Vosa launches MoT pass guide for vans
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By Chris Druce
VOSA HAS launched a best practice guide for commercial vans, in a bid to tackle the sector's poor MoT pass rate.
In the report, which has been produced to improve the low first-time pass rate of 50% for vans of 3.5 tonnes GVVV and above, senior traffic commissioner Beverley Bell said: "Unfortunately many [light goods vehicles] and their drivers are not as safe as they should be.
"With the large growth in this sector, it is vital that all operators of CVs — whether under or over 3.5 tonnes — ensure that their fleet is roadworthy and that their drivers are not only complying with the law, but also professionally trained," she added. The guide, which is supported by the Road Haulage Association, the Freight Transport Association and the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association, includes vehicle and driver checklists, as well as a van walk-around check
with an explanatory diagram.
Gordon MacDonald, head of Vosa enforcement policy, said: "We want to work with [van operators] to increase their awareness that a regularly serviced and well-maintained vehicle will mean their business is more efficient, and they won't risk having to let customers down because they can't do the job." • There are more than 3.2 million vans used for business across the UK — seven times more than the amount of lorries on UK roads. Vosa stops about 10,800 vans a year for roadside checks at a cost of up to £4,000 a day per vehicle to owners and operators. Vosa data shows: — 93% of vans are found to be overloaded; — 63% of vans are found with serious mechanical defects; — 50% have an average roadworthiness prohibition rate;
— 50% fail the rate for Class 7 (over 3.5 tonnes) MoTs.