Following the call for evidence and further internal analysis, the Department for Transport (DfT) has concluded it will not take forward further changes to heavy vehicle testing.
Potential options
Four potential options for changes to testing for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and public service vehicles (PSVs) of operators in the earned recognition (ER) scheme were proposed. The options were:
Option 1 – increase the time between tests for ER operators
Removing the requirement for ER operators to have vehicles tested every 12 months.
Option 2 – delegated testing
Allowing ER operators to test their own vehicles and trailers.
Option 3 – streamlined test
Reducing test content, such as removing some items that are covered in routine inspections or, in the longer term, those that can be effectively monitored by in-vehicle systems.
Option 4 – improved service provision
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) could focus its service improvement on ER operators, for example, by giving complete or greater guarantee of requested authorised test facility slots and greater flexibility around days and hours worked to match maintenance requirements.
Next steps for heavy vehicle testing
Working with DVSA, DfT has concluded its assessment of options 1 and 2 from the call for evidence.
The further analysis has not provided a strong case for options 1 or 2 that would outweigh potential safety impacts or other considerations. These include the impact on the:
- ER regime
- need for legislative change
- resource implications
The testing requirement for ER operators will, therefore, remain the same. There will be no delegation to allow ER operators to test their vehicles.
Due to a lack of support in the call for evidence, option 3 – change to the test content – was not subject to further analysis.
Since the heavy vehicle testing review, DVSA has provided considerable improvements to its service provision (in line with option 4) for all operators.
Further service delivery improvements are ongoing, including in response to feedback. In particular:
- the availability of testers to authorised testing facilities (ATFs) has increased: 98% of requested testing sessions from ATFs are now confirmed
- the service to allow ATFs to report their capacity (and make that available to vehicle operators) has been maintained
- the service for vehicle operators to report any issues with finding test appointments has been maintained
- digital services available to ATFs to help them manage requests for DVSA examiners have improved
DfT and DVSA remain committed to ER. The scheme plays an important part in encouraging and promoting industry best practice. In addition, it allows consignors to easily identify those operators that put safety and compliance at the forefront of their operating culture.
DVSA will continue to work with ER customers and the wider industry to promote the scheme and incentivise best practice.
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