Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995

2 (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), no goods shall be carried on a large goods vehicle unless a document (a “consignment note”) in the prescribed form and containing the prescribed particulars has been completed and signed in the prescribed manner and is carried by the driver of the vehicle.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) shall not apply—

(a) to the carriage of goods on any journey or on a vehicle of any class exempted from that sub-paragraph by regulations; or

(b) to any carriage of goods which is lawful without the authority of an operator’s licence.

(3) Subject to the provisions of regulations, a traffic commissioner may dispense with the observance, as respects the carriage of goods under an operator’s licence issued by him, of any requirement of sub-paragraph (1), where he is satisfied that it is not reasonably practicable for that requirement to be observed.

(4) Such a dispensation may be granted—

(a) generally;

(b) as respects a particular vehicle; or

(c) as respects the use of vehicles for a particular purpose.

(5) The consignment note relating to the goods carried on a vehicle on any journey shall, at the conclusion of that journey, be preserved for the prescribed period by the person who used the vehicle for carrying the goods on that journey.

(6) Any person who—

(a) uses or drives a vehicle in contravention of sub-paragraph (1), or

(b) fails to comply with sub-paragraph (5),

is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.