The fallout from the Department for Transport’s decision not to allow earned recognition accredited operators test exemptions or to do their own testing continues, writes Peter Brown.
Fleet software and management specialists FleetCheck revealed that new data showed the MoT test failure rate for fleets using the Driver Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) earned recognition scheme is a third of other operators.
Government had previously announced the decision not to allow earned recognition accredited operators truck test exemptions or carry out delegated vehicle testing was because the case wasn’t strong enough.
FleetCheck’s figures, covering more than 72,000 HGV and trailer records from 2023 onwards, show the MoT failure rate to be 1.56% for earned recognition fleets compared to 4.54% for others.
Barrie Wilson, the company’s commercial fleet consultant, said: “Not only is there a marked difference in the failure rate but in the pass rate, too. Earned Recognition fleets are hitting a 95.74% pass rate, against 91.97% for their non-ER counterparts.”
He said his company fully support and share the DVSA and DfT’s commitment to maintaining the highest safety standards, but that the data told a compelling story.
“For Earned Recognition fleets using systems like ours, compliance isn’t just assessed once a year, it’s monitored daily against DVSA KPIs,” he explained.
“An MOT provides a snapshot in time, whereas earned recognition delivers a continuous picture of performance. While we are, to a large extent, agnostic in this debate, when operators are already consistently meeting or exceeding these benchmarks, delegated testing arguably becomes a logical next step.”
The voluntary Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s earned recognition scheme was set up to meet driver and vehicle standards using a DVSA-validated IT system for vehicle maintenance and drivers’ hours. It monitors a set of key performance indicators, with four-weekly updates.
There are currently 132 operators in the scheme, and 38 have been removed since the scheme started in 2018. Companies on the list include: Boughey Distribution, Culina Logistics, DPD, Fowler Welch, Gist, GXO, John Mitchell (Grangemouth), L Lynch, Lockwood, Montgomery, Tesco Distribution and Wincanton.
When announcing its decision, the Department for Transport said: “Following the call for evidence and further internal analysis, the DfT has concluded it will not take forward further changes to heavy vehicle testing.”
Logistics UK said this decision would be met with ‘disappointment and frustration’. Head of engineering policy Phil Lloyd said: “Delegated testing has always been the main incentive in which operators were encouraged to adopt the ER scheme, so for the government to dismiss the option out of hand is hugely disappointing and frustrating.
“The industry is united that delegated testing would deliver flexibility and efficiencies for transport operators without compromising safety, and the expectation has always been that self-certification would operate at a standard significantly higher than the voluntary arrangements currently found in the maintenance sector.
“The promised benefits of Earned Recognition need to materialise soon, and Logistics UK will continue working with the DfT and DVSA to support the initiative, but decisions like this will make the scheme less attractive for operators.”
Road Haulage Association’s head of technical Aaron Peters said: “ER operators strive for excellence by voluntarily signing up and ensuring compliance with robust standards.
“The proposed changes would have eased the burden on HGV testing capacity and reduced reliance on DVSA staff, while maintaining current road safety levels.
“While we’re disappointed that industry feedback hasn’t been taken on board this time, we’ll continue to engage with DVSA and DfT in further discussions about streamlining processes and evolving systems on behalf of our members and our sector.”
