Vosa’s reputation at risk over OCRS delay
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By Chris Tindall
PROBLEMS SURROUNDING Vosa’s now delayed attempt to overhaul its OCRS system began to emerge in the middle of April amid concerns that failing to meet the launch date would jeopardise the agency’s reputation, CM can reveal.
A series of emails and minutes released under the Freedom of Information Act show Vosa then aimed to have the changes to OCRS implemented by 1 July, after it failed to hit the 30 April deadline.
The scoring system rates operators depending on their likelihood of being compliant. Forthcoming changes include the removal of predictive scoring and a straight-to-red policy for an operator’s entire fleet for serious infringements.
In the minutes from a meeting dated 17 April, under the heading “risk”, it states: “There has been communication to the trade that this will go live by 30/4.
“Vosa’s reputation is at risk if this doesn’t happen.” In another email, the problem is described as “an integration issue”.
Road Haulage Association chief executive Geoff Dunning says: “I am inclined to accept the technical argument. My old boss used to say if there’s a choice between conspiracy and cock-up, it’s usually a cock-up.” A Vosa spokesman tells CM: “We do not have a date for deployment – or launch – of the changes to the OCRS system. However, we will be liaising with the industry well in advance of any launch.”