If, like me, you're into your industry statistics, you're going to enjoy the following.

For those of us who dine on numbers, the Traffic Commissioner has laid out a feast.

Here's a brief overview of the numbers revealed in the TC's most recent annual report.

There will be no filler, explanation or straying off the subject; just a selection of pure, juicy stats, straight off the griddle.

Goods & PSV operators

• Licences held: 72,547 goods / 8756 PSV 
• Vehicles: 378,476 goods / 95,634 PSV discs issued
• Applications: 11,714 goods / 1231 PSV 
• Public inquiries (non compliance): 810 goods / 181 PSV 
• Licences revoked: 261 goods / 86 PSV 
• Licences suspended: 104 goods / 11 PSV 
• Operator disqualifications: 82 goods / 28 PSV 
• Transport manager disqualifications: 105 goods / 39 PSV

Drivers

• Vocational licence applications refused: 2798 
• Vocational licences revoked: 262 
• Vocational licences suspended: 838 
• Drivers called to conduct hearing: 3290 
• Cases closed: 21,222 

O-Licencing - General

• 12,945 operator licence applications and variations processed
• 1400 public inquiries
• 352 preliminary hearings
• 70 Senior Team Leader (STL) interviews
• 12,483 local bus registrations processed
• 21,222 driver conduct cases closed

Operator Licence Applications: No. of New Licences Issued in Full by Traffic Area

• Eastern: 1055 (increase of 12 on 2016/17)
• North Eastern: 661 (decrease of 68 on 2016/17)
• North Western: 633 (decrease of 47 on 2016/17)
• South Eastern & Metropolitan: 674 (decrease of 20 on 2016/17)
• West Midlands: 577 (increase of 84 on 2016/17)
• Western: 712 (decrease of 26 on 2016/17)
• Scotland: 339 (increase of 12 on 2016/17)
• Wales: 310 (increase of 38 on 2016/17)
• Total: 4961 (increase of 26 on 2016/17)

Operator Licence Applications:

No. of New Applications Opposed by Traffic Area

• Eastern: 24 (decrease of 7 on 2016/17)
• North Eastern: 10 (decrease of 2 on 2016/17)
• North Western: 13 (decrease of 3 on 2016/17)
• South Eastern & Metropolitan: 22 (decrease of 4 on 2016/17)
• West Midlands: 8 (increase of 4 on 2016/17)
• Western: 8 (no change on 2016/17)
• Scotland: 7 (decrease of 1 on 2016/17)
• Wales: 6 (increase of 4 on 2016/17)
• Total: 98 (decrease of 11 on 2016/17)

And there's plenty more where that came from. Over the next few weeks, we'll be looking in-depth at these and the other figures revealed in the report, and rolling out content tackling some of the specific questions they raise for operators, transport managers and the industry itself. 

Questions such as: 

• What do the numbers tell us about restricted licence holders?
• Has the skills shortage had an impact?
• Do the stats mean anything for those operating within domestic regulations?

To name but a handful.

One last thing before I leave you alone - I've studied the report, and can say without a shadow of a doubt there's some golden information in there. I'll be discussing some of the numbers, and sharing my conclusions, during an upcoming webinar. If you've any questions to ask me, hit the button below to sign up: