Independent analysis
Page 49
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• Your article "Tough Talk on Tachos" (CM 13-19 Feb) was one of several articles published in transport magazines, all of which implied that a European Society of Tachograph Analysts had been established solely because the industry had been "damaged by home-based, analysis operations".
At this time there may be between 200-300 "independent" tachograph analysis operations in the UK. Because many are home based, overheads are lower and charge rates competitive. As individuals few if any can afford the relatively high costs associated with acquiring and maintaining BS5750.
About 40 of these independents use the Rol!forward Analysis Methodology. It was established in 1988; currently embodies more than 3,000 software development hours, and serves more than 500 HGV/PSV transport operations.
Each Rollforward independent is a certificated professional. Each has invested £3,500-£12,000 in their business (totals probably exceed £280,000) and each is dedicated to increasing service quality.
By comparison, the large ESTA type bureau with large management overheads operates higher charge rates. For these BS5750 costs are more easily absorbed, representing as they do, only a small proportion of gross income.
As regards analysis quality, arising from direct competitive experience, Rollforward Independents have formed the view that few bureau employees apply the integrity-of-purpose applied as a matter of sheer competitive necessity by the independent.
The independents perform a valuable service. For example, since 1988, analysis charge rates have actually fallen due in no small part to the market's increasing preference for the quality of service provided by Rol!forward independents. And since 1988 analysis quality has been increased by the introduction of Rollforward self-checking software.
In evaluating ESTA's BS5750 linkage it might not be obvious that although BS5750 can improve the efficiency of large bureau operations, it will not by itself improve analysis quality.
This is because in this industry, analysis quality is almost entirely a function of analysis accuracy, and a quick but superficial analysis report is worthless, regardless of how much printed paper is produced or how well BS5750 non-analysis related procedures are implemented.
ESTA has publicly discredited all home-based independents, while at the same time barring them from membership by means of the BS5750 barrier.
This is seen by us as a mechanism designed to reduce the credibility of home-based analysts as a first step to forcing them out of business. If successful, an ESTA cartel in the form of a quite small number of large bureau operations, could control the entire tachograph analysis industry.
Were this to occur we believe that with no competition, charge rates would rise and analysis quality and accuracy would deteriorate.
James Boyle Rollforward Marketing & Technical Services.
0 A total of 33 associated Rollforward Analysts put their names to this letter — Ed.