Laurie Dealer: ATFs still need more from Vosa
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When Vosa announced in 2010 that it was privatising the testing procedure, truck dealers and the like raced barefoot over broken glass to sign up. It was sold as the must-have, added-value service all dealerships needed to help flourish in the aftermarket. Three years later, and authorised testing facilities (ATFs) operators are still picking the shards of glass out of the soles of their feet. Return on investment has been slow, they have no control over examiners and more ATFs are competing with each other for business. Meanwhile, Vosa achieved its aim to rid the books of costly test stations, an
approach endorsed by the sixth consecutive rise in annual first-time pass rates for trucks (CM 17 October). This time it's up more than two points to 77.6%, endorsing the examiners' approach.
This success allows Vosa to remain schtum regarding privatisation. With the unions now involved, the ATF operators' battle for privatisation will be, at the very least, drawn out.
All is not rosy though: the ATF Operators Association has sought legal advice over Vosa's clampdown on examiner utilisation and payment of fees. The issue, investigated by CM(CM 24 October), looks set to run.