1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152 
DSA bows to pressure over laden HGV tests
Page 6
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
CM COVER STORY
joanna
THE DRIVING Standards Agency (DSA) has finally bowed to industry pressure, not least from CM, to make HGV driving tests more realistic by agreeing to look at tests with loaded vehicles in its latest consultation document.
While current HGV candidates in the UK are tested in unladen trucks or trailers, the latest DSA proposals suggest loading vehicles with water containers or sandbags instead, to simulate a normal load.
The change would ensure a lorry or trailer used in the HGV driving test mirrored the weight of the vehicle that successful candidates would drive on the road after passing their test, improving road safety and making them a more attractive employment proposition to operators.
"More realistic testing can only be a good thing," says Ian Gallagher, policy manager at the Freight 'Transport Association (FTA). -The way a truck behaves alters dramatically depending on the weight being carried, so the driver should be tested on their ability to adjust their driving to suit the load being carried."
Skills for Logistics (SfL) has also welcomed the proposal within the DSA's latest consultation document, which runs until 3 September. According to the agency, the changes would bring the UK in line with European regulations on vehicles used in tests.
However, some training schools have already raised fears that the cost of an HGV test will increase as a result of using heavier trucks
The managing director at London-based Wallace School of Transport. Ruth Wallace, comments: -The additional weight would increase the cost of driver training, which some may say is already high enough, especially taking into account the forthcoming introduction of the Driver CPC."
Before laden testing can be adopted, however, the industry and DSA will have to agree on the exact nature of a test load and who would provide it.
There are also likely to be discussions over insurance, not least regarding HGV test examiners in laden vehicles.
The DSA is keen to hear what the road transport and haulage industry thinks. Visit www.dsa.gov. uldconsultation