I am distressed and angry at VOSA and its perceived policy of extracting revenue from the transport industry under the guise of road safety. 11 November 2010

During a roadside vehicle check on a 7.5-tonne Iveco that my garage is responsible for testing, a VOSA employee put a prohibition on the vehicle for a hydraulic brake pipe (that wasn't leaking) rubbing the chassis, and a load sensing valve that was apparently seized.

When I arrived onsite, I saw the prohibition notice and then had a look under the vehicle, asking my driver to apply the footbrake. The load sense valve worked fine, but the VOSA employee said: "I told the driver to tell you to report to me first." This statement implied I would have rectified the fault. "You are an engineer and can see I have not tampered with this item," I responded.

He then went under the vehicle, saw for himself it was working and in the same condition as when the vehicle was taken off the road by the police. "It was not working when I tested it", he said – to which I replied: "It didn't mend itself. The vehicle was loaded at the time of test so the valve would have been at its maximum delivery."

When he came out from under the vehicle he then said "You have a problem with VOSA," before telling the driver, "Your man has a attitude problem."

To a point he is right: I do have a problem with VOSA's double standards. Many times at the MOT station, when a tester finds a problem that is borderline, they pass the vehicle and advise the fault. At the roadside, they fail it, without advising. Is that because that means more income to VOSA?

The small pipe fault will cost the customer in excess of £450, and me three hours of my time, plus my van miles to and from the site, plus diesel. Who pays for this time and revenue I have lost, because of the inability of a VOSA engineer to correctly diagnose a working load sense valve?

I would not get too far in my business, if I treated my customers like this. My customers have a choice to come to this garage, but the road haulage industry has no choice. VOSA is all they have.

Maybe the real problem lies with the agency's structure? Who is out there to check the checkers?

Author
IRTE

Related Downloads
29176\Your_shout.pdf

This material is protected by MA Business copyright
See Terms and Conditions.
One-off usage is permitted but bulk copying is not.
For multiple copies contact the sales team.