Almost every operator in Northern Ireland that should have a restricted O-licence has been issued one, three years after updated O-licensing rules came into force.
According to figures published by the Department of the Environment, just two temporary permits were awaiting conversion into a full restricted O-licence at the end of September 2015.
In September 2014, 755 permits were still in issue.
Temporary permits were issued to own-account operators when the Goods Vehicle Act (2010) became effective in July 2012, to allow them to operate while their O-licence application was processed.
Some 3,863 restricted O-licences were in issue on 30 September, including permit conversions where the fee had been paid.
This figure was down 2.7% from 3,970 in September 2014, which did not include permit holders.
A total of 1,579 standard international O-licences were in issue in Northern Ireland, compared to 1,525 at the end of September 2014- an increase of 3.5%. The number of standard national O-licences fell from 378 in 2014 to 377.
The Driver and Vehicle Agency inspected 565 trucks (not including trailers) between July and September 2015, down 3.4% on the same period in 2014.
