Controller of number of vehicles you subsequently overheard (9)
I believe the answer is:
regulator
'controller' is the definition.
(I know that regulator is a type of controller)
I don't understand the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for regulator that I've seen before include "source of rules?" , "Controller" , "Ofsted perhaps" , "Such as OFGAS, OFTEL etc" , "Governor" .)