The Raahi blog
Plain-English guides on DVSA compliance, walkaround checks, record-keeping and running a tipper & tarmac fleet — written for UK operators and drivers.
Haulage Software for Tipper & Aggregate Firms: What to Look For
A practical buyer's guide — the six things that actually matter when choosing haulage and compliance software for a UK tipper or aggregate fleet.
Grab Lorry Sizes, Weights & Capacity: a UK Guide
6-wheel and 8-wheel grab lorry payloads, how many cubic metres they really hold, width and grab reach — and why muck-away volume depends on the material.
Standard vs Restricted Operator Licence: Which Do You Need?
What each O-licence lets you carry, when you need a transport manager and CPC, and why paid tipper work almost always needs a standard licence.
Tacho Infringements: The Common Ones & How to Avoid Them
The handful of infringements that catch drivers out most — the 4.5-hour break, rest, the daily and weekly limits — and how to stop them early.
Weighbridge Tickets: What to Capture and Why
The ticket is your proof of the load and what the self-bill is checked against. Exactly what to capture so nothing goes unpaid.
Transport Manager Duties for a Small Tipper Fleet
What a TM actually has to do on a standard O-licence, and what "continuous and effective" management really means.
Abortive & Cancelled Job Charges: Claiming a Wasted Trip
A cancelled load or aborted tip still costs you a trip — and leaves no ticket. How abortive charges work and how to claim them.
Operator Licence Basics for Tipper Operators
Restricted vs standard, the five things you must prove, operating centres, and the promises you make to the Traffic Commissioner.
Nil Defect Reporting: What It Means & How to Record It
A nil defect report is the proof your daily walkaround happened. What a valid record must show and how long to keep it.
How Often Should a Tipper Be Safety Inspected? PMI Intervals
Tippers are commonly inspected every 6 weeks — but the legal interval is the one on your O-licence. How intervals are set and what DVSA checks.
Muck-Away vs Grab Lorry vs Tipper: What's the Difference?
Tipper = the lorry. Grab lorry = a tipper with its own crane. Muck-away = the job of taking spoil away. How they differ and which to use.
Customer Self-Billing Explained: How Haulier Self-Bill Invoices Work
The customer raises the invoice for you — here's how to check every self-bill for waiting time, return loads and extra miles you're owed.
Tipper Haulage Software: The 2026 Buyer's Guide for UK Operators
What to look for — dispatch, weighbridge tickets, waiting-time and extra-mile claims, and DVSA compliance.
Get Paid for Waiting Time, Return Loads & Extra Miles
How waiting-time charges work, what customers pay for return loads, and how to claim every penny.
DVSA Daily Walkaround Check: The Complete UK Guide (2026)
What the law requires, what to inspect, how to report defects, and the 15-month record rule.
How Long Must You Keep Walkaround & Defect Records?
At least 15 months, available for DVSA inspection — and why nil-defect records count.
How to Reduce Dead Mileage in Tipper Haulage
What causes empty running, how to measure it, and practical ways to cut it.
Free HGV Daily Walkaround Check Template (2026)
A DVSA-aligned checklist to copy — plus when paper starts costing you.
Tachograph Download Deadlines: The 28 & 90 Day Rule
How often you must download driver cards and vehicle units — and why.
Driver Document & Expiry Management: Licence, CPC & Tacho
What to track, the renewal cycles, and how to never be caught out.
Run your fleet from your pocket
Raahi is fleet & DVSA compliance software for UK hauliers — walkarounds, dispatch, tarmac reconciliation and reminders on any phone.
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