July/August Issue 62 - Flipbook - Page 27
TORS ASSOCIATION – Q1 2021 UPDATE
fees to fund the extra testers required to protect DVSA’s embarrassment of
to deliver the flexibility and supply not being able to supply testers. That
needed.
is by definition, a crisis.
Yes, the industry will be paying for
the improved service despite DVSA
already offloading their costs onto
ATF’s and increasing fees at the
onset of the ATF testing regime. In my
opinion, knowing a little about how the
government works, I would think it will
be at least a year to 18 months before
anything solid comes to fruition, that’s
if COVID doesn’t rear its ugly head
again.
Baroness Vere – “The review found
that the testing system was not in
crisis, but did identify a number of
recommendations for future work,
falling into six areas”
I am sure most ATF’s and stakeholders
would disagree with the statement
that the testing system is not in crisis.
I would argue that it has been in crisis
since NGT (Next Generation Testing)
was introduced. That was when
DVSA first restricted our supply of
testers by up to 50% at some ATF’s. I
personally lost 25% of tests. That was
a crisis. That was when they removed
overtime for testers and annual
requests for tests so the flexibility we
had was reduced.
CONCLUSION
DVSA and Government – Will they
always be too scared to risk changing
course towards delegated testing?
It doesn’t take a lot to surmise that
DVSA will not be steering a course
towards delegated testing in the mid
term, that’d be like sailing towards the
edge of the world for them.
Let’s hope Loveday is brave enough
to buck the trend of her predecessors
by looking at the perspective from
all the industry stakeholders for a
more balanced strategy, instead of
protecting DVSA’s supply lines.
There is likely to be some industry
probing over the next few months
so DVSA can assess the sentiment
before they implement some of the
change management they will be
proposing.
Speaking broadly about what to
expect, ATF members should start
thinking about how they can benefit
from increased competition and
greater
flexibility
opportunities.
However, for the time being, expect
much the same. Which leads me on
to my next point….
Unlike the rest of us, DVSA and
government still think the earth is
flat when it comes to testing, their
protectionism overrides any decision
process that might see them lose
control over their supply lines – so
with these priorities coded into their
WHAT IS MUCH THE SAME?
DNA it’ll be a continued challenge for
them to deliver any type of flexibility
and efficiency that matches what the ATFOA want to record how our
members are fairing as we are coming
How can it not be in crisis when the private sector can deliver.
out of lockdown but still feeling the
whole industry can’t get a test on time
pain of the government imposed
A NEW HOPE
due to exemptions that were invented;
exemptions, so we are asking you to
not because the haulage industry
didn’t want to be tested or because of More recently, ATFOA were genuinely take part in the short survey linked
any COVID restrictions being in place delighted to be approached by the below.
– the rest of the industry, including incoming Chief Executive of the
DVSA enforcement, solved that DVSA, Loveday Ryder, who was Please help us communicate your
problem at the onset of COVID and appointed to her new role on 1st experience. Every complete survey
adds to our voice.
January 2021.
carried on to keep Britain moving.
ATFOA presented DVSA with
evidence of thousands of IRTE
qualified private sector testers ready
and willing with the capacity to start
testing; exemptions were introduced
Loveday got in touch and took the 2021 Q1 ATFOA survey – Exiting
time to listen to us so we had a great lockdown.
opportunity to communicate The ATF
industry’s woes, thoughts and future
requirements and expectations.
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