifying non‑compliance, it helps build trust, transparency and shared understanding. 

Reflecting on his time with DVSA, Keith McNally said: 

“The visits gave me a great opportunity to see enforcement activity first‑hand and the technology used by DVSA to help keep the roads and drivers safe.

''It was a great day, giving me the chance to share ideas on what could drive positive change and to explore how CPT and DVSA can work together to support the bus and coach industry.” 

Rich said:  

“Spending the day with Martin Dean from the Go-Ahead group, was a great opportunity for me to see the industry through an operator’s lens, reinforcing the importance of strong collaboration between DVSA and the sector to support safety, innovation and service reliability.” 

Martin explained his thoughts on his visit: 

A shared commitment 

Neal Hall, Managing Director of Lakeside Coaches reflected on his experience:  

“I was so impressed by everything I saw on my visit with Marian. I went out with the roadside enforcement team and saw the respect the team gave to the drivers of the vehicles they pulled over to check.  

Now, I’ve got a much better understanding of how DVSA works – and their goals. I also didn’t realise how far ahead they are with autonomous vehicles and that they could be on the road in 2 years!” 

Marian shared her final thoughts on her visit to Lakeside Coaches:

DVSA would like to thank CPT, Go‑Ahead, Lakeside Coaches and all DVSA colleagues who contributed to making this exchange so valuable. The learning and conversations from the programme will help shape how our organisations continue to work together. 

This experience exchange shows what effective partnership looks like in practice: meaningful engagement with industry leaders who share our commitment to making bus and coach travel safer for everyone. 

https://movingon.blog.gov.uk/2026/04/02/dvsa-and-cpts-experience-exchange/

seen at 18:39, 2 April in Moving On.