Published by Towing Solutions | November 2025
Businesses that operate trailers for work – from traffic-management, utilities, construction, plant hire, to fleet operations – need to sit up and take notice. The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and other UK Government bodies are stepping up enforcement and updating guidance on trailer use, towing with electric/hybrid vans and load-security. Now’s the time to ensure your fleet is compliant, safe, and truly training-ready.
What’s Changed
Trailers & LGVs – New DVSA Focus
The DVSA’s latest strategy makes clear that trailers towed by light goods vehicles (LGVs) are no longer “nice to haves” in compliance terms — they’re front-and-centre. According to the GOV.UK blog:
“Over the next year, we will be using a new approach to improve compliance around light goods vehicles (LGVs) and their trailers.” movingon.blog.gov.uk
Key stats include:
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Over 50% of LGV checks result in enforcement action, often for serious defects, insecure loads or overloads. movingon.blog.gov.uk
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The user (operator/driver) of a towing vehicle is responsible for the road-worthiness of the trailer as well — even if they don’t own it. GOV.UK+1
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Government guidance on load security emphasises that goods transported in trailers must meet the same high standards as other vehicles. GOV.UK+1
What this means for you:
If you run trailers on your fleet (or service them), you must adopt a “whole system” compliance strategy: van + trailer + load + coupling. Maintenance regimes, driver checks and training must reflect that reality.
Electric & Hybrid Vans Towing Trailers
For businesses using electric (EV) or hydrogen/hybrid vans for towing, a new dimension of risk and regulation is emerging. The GOV.UK guidance on driving electric/hydrogen-powered vehicles sets out important towing rules:
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When towing, the combined maximum authorised mass (MAM) of vehicle + trailer must not exceed 7,000 kg for some ZEV combinations. GOV.UK+1
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Because EVs tend to be heavier, they may have greater stopping distances, and reversing/handling are different. GOV.UK
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Guidance for recovery/rework of electric vehicles underlines that additional training is required for hazards like high voltage systems. HSE+1
What this means for you:
If your fleet uses (or plans to use) EV/hybrid tow vehicles with trailers, this is a training and servicing opportunity. Drivers and engineers must understand the specifics of EV towing — battery weight, regenerative braking, coupling compatibility, and load-management.
How Towing Solutions Can Help
As an IMI-approved centre and the UK’s leading towing-industry training provider, Towing Solutions delivers a full suite of courses geared precisely to these requirements.
Trailer Safety & Awareness Course
Designed in collaboration with the National Trailer & Towing Association (NTTA), this hands-on course covers hitching/unhitching, coupling, pre-use checks, reversing, using trailers on country lanes, motorways and town centres. It builds real-world competence.
Loading & Securing Course
Focused on the legal and practical side of securing loads on trailers, vans and combinations. Learners engage with HS/GOV.UK guidance (e.g., load securing for goods vehicles) and enable your teams to be audit-ready under DVSA expectations.
Trailer Servicing & Maintenance Course
For fleet-owners, service engineers, mobile teams: covers braking systems, lighting (including LED retrofit), hubs, bearings, trailer lighting diagnostics (great for your Lucidity LED connectors!) — exactly the systems being targeted under new enforcement.
Towing Awareness for Management
Ideal for fleet managers and senior staff: covers regulatory frameworks (PUWER, LOLER, load-security laws), risk-management for trailers, and how to set in-house policies that align with DVSA expectations.
EV & Hybrid Vehicle Driver Training
Specifically for drivers and fleet operators using EV or hybrid vans to tow. We cover electric/hybrid-specific issues: coupling compatibility, regenerative braking effect on trailer stability, preparation and checks for ZEV (zero emission vehicle) towing.
Plus: Visit our YouTube channel to see the training in action — trailers, training ground practice, real-life towing demonstrations.
Final Word & Next Steps
With the DVSA’s shift to targeting trailers attached to LGVs and the increased complexity of EV/hybrid vehicle combinations, your training, servicing and fleet-management regimes must adapt — now. Implementing the right professional training is your strategic advantage.
Explore all our industry courses here: Towing Solutions Business Courses
Let’s make sure your trailer-fleet is not only compliant — but future-ready.