The updated DVSA Strategic Plan to 2025, which was published yesterday, outlines proposals to enhance services for customers, including HGV operators, over the next two years.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency plans to review the evidence and opportunities, in collaboration with the industry and the Department for Transport (DfT), of changing the testing model for the Earned Recognition (ER) scheme by 2025.
The ER scheme is a voluntary initiative that recognizes good vehicle operators’ efforts by allowing them to have fewer vehicle inspections. Therefore, the DVSA aims to identify opportunities for improving the ER scheme and ensure its effectiveness by reviewing its testing model, which includes assessing the quality of data collection and analysis, inspection procedures, and compliance standards.
DVSA is also promising improvements to vehicle testing, such as working with Authorised Treatment Facilities (ATFs) to provide better availability and choice of testing service for vehicle users.
Furthermore, the agency aims to introduce mobile inspection equipment for remote compliance checks by 2025, subject to trials.
In addition, DVSA intends to explore how under-vehicle inspection equipment could use artificial intelligence to make inspections more efficient. It plans to simplify digital services for ATFs and simplify the scheduling and management of tester requests to speed up HGV testing.
On top of this, the DVSA will refine its data analysis to target and prosecute fraudulent MOT garages while introducing a recognition scheme for ATFs and MOT garages that follow best practice.
The agency also plans to partner with more ATFs to increase competition and choice for customers and prioritise areas of the country with fewer ATFs to boost hazardous goods carriers’ options.
Finally, when it comes to HGV driver training, the government body is planning to increase the capacity of HGV driver bootcamps and driving tests and support and audit partner sites that carry out off-road exercise tests for HGV and bus drivers.