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The devil we know?

19th September 2002
Page 9
Page 9, 19th September 2002 — The devil we know?
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Hauliers fed up with their local VI test stations should bear in mind the warning of Hilaire Belloc: "And always keep a hold of Nurse, for fear of finding something worse..."

Clearly the VI has a long way to go before it can honestly say it's got things r00% right on annual tests. If the problem is one of resources the answer is simple—it must go back to the DoT and say it needs more money to attract new recruits. But in the meantime it wouldn't hurt for certain VI test station staff to be reminded that hauliers are their customers. No more, but no less.

However, those pundits who favour allowing selected operators to conduct their own annual tests (as floated in the latest Traffic Area Network business plan reported by CM last week) should think twice before promoting this level of selfregulation. The current system might not be perfect, but it does enjoy an unquestioned independence.

If large so-called "professional" operators were permitted to do in house testing what would happen to that independence? And who would test the "in-house" testers? Extending the current half-way house of VI "designated" premises within truck dealerships and operators' workshops is as far as we ought to go right now.

For all its faults—and our report shows there are enough to worry about—the VI retains a strong reputation for integrity, if not for customer care. It's now time to resolve its "local difficulties".

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Organisations: US Federal Reserve

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