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TAN-21 causes huge delays
Page 7
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• Hauliers In some parts of the country are sending vehicles out on the road without Operator's Licence discs as Traffic Area Office staff struggle to overcome problems with the long-awaited TAN-21 computer system.
The delays, which are worst at the Scottish and North Eastern and North Western TA0s, are affecting anyone trying to put vehicles on their 0-licences, submit applications, or make other simple changes.
The TAN-21 system was supposed to be up and running last July; now TAO staff are having problems making it work. The situation at the Leeds offices has been exacerbated by failures of the telephone system which is making it hard for hauliers to get through to already over-pressed staff, I'm not having a go at the TAO staff because I'm sure they are all trying their best in difficult circumstances," says Chris Fylan, who works in the Road Haulage Association's Merseyside office. "But it isn't really good enough. Hauliers in this area are facing long waits for discs and so on, and when they try to ring up they just can't get through." Operators in Scotland have complained of similar problems.
A spokesman for the Department of Transport admits there are problems but says there has been progress in combating the technical glitches. He claims that TAN-21's performance is improving day by day and will eventually be "at the forefront of electronic delivery of government services".
• The TAN system will be upgraded to allow operators to make authorised changes to their 0-licences from their own PCs. The DoT says this service will be launched in "the spring".