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LOSBQUEUES Recruitment drive as Vosa aims to lose the queues for LGV tests
Page 7
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VOSA IS RECRUITING more vehicle testers in an attempt to alleviate its problems with forward booking times.
Currently 36 full-time posts in UK test stations are vacant; 60 testers are in post alongside 133 PTOs (managers) and 389 vehicle inspectors.
The move follows criticism from CM readers that understaffing is a major cause of problems at tests stations.Vosa is also increasing the number of call-centre agents by 30%, following complaints that customers cannot get through.
Vosa says the recruitment campaign follows a study into station efficiency which set a target of 75% utilisation. Staff were redeployed accordingly, and Vosa claims all stations were given enough staff to achieve minimum targets. However. since this process ended, attrition has lowered staffing levels.
As the project has rolled out, staff have naturally progressed, retired or left the organisation," a spokeswoman explained.
"A number of stations are carrying vacant posts which are in the process of being filled; in addition,Vosa is currently undertaking a wider national recruitment exercise to address the shortages.
"Certain parts of the country have been notoriously difficult to recruit into and Vosa has sought to address this in the recent pay award.
"Although this is a positive move, short -term issues remain."
Vosa had been moving staff from testing to support its enforcement drive, but recently that movement has been reversed. However it is committed to providing 50,000 roadside checks on "international business" vehicles.
Road Haulage Association president Roger King says:"We've been assured that Vosa has the resources to meet its commitments."