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Trade associations urge VOSA to ditch ATF policy
Page 6
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CM COVER STORY
taura.haitstonearbi.co.uk THE CALL BY THE industry's trade associations for an abandonment of VOSA's Authorised Testing Facility (ATF) strategy could result in HGV testing following a similar model to that of car and van 114oTs.
In a letter sent to Secretary of State for Transport Philip Hammond last week, the Road Haulage Association (RHA), the Freight Transport Association (FTA). the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). and the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) proposed three alternatives for the future of HGV testing.
RHA chief executive Geoff Dunning says the first to return to the model of tests being carried out at VOSA test sites "seems the least practical and credible".
The second is to privatise the testing function, but to continue with a single organisation, or small number of organisations, providing testers, and possibly taking over some of the VOSA testing estate.
The third option to follow a model similar to that for car and van MoTs appears to he the associations' preferred choice.
Dunning tells CM: "The ATF strategy simply doesn't seem to be working. Progress has been painfully slow and the indication from industry is that it is not a viable investment. VOSA says it has lots of expressions of interest. but these aren't being converted into contracts. VOSA's 'resting Transformation Programme needs to be completely overhauled, and we feel the best way is to bring the private sector in and let VOSA concentrate on enforcement."
Robin Dickeson,SMMT manager of CV affairs, says it has tried to support VOSA, hut it became clear early on that "VOSA was trying to push water uphill with a rake".
"If the recession hadn't bitten, there might have been more uptake of ATFs but enough is enough. The ATF system isn't going to work; it makes better sense to transfer HGV testing to the private sector."
John Lewis, BVRLA chief executive, says the industry was only ever consulted on one option. "VOSA told us that ATFs is the route we're going down, tell us how to make it work. ATFs are not attracting the necessary investment, and we're concerned that test stations might close without any alternatives in place. We're not saying we have all the answers. but we want to open up a debate."
EIA chief executive Theo de Pencier says: "From the FTA's perspective, we're not necessarily saying full privatisation is our preferred option, but we believe the ATF strategy has weakened the testing capability and are keen for the minister to look at this as a priority."
Dunning adds the most important thing is to "agree on the right scheme for the industry".
VOSA CEO Alastair Peoples did not wish to respond as it would be "inappropriate to pre-empt the Secretary of State's response to the trade asociations".
• See pI3 for more on this subject.