DfT urged to simplify ‘onerous’ LST feedback
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By Chris Druce
THE DEPARTMENT FOR Transport (DfT) says it will listen to operators’ concerns about the “onerous” volume of data required from those taking part in the longer semi-trailer (LST) trial.
The concession comes after Risk Solutions, the Warrington-based consultancy appointed last December to assess the 10-year trial, sent out a framework document outlining reporting requirements at the start of April.
The framework, circulated ahead of the first formal request for data in July, includes an incident log as expected.
However, firms will also need to supply commercially sensitive and highly detailed journey leg information. Risk Solutions acknowledges in the document that this “may not have been explicitly or clearly stated as part of the commitment entered into by participants”.
Risk Solutions will also be collecting nonLST fleet information for the DfT, which the Road Haulage Association (RHA) describes as departmental “mission creep”.
The RHA has spoken with the DfT to voice operators’ concerns that the information required is obtrusive and unnecessary.
“The introduction of LSTs was to help drive growth,” says director of policy Jack Semple.
“You don’t achieve this by strangling businesses with unnecessarily complicated forms.” Nigel Cook, MD of Elddis Transport, whose new 15.65m trailer (pictured above) can be seen on the road later this month, agrees. “I’ve looked at it and it’s onerous. There’s a lot of data to process,” he explains.
Richard Fry, director at Framptons Transport Services, says: “Every operator I’ve spoken to believes they’ll need to employ an [additional] clerk. It could be the final nail in the coffin for some [on whether to take part].” The Freight Transport Association has concerns too. Head of engineering policy Andy Mair says: “The paperwork looks fairly onerous, but until the data reporting is up and running we won’t be able to tell exactly how onerous it is in practice.” A DfT spokeswoman says: “The reason there’s so much detail is so that we can generate the data required for the substantive advice we need to pull together [under the requirements of the trial].
“We are aware there are several concerns about the level of feedback required and we are awaiting feedback from operators [on this],” she says.