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Testing times for the Vehicle Inspectorate
Page 14
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• Operators are rapidly losing their patience with Vehicle !nspectorate (VI) test stations and are demanding a change in the way they are treated.
Top of the list of complaints is the alleged inconsistency of technicians and the game of chance hauliers play every time a vehicle is taken in for test.
One MD of a South-East transport firm, who wishes to remain anonymous, says there is an ignorance and misinterpretation of the regulations among VI staff.
Head office
He cites one incident in which a new unit with ABS was taken in to test with a trailer without ABS. He was told that this would result in a 0V9 prohibition because it was illegal. It was not until he rang the VI head office and argued his case that it was agreed that this was untrue. He is quickly losing faith with the expertise of VI personnel.
This operator believes that the same truck could be tested twice in one day, with different parts failing or passing each time. He says the operator liaison meetings the VI organises are useful and provide a forum in which he could air his views—but there was little come-back to his queries: "They said they would get back to me, but they never did."
Mitcham testing station in South London has been singled out for the way it treats its customers. The attitude of staff and inflexibility faced by operators has incensed one company, which puts about eight trucks through the centre every month.
One test was suspended due to a puncture on an inside tyre on the vehicle's rear axle. The company owner was warned he would receive four points and a £40 fine if he drove the vehicle—but he would have to wait four weeks for a re-test.
"It's an absolute joke," he fumes. "They are killing the small businessman. They are supposed to be there to help the public, but in 30 years I have never seen it like this. Some of the comments they come out with are just stupid."
He refers to other operators who have queued for up to seven hours to get vehicles tested. Booking a vehicle in to test is also proving a problem, particularly when firms have customers to serve as efficiently as possible. Most hauliers say they now book months in advance.
"It is harder and harder to get an appointment," says one disgruntled operator. "We used to book two months in advance, now we do it three months ahead—and we still can't get an early morning slot." (See box.)
Local stations
A dealer tor a major manufacturer adds to the list of complaints by claiming that, although not impressed with its local stations, it is better to deal with the devil you know. "If you can't get booked in to your usual centre you have to shop around," he says. "But you don't have the same relationship with other stations."
However, the VI has hit back, claiming that it is on top of the situation and measures are in place to improve standards, particularly at Mitcham. It says the main problem has been lack of staff, and claims that standards improve as testing station extra personnel. Howevi warns that this process take some time.
"Things have changed : a few years ago," a VI spi woman admits. "We are i everything we can to a the situation—we have completed a SUCCE recruiting campaign for ( try-wide vacancies,"
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