Britain’s transport professionals are backing a move to privatise CV testing and licensing to speed up a historical struggling Government-run system.
Logistics UK has supported the move to allow Earned Recognition (ER) operators to either carry out their own MOT testing on vehicles and trailers or delegate the responsibility to their third-party maintenance provider, subject to them meeting additional compliance requirements.
These changes would replace the current system in which DVSA undertakes all Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) annual tests through privately owned authorised test facilities (ATFs).
Phil Lloyd, Head of Engineering Policy at Logistics UK, said, “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.
“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.”
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.”
Commercial drivers are being ignored when it comes to their right to use proper hygiene and rest facilities while working, according to business group Logistics UK.
Speaking after the publication of the National Survey of Lorry Parking (2022) Part 2 by government, Jonathan Walker, Head of Cities and Infrastructure Policy at Logistics UK is stressing the group’s call for the delivery of urgent reform to the planning system, which would both facilitate the provision of more parking facilities on key routes and incentivise investment from the private sector.
