Public and Commercial Services Union

Q. I need help and/or advice. Who should I contact?

A. Contact your local rep, or Branch Secretary immediately. (see branch contact lists)


Q. Where do I send comments/suggestions about the DfT section of the website to?

A. The DfT Group welcomes comments and suggestions about any of its articles. Simply email us at dftgroup@yahoo.co.uk. We have set up this independent email address to aid member's privacy. Please be clear where you want any response to you to be sent.


Q. What is DfT?

A. DfT stands for the Department for Transport. The Department consists of 8 different bargaining units: DfT(C), DSA, DVLA, GCDA, HA, MCA, VCA and VOSA. The Department employees just under 20.000 civil servants.


Q. What is DVLA?

A. DVLA is the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. DVLA manages the records of who is entitled to drive different types of vehicles together with the registration details of all vehicles entitled to travel on public roads. It is responsible for driver licensing and collection of vehicle excise duty.


Q. What is DSA?

A. DSA is the Driving Standards Agency. It is responsible for testing drivers and driving instructions and plays a big role in reducing road casualties.


Q. What is VOSA?

A. VOSA is the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency. It main responsibilites are processing licenses for buses and lorries; registering bus services; vehicle testing schemes including supervision of the MOT testing; enforcing vehicle standards and drivers hours/licensing; and investigating vehicle accidents, defects and recalls.


Q. What is VCA?

A. VCA is the Vehicle Certification Agency. It is responsible for the testing and certification of new models ove hciles and components against European and United Nations safety and environmental standards. It is the VCA which publishes the definitive data on car model's emissions, fuel consumption and noise.

Q. What is DfT(C)?

A. DfT(C) is the name for the central Department. Along with the Ministerial offices and the policy making directorates, DfT(C) also includes the accident investigation branches (covering rail, avaition and marine) and the transport security inspectors. DfT(C) also acts, in some areas eg finance and HR, as the corporate head of the whole Department.


Q. What is HA?

A. HA is the Highways Agency. The HA is responsible for operating, maintaining and improving the road network (motorways and trunk roads). This includes Traffic Officers who are the people who have to try and keep the traffic moving on motorways either in the control room or patrolling the motorways.


Q. What is MCA?

A. MCA is the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. It is responsible for the delivery of the Government's maritime safety strategy and is the agency which co-ordinates search and rescue at sea. It is responsible for checking ships meet UK and international safety standards and also works to prevent coastal pollution.


Q. What is GCDA?

A. GCDA is the Government Car and Despatch Agency. It is a non-profit making agency which aims to be the first choice supplier of secure transport, distribution and mail related services to Government and other approved customers.

DVLA No Pay Day