Logistics UK backs annual test changes
Trade body Logistics UK has said it supports proposals to allow fleets participating in DVSA’s Earned Recognition scheme to either carry out their own annual testing on heavy vehicles and trailers, or delegate the responsibility to a third-party maintenance provider, subject to additional compliance requirements – rather than needing to book tests at an authorised testing facility (ATF).
The statement comes in response to the Department for Transport’s (DfT) call for evidence in April on a number of means by which the annual testing regime might be relaxed for Earned Recognition (ER) operators, who already demonstrate compliance on key vehicle maintenance and drivers’ hours metrics remotely, via data uploads to the DVSA.
The consultation has now closed, and responses are under review.
“Allowing ER operators to MOT test their own vehicles would increase efficiency and reduce costs for those operators as the booking of the test can be precisely scheduled along with the maintenance of the vehicle,” said Phil Lloyd, head of engineering policy at Logistics UK.
“This will reduce the time the vehicle is off the road significantly – a huge benefit to the businesses charged with delivering for the UK economy. These changes should also have a positive impact on emissions reduction as operators will not need to make additional journeys to a separate testing centre.”
But he added: “Road safety must remain a priority; Logistics UK is therefore recommending that DVSA introduces a quality monitoring process to provide assurance that testing providers maintain high levels of compliance and safe operation of vehicles and in the fullness of time this offering could be extended to other compliant operators.
“Logistics UK is urging that these proposed changes be implemented as soon as possible; however, in the meantime, DVSA should provide a greater guarantee of requested ATFs slots for all operators, with increased flexibility around days or hours testing will be offered by DVSA.”
In its response to the DfT consultation, Logistics UK also highlighted the need for the department to work with the traffic commissioners throughout the consultation process, “to eliminate any potential for conflicting regulations that would negatively impact operators and cause unnecessary delays for a revised testing process”.
In mid-May, subject to submissions from its membership, the Road Haulage Association (RHA) said that it intended to respond to the call for evidence stating its support for the principles of delegated testing and increased time between tests – and for the extension of these measures to operators scoring green under the DVSA’s operator compliance risk score (OCRS) system.
“However, the RHA believes it would be best to trial the increased time between tests, so that potential safety issues can be addressed,” said the association.
“Furthermore, the RHA does not support the reduction of test content on safety grounds. Regarding the final option, the RHA’s stance is that all operators should be treated equally by DVSA in terms of the service provision given.”
