Big fleets ‘in firing line’ on emissions control sabotage

Operators caught knowingly running vehicles with damaged, missing or sabotaged emissions-control systems will face action against their O-licences, the DVSA has warned.

Speaking at the FTA’s transport managers’ conference in Sparkford, Somerset, Stuart Carter (pictured), the DVSA’s enforcement delivery manager for the south and south-west, said there was growing evidence of interference with emissions control equipment by some operators.

“It’s cheating,” he said. “Interference with emissions control is an issue of repute.”

And West of England traffic commissioner (TC) Kevin Rooney told delegates: “Sabotage of emissions controls will bring you before the TC, and your licence will be revoked.

“I can tell you that some very big names are already in the firing line.”

Transport Operator has long highlighted the issue, reporting that devices such as ‘AdBlue emulators’ which disable SCR systems are being sold on the internet, ‘chipping services’ which will increase NOx emissions are openly touted, and diesel particulate filter (DPF) removal and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) bypassing is often offered as a quick (but illegal) fix for clogged particulate filters.

DVSA has warned that businesses offering such services could be barred from undertaking MoT tests.