HGV and PSV inspection manuals updated
The DVSA has made changes to its HGV and PSV inspection manuals, which are used to assess vehicles being taken for annual test or undergoing roadside checks. Key changes highlighted by DVSA include updates on: inappropriate modification; free rolling tyres on front steered axles; wheel flanges; seat belt webbing; 1c tachograph fitment; flashing stop lamps; trailer EBS conditioning; and PSV brake testing.
The revision record section contained in the front of each manual after the title page lists all the updates for each section and their location. The updated manuals are available at: gov.uk/dvsa
The agency also issued a specific warning about free rolling tyres: “From 1 April 2023, free rolling tyres (FRTs) fitted to front steering axles will be treated as a major deficiency at annual test,” it advised. “This means such vehicles and trailers will fail the annual test… A tyre marked with the term ‘FRT’ on the side wall stands for free rolling tyre. This marking means the tyre is designed for use on axles of a motor vehicle and trailer axles, other than front steering and drive axles.”
Vehicles and trailers which are fitted with FRTs on drive axles are categorised as a major item at annual test, adds DVSA, and will result in a failure.