400th ATF opens in Hemel Hempstead
DVSA, the newly-merged agency combining VOSA and the Driving Standards Agency, began 2014 in style with the opening of the 400th site in its authorised testing facility (ATF) scheme.
The 400th ATF site, in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, is run by privately-owned group HTC. It was officially opened by local MP and former roads minister Mike Penning, DVSA CEO Alastair Peoples, and Ray Ashworth, managing director of DAF UK, on Wednesday 8 January.
The milestone, which is being heralded by DVSA as a mark of its success in transferring provision of annual testing for heavy goods and passenger vehicles to the private sector, occurs less than three years after the opening of the first facility in the scheme in 2010 by East of England Scania dealer TruckEast.
The ATF network has been gradually replacing DVSA’s own testing stations ever since, although the annual tests performed at the facilities are still carried out by DVSA employees. Nearly 72 per cent of all tests are now carried out at private sites, the agency says.
Alastair Peoples said: “I am glad I have been invited to mark the opening of this 400th ATF today. I feel proud of the ATF record so far and I know local operators and drivers in the Hemel Hempstead area will quickly see the benefits of having a greater choice of where they can have their vehicles tested.
“ATF customers from across the country tell me they have seen savings on fuel costs, vehicle down-time, lower CO2 emissions and improved first-time pass rates and I fully expect to hear similar feedback from operators and drivers using this facility.”
Mike Penning, local MP for Hemel Hempstead (pictured cutting the ribbon at the opening), spoke about his excitement regarding HTC Hemel’s achievements, and also commented on how heartening it was to see businesses rebuilding the community of Hemel after the Buncefield disaster.
He said: “I am delighted that I have had the opportunity to open the 400th ATF in my own constituency. This policy was introduced when I was a transport minister and reduces the financial burden on commercial operators by increasing competition and giving customers a more choice of where to go for tests.”
HTC Hemel depot manager Jane Barrett added: “Since arriving at HTC Hemel back in August and taking up the position of depot manager, today was by far my proudest moment. After having received massive encouragement and best wishes from our local Member of Parliament, Mr Mike Penning, who was kind enough to officiate at our opening ceremony and cut the ribbon for us, we were elated to be given the great news from Mr Ray Ashworth, MD of DAF Trucks Limited that we are hopefully soon to be appointed a DAF Service/Parts Dealer. I am absolutely over the moon!”
KH Commercials opens new Haydock ATF
Fleet maintenance specialist KH Commercials (North West) Ltd has opened a new ATF in Haydock, Merseyside, which it says will improve testing convenience for heavy vehicle operators based in the area.
The ATF site, which was officially opened at an event on 4 December and began testing the following week, will be able to process around 100 tests per week at full capacity, its operators say. Haulage and delivery specialists such as Tuffnells Parcels Express, Mark Thompson Transport and KGT Logistics were expected to be among the first to undertake testing of their fleets at the new sites.
Established in 2007, KH Commercials offers commercial vehicle maintenance and repair services at its headquarters close to the M6 in Haydock, from which it services fleets operating in the surrounding areas, including St. Helens, Warrington, Bolton, Wigan and Leigh. The company also offers a 24/7 breakdown service aimed predominantly at its commercial clients.
The family-run firm, which employs 12 people, decided to open the ATF partly in response to the closure of testing facilities at DVSA’s Knowsley station. The site offers open-access testing for HGVs, PSVs and trailers, including ADR and testing for the London Low Emission Zone Phase 3.
KH Commercials’ Kate Hickey said: “Opening the ATF has been a natural progression for our company. We already offer Class 4, 5 and 7 MoT testing at our existing site, so the extension of testing provision to heavy vehicles was an obvious step in terms of expanding our business potential.
“Through the new facility we aim to offer commercial vehicle operators in the area increased convenience when it comes to bringing their vehicles to annual test.”
The site features two fully operational test lanes, supplied by workshop equipment specialist VL Test Systems (VLT). The package incorporates two VLT roller brake testers, two Premier Pits inspection pits, Abco pit jacks, a VLT headlamp tester, a Premier Diagnostics exhaust gas analyser, and a range of auxiliary tools and accessories.
Brian Beacon of VL Test Systems, who was among the attendees at the launch event on 4 December, told Transport Operator: “We’re delighted to have been able to assist the team at KH Commercials in the launch of their new ATF venture at Haydock.
“Provision of VOSA-approved ATF equipment has become a key business area for VLT over recent years as the third-party testing programme has rapidly expanded. We have supplied products for numerous testing facilities – whether a full test lane solution as in this case, or individual items of testing equipment – and were pleased to be able to build on our experience with this latest project.“
New Shetland ATF is UK’s most northerly
DVSA has also announced the opening of the northernmost ATF so far, which will be serving truck, bus and coach operators in the UK’s most northerly island group, Shetland.
The new site, based in Lerwick, is run by Northwards Ltd, a company specialising in freight and livestock haulage to and from the Northern Isles, with offices and depots in Shetland, Orkney, Aberdeen, Scrabster, and Inverness.
DVSA’s website lists in-house goods vehicle testing stations (GVTS) at Lerwick, at Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands, and at Wick – but the northernmost ATF prior to the new opening would have been at Peterhead in Aberdeenshire.
On Monday 6 January, DVSA presented Northwards Ltd with a certificate commemorating the opening of the most northerly ATF.
DVSA Chief Executive Alastair Peoples said: “The opening of an ATF in the Shetland Islands is another significant milestone in the expansion of the ATF network, marking it as the most northerly facility for bus, coach and truck testing.
“Open access at the Northwards site will make it even easier for drivers and operators in the local area to access testing facilities. I know from speaking with other ATFs that they value the convenience of having testing facilities closer to their business so they can reduce fuel costs, improve vehicle downtime and also see first time pass rates improve.
“I am proud of the ATF record so far and I know local drivers and operators will benefit from the service provided by their new ATF.”
Northwards commercial director Neil Leslie added: “I look forward to offering an enhanced service to transport operators in the Shetland Isles and see this as a natural fit with our workshop facilities.”
