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PAY UP OR SELL OFF!
Page 9
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Once again the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency is asking operators to pay more for their annual truck tests. Brian Weatherley reckons it's time to stop asking "How much?" and time to ask "why?" So VOSA has a deficit in its accounts for HGV and PSV annual testing. Frankly it's none of my business. And it shouldn't be yours. But sooner or later, truck operators will be forced to pick up the tab. It's easy to blame VOSA for its troubles. After all, in
the tradition of the great Mr Pickwick, as a trading fund, its outgoings mustn't exceed its income. But that's only half the story. VOSA's revenue is currently split between the money it gets from the Department for Transport
for compliance and enforcement work (roadside checks and truck weighing) and the money it earns from vehicle testing and 0-licensing. And for the record it's the latter that's currently in the red. Still that's hardly your fault and the latest round of increases, (plus last years' 23% hike) suggests hauliers already pay more than enough.
No, the real reason VOSA needs more of your money is because ever since it became an Executive Agency Ws had to go cap-in-hand to its paymasters in Marsham Street every year to get money for the job. Right now departmental funding only adds up to 6% of its income — and the DfT has consistently failed to give it the cash it needs to do it.
If, as has been suggested, VOSA's infrastructure is failing under the strain of historic under-funding, then it's high time to ask whether the private sector wouldn't be better at providing annual HGV and PSV testing as it does for cars, leaving VOSA to concentrate on enforcement and compliance. The private sector has proved beyond doubt that the way to attract operators is to invest in truck dealerships that provide cost-competitive facilities.
The private sector would also take to testing like a duck to water— and a little healthy competition would make it extremely doubtful that the private sector could get away with a 108% price rise just for re-testing a triaxle trailer.
If VOSA can't balance its budget the DfT needs to make up its mind. Either pay up or sell off. It's that simple.