Operating Companies

Transport Scotland has contracts in place with Operating Companies who ensure the trunk roads are safe, efficient and well managed.

Maintaining the condition of our trunk road and motorway network is vital to the economy of Scotland.

Work is carried out by Operating Companies working under separate 5 year (with the option to extend to 7 year) contracts.

These contracts are divided into 4 regional units.

• North West – Operated by Scotland Transerv since April 2006 (Contract extended to 31 August 2012)
• North East – Operated by BEAR Scotland since April 2007 (Contract extended to 31 March 2013)
• South East – Operated by BEAR Scotland since April 2007 (Contract extended to 31 March 2013)
• South West – Operated by Amey since April 2006 (Contract extended to 31 August 2012)

Day-to-day work by Operating Companies involves:

• Inspection, maintenance and repair of road surfaces, bridges and other infrastructure
• Grass cutting and weed control
• Gully cleaning
• Salting and snow clearing
• Repairs to street lighting and traffic signals; and
• Overseeing works carried out by contractors and utility companies.

These contracts employ over 1,100 staff directly and 100 more through sub-contracts.

To ensure these contracts deliver value for money, Transport Scotland has in place a Performance Audit Group (PAG) who audit, monitor and report on the financial, technical and performance aspects of the Operating Companies to an agreed strategy. 

This involves  more than 80 detailed audits per annum, monitoring of over 1,200 road works sites each year and reporting on the financial, technical and performance aspects of the Operating Companies.

PAG also reviews payment requests from the Operating Companies and carries out inter-unit comparisons.