Industry launches government-backed CV workshop rating scheme
Image: Daimler Truck
A new national rating scheme for commercial vehicle maintenance providers, the result of a major cross-sector collaboration between industry and government, was launched at the Commercial Vehicle Show last month.
Unveiled by the Institute of Road Transport Engineers (IRTE), the Maintenance Provision Rating Scheme (MPRS) – which is now live following an 18-month pilot – has been introduced with the aim of raising standards and driving confidence across the CV maintenance sector.
MPRS is a voluntary scheme which will rate participating workshops and maintenance providers across the UK based on the competency of their staff and quality of facilities. Steered by IRTE, the system was developed in conjunction with the Department for Transport, Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and the traffic commissioners – as well as industry bodies Logistics UK, the Road Haulage Association (RHA), Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders (SMMT), British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association (BVRLA) and National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA).
In addition, Daimler Truck UK and DAF played a role in shaping MPRS via the pilot.
“Workshops are currently entirely unregulated, but MPRS can be a beacon of confidence for operators working with external workshops and maintenance facilities,” said Phil Lloyd, head of engineering policy at Logistics UK.
“It provides a trusted way for maintenance providers to demonstrate their competencies to reassure operators, who will know that their vehicles are being maintained by workshops and facilities that are serious about quality, compliance and safety.”
Daimler Truck, whose workshops were used as a benchmark for the scheme’s scoring criteria, said it would implement MPRS ratings for every dealer in its network by the end of this year.
Amy Carter, head of product at Daimler Truck UK, said: “As an OEM, Daimler Truck UK has welcomed being involved in the development of the MPRS as we believe it is important for the commercial vehicle industry to be setting new standards. It has needed a consistent, nationwide rating scheme for a long time… We believe the MPRS will help raise the bar in aftersales and, in the longer term, we hope customers start asking workshops for their MPRS ratings and that dealers start promoting their own scores.
“Daimler Truck takes customer service and compliance very seriously and although we already assess the standards of our own dealer network regularly, the MPRS now provides a useful independent benchmark to prove that when a customer sends their fleet into our workshops, they’re being looked after by the highest standards.”
The rating system has five levels – Qualified, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. At the entry level, a rating of Qualified indicates that a workshop has the equipment, tools and staff competencies to meet minimum industry compliance standards, while the highest Platinum level rating is described as the “elite standard for future-ready workshops”.
Platinum workshop operators will be at “the cutting edge of maintenance technology”. All of their staff will be trained in HGV/ PSV and maintenance/repair, but at least half will also be trained in gas/hydrogen, and half in electric/hybrid. Platinum sites will have multiple advanced technicians, facilities and equipment that match or exceed authorised testing facility (ATF) standards, and the ability to offer ADAS calibration and LOLER inspections.
Independent assessment of self-declarations will be used to determine Qualified and Bronze ratings, but approved auditors will oversee the higher-level awards of Silver, Gold and Platinum.
Emma Thompson, IRTE executive director, added: “MPRS puts the spotlight on improving current standards across workshops and maintenance facilities across the nation, highlighting non-compliant and unsafe practices that compromise safety and standards within the commercial industry.”
More detail, including on the rating levels and how to get certified, is available at the MPRS website.
