Traffic Commissioner for Wales

Department for Transport

Wales

  • Location Wales
  • Sector Central Government
  • Client Department for Transport
  • Job Type Permanent
  • Salary/Remuneration £125,522 per annum
  • Reference GSe130624
  • Closing Date 11:59pm on 8 April 2026

Dear Applicant,

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

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 for Wales. 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 Traffic Commissioner for Wales, I would like to encourage you to apply.

Our dedicated Department for Transport Public Appointments Team would be happy to talk through the process and answer your questions.

Simon Lightwood MP

 

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 (PSVs);
  • The registration of local bus services;
  • Granting vocational licences and acting 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 PSVs is safe;
  • To consider on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport the fitness of drivers or those applying for PSV or HGV 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 Commissioner for Wales (TCfW) is expected to maintain constructive, regular engagement with Welsh Ministers and officials, and to work effectively with the Senedd, including its members and relevant committees. The role also involves proactive collaboration with local authorities, industry representatives, passenger groups and operators across Wales, ensuring that hearings and outreach activity are conducted throughout the country. The TCfW is also expected to collaborate with Welsh Government partners on any pertinent proposals or changes relating to bus services in Wales, including upcoming bus franchising reforms.

The TCfW will have an enhanced focus on education, promoting compliance among operators, and supporting initiatives that reduce the need for Public Inquiries and service disruption. This includes working closely with partners to ensure operators understand their obligations and to share best practice across the sector.

The TCfW is expected to uphold bilingual service standards and to engage, as appropriate, with partners such as the Welsh Language Commissioner to support the delivery of bilingual hearings and communications

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.

Additional guidance detailing how various administrative matters shall be handled by the Traffic Commissioners can be found here.

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. 

 

Organisation description

About the Traffic Commissioners

Traffic Commissioners are appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport but are independent public post holders. They act as independent regulators, exercising licensing and judicial functions, sitting as a single person tribunal when conducting public inquiries in relation to licence applications and disciplinary matters. As such they must demonstrate impartiality in all aspects of decision making.

The Department for Transport and Welsh Government are seeking a Traffic Commissioner for Wales, based in Pontypridd with travel required to Caernarfon, and other parts of Wales required on a regular basis

Traffic Commissioners were historically the ‘competent authority’ fulfilling the requirements of EU Regulation 1071/2009, and undertaking the regulation of road transport undertakings, including the power to set conditions, impose sanctions and remove the authorisation to operate. They continue to hold this essential function for the UK and have important regulatory functions in relation to the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.

Traffic Commissioners have responsibility for a defined geographical area and are therefore regionally based. There are eight traffic areas in Great Britain. Traffic Commissioners must have regard to the Statutory Guidance issued by the Senior Traffic Commissioner and act under general directions in respect of reserved functions. Traffic Commissioners work together to deliver consistent and transparent national regulation, whilst maintaining localised service and knowledge. Deputies are also associated with a specific area, but as with full-time Traffic Commissioners, may hear cases in other parts of the country depending on demand. 

In developing policies, Traffic Commissioners have regard to helping the growth of the economy through the Regulators Code and The Economic Growth (Regulatory Functions) Order 2017.

Traffic Commissioners are supported by a team of staff (employed by the Drivers Vehicles and Standards Agency) based regionally and in the centralised licensing team in Leeds. The team deals with the administration of the licensing systems and carries out routine licensing functions under the delegated authority of the Traffic Commissioners.

 

Person specification

Essential criteria

Part One: Experience - Essential criteria:

  • Demonstrate an ability to understand complex legal issues, to reach fair, evidence-based decisions and to communicate effectively with individuals at all levels.
  • Demonstrable experience of operating at a senior level in industry or government, ideally with a road transport focus, or qualified as a lawyer.
  • Experience of developing and delivering a communication or engagement strategy leading to behavioural change.
  • Evidenced experience of working with a variety of internal and external senior stakeholders in a confident and respectful manner to deliver on a shared vision or priority.
  • The successful candidate will be expected to champion the Welsh language. The ideal candidate will be a native Welsh speaker, others who are willing to commit to learn the language to a basic conversational level. Formal training and comprehensive support in the Welsh language will be provided to all successful applicants.

Part Two: Key behaviours

  • Ability to grasp the principles of administrative law and to conduct legal proceedings and investigations in public.
  • Ability to make sound, open, and impartial decisions and to employ excellent problem solving, analysis and evaluation skills.
  • Able to question insightfully and provide constructive challenge to get to the heart of the matter quickly; able to put complex legal issues or proceedings into clear and concise language (both verbally and in writing).
  • Sound judgement skills; able to reach clear, reasoned, fair, impartial and evidence-based decisions.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Self-confident and politically astute.
  • Willingness to embrace change, including early adoption of new technologies and contribute to the development and modernisation of the operator licensing system.
  • Demonstrate a sound understanding of sensitivities and complexities surrounding public inquests and tribunals.
  • Commitment to continuous improvement and maintaining the quality and consistency of service standards. Able to work in a highly collegiate manner including participation at the Traffic Commissioner Board and with other public authorities.
  • A solid commitment to high ethical standards of integrity and honesty, and an understanding of the value and importance of the Seven Principles of Public Life.

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