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Dealers call for brake 111 testing investigation
Page 20
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Ministry brake testing is unreliable, says the Retail Motor Industry Federation. Guy Sheppard reports.
TRUCK DEALERS are calling for a thorough investigation of government brake testing equipment following a spate of MoT test failures when there was no apparent defect on the vehicle.
The Retail Motor Industry Federation says that, in some cases, vehicles have failed and then subsequently passed the test without undergoing any modifications.
Alistair Manson. RMI director responsible for trucks,says:nbere would appear to be an unacceptably high failure rate happening and we are not quite sure why. It's become apparent in the last few weeks and months that the issue is widespread and national and not restricted to one test station?'
He says there could be many reasons why there is a discrepancy between brake testing equipment used by RMI members and that used by the Vehicle & Operator Services Agency (VOSA) which runs the test stations.
"It could be to do with the calibration tolerances or differences in the temperature of brakes. It does appear to be a major issue at the moment. Our members are prepared to back up what they are saying with the necessary evidence."
Frank Parr. director of Harris Group. says the problem has been experienced throughout its five Daf, Foden and MAN ERF dealerships in the South East. It concerns us that we use the same test equipment as the ministry and have it calibrated as frequently as they do and yet we get the frustration of trucks passing on our equipment and failing on theirs."
A VOSA spokeswoman confirms that a letter calling for an investigation was sent by the RMI last week.