Saturday testing 'soon'
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si Hauliers will soon be able to book vehicles for annual tests on Saturdays.
The move is part of a package of improvements planned by the Vehicle Inspectorate, and follows a survey of operators' attitudes to booking arrangements, opening hours and facilities at the VI's 91 test stations.
The VI spoke to more than 500 transport bosses last year, and Commercial Motor is the first to see its findings. These indicate that 26% of operators want centres to open on Saturday morning and 25% want them to open before 08:00hrs. The VI has been running a trial Saturday service in nine of its 54 districts. It is also considering local booking: at present operators have to send forms to the VI in Swansea, but in the survey 80% say they would rather arrange a slot directly with their local stations.
One of the biggest complaints concerns the paperwork: 20% of hauliers booking tests for the first time have difficulty filling in the form — 30% want more information on why their vehicles fail.
The survey is part of an effort by the VI to respond to hauliers' needs, says deputy chief executive Julian David. The VI became the Govern ment's first independent executive agency in 1988.
Other ideas include allowing operators to bank one sum with the VI each year to cover the cost of testing all their vehicles. This would save them having to send cheques every time a truck comes up for test, but the scheme could run into legal problems, says David.
The survey shows that most operators are happy with the test: 84% say they are satisfied with booking methods, and 62% with opening hours. Most are also happy with the 228 test fee. Suggested changes include quicker re-testing after a failure; being allowed to remedy minor faults at the centre; and immediate re-testing.
The survey asked hauliers whether they would be keen on other services: 64% say they might use brake performance test facilities, which the VI now has available at all of its test stations; and 57% say they would appreciate expert advice at test stations. The VI has just launched training schemes for HGV and PSV mechanics on how to prepare vechicles for the annual test. So far 60 HGV and 201 PSV fitters have taken part.
O A total of 111 HGV safety recall campaigns involving 200,000 trucks were carried out by the Vehicle Inspectorate between 1984 and 1989, according to a new report.
The VI's latest Response Rate Bulletin, says that 50 of these campaigns are now closed. Of these, 90% of the trucks involved were checked.