How PCO Drivers Can Pull Dash Cam Footage to Protect Their Licence
Timi
If you drive PCO in London, one passenger complaint can put your licence at risk, and your word against theirs is rarely enough.
Your dash cam footage is the proof that settles it. The problem is most drivers only think about their footage when they suddenly need it, then spend hours trying to find the right clip. This post walks through how to retrieve it on the Traknova platform, so the footage is ready when TfL, your operator, or your insurer asks.
Why footage matters for PCO drivers
A complaint is often one person’s account against another. Without evidence, that puts a licensing decision in someone else’s hands. Footage moves the conversation from “he said, she said” to what actually happened.
It comes into play more often than most drivers expect:
- A passenger complaint that could trigger a TfL review
- A collision where fault is disputed
- An argument over a fare or a route
- An insurance claim that hinges on who did what
In each case, having the clip to hand can be the difference between a resolved case and a suspended licence.
Watch: retrieving your footage
The full process takes a couple of minutes. Here is the walkthrough.
How to retrieve your footage, step by step
The whole point is speed. You should not need a technician or a support ticket to get a clip off your own camera.
1. Browse your cameras
Open the platform and select the vehicle and camera you need. Front, cabin, or rear, they all sit in one place.
2. Scrub the timeline to the moment
Use the day timeline to pinpoint exactly when something happened. You are looking for a specific moment, so you can jump straight to it rather than scanning hours of driving.
3. Request the footage
Once you have found the window you need, request that clip. The camera pulls the footage and starts sending it to the platform.
4. Watch it transfer in real time
You can see the transfer happen live, so there is no guessing whether it worked. When it is done, the clip is ready.
5. Play it back and download the MP4
Play it back to confirm you have the right moment, then download it as an MP4. That file is now ready to send on.
Who to send it to
Once you have the clip saved, you are in control of the evidence. Depending on the situation, that usually means sending it to:
- TfL, if a complaint has escalated to a licensing review
- Your operator, to clear up a dispute quickly
- Your insurer, to support or defend a claim
The driver who can produce clear footage within the hour is in a far stronger position than the one still trying to work out how to get it.
Summary and next steps
For a PCO driver, your dash cam is only as useful as your ability to get the footage off it. Traknova is built so that retrieving, playing back and downloading a clip takes minutes, not a day of chasing.
If you want the wider picture, our dash camera solution and our guide for taxi and PHV operators go deeper. You can also see how it all fits together for taxi and private hire fleets.