I wanted to update you on some of the work we’re doing behind the scenes at DVSA in the heavy vehicle testing and approvals world.
This year has seen us invest in upgrading our systems, modernising our services and providing a more efficient service for our customers up and down the country.
Self service operator licensing will be extended next year and you will be able to make new applications online and submit electronic paperwork for the first time. Here we discuss the new services we have already started to develop.
We have seen several recent cases at Public Inquiry where operators have been running vehicles fitted with digital tachographs, but with no idea how to use them. These are usually operators who hold restricted licences, who may not have a transport manager, and so the responsibility to make sure that the rules are followed sits with them. So, to help operators – particularly those without transport managers – stay on the right side of the law, here’s a checklist of your responsibilities around digital tachographs.
Load security has been a hot topic over the past 12 months, mostly because once we started taking a closer look at this during our roadside enforcement checks, it became clear that this was a much larger issue – due to the variety of vehicles, loads, load positioning, securing devices and interpretations of what constitutes a secure load – than we first expected. We're putting together a guide...
We have this year updated the Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness – essential reading for anyone whose responsibilities include vehicle roadworthiness.
We would like to announce a new service level for our Individual Vehicle Approval - IVA - scheme, drafted in partnership with trade associations.
After many months of careful planning, we have launched the Next Generation Testing (NGT) pilot in South Wales, Hereford and parts of the Midlands. The first Vehicle Standards Assessors and Specialist Vehicle Standards Assessors have begun work and we’re now testing NGT concepts in a live environment. Here we explain the concept behind this new approach.
The Driver Certificate of Professional Competence – or Driver CPC – was introduced in 2008 for those who drive a bus, coach or lorry for a living. Existing lorry drivers were awarded ‘acquired rights’ which took their previous experience into account and allowed until 10 September 2014 before their first block of 35 hours training had to be completed.
Vehicles which are used in connection with sewerage, flood protection, water, gas and electricity maintenance services may be exempt from the EC drivers’ hours rules.
DVSA will be attending the 2014 Commercial Vehicle Show from 29 April to 1 May at the Birmingham NEC.
Following the announcement to create the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, which incorporates VOSA and DSA, the Transport Select Committee is taking a keen interest in our performance – but from a user’s perspective.