The commercial vehicle maintenance sector is unregulated with the competency and standards of the people and facilities of providers not assessed, meaning operators cannot be sure what quality they are receiving in workshops.
This has now changed with the launch of the Maintenance Provision Rating Scheme (MPRS) at the CV Show, which according to the key industry figures, provides a benchmark of quality to transform and elevate workshop standards.
MPRS is a universal rating scheme with five tiers – Qualified, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum – that can be applied to all types of workshops, from single-person outfits to international dealers, promoting transparency and consistency across commercial vehicle maintenance, gauging workshops on their competence and facilities.
The principal objective is to raise industry standards for commercial vehicle maintenance, reduce MOT failures or prohibitions, and improve safety, reliability and compliance.
Steered and managed by IRTE, the professional sector of the Society of Operations Engineers (SOE), the industry-led scheme is the result of collaboration across the commercial vehicle sector and government, jointly developed by IRTE, Logistics UK, RHA, CPT, SMMT, BVRLA and NFDA, and is backed by the Office of the Traffic Commissioner, DVSA and DfT.
Speaking at the launch, Emma Thompson, SOE executive director, says: “MPRS puts the spotlight on improving current standards across workshops and maintenance facilities across the nation, highlighting non-compliant and unsafe practices that compromise safety and standards within the commercial vehicle industry.”
TRANSPARENCY AND CONFIDENCE
During a panel discussion at the CV Show, Nick Elliott, chair of the IRTE Professional Sector Council, a Professional Sector of the SOE, explains: “It is a game-changer to my mind – an industry-led scheme endorsed by us all with collective industry and regulator ownership.
“It provides transparency for operators when choosing inspection service and repair resources. It also seeks to reduce the element of chance, giving measurable choice for operators.
“Put simply, it is a five-step rating scheme which steadily increases maintenance providers‘ obligations in terms of staff capabilities, qualifications, training and competence – while also, steadily increasing the requirement for more specialist equipment, tools and workshop facilities.”
Also speaking on the panel was Kevin Rooney, the new senior traffic commissioner from 1 June, who believes the MPRS will provide transparency to operators and help them to select the “right maintenance provider for them”.
“The reason we have supported this is to support operators,” he says. “I see a lot of operators that come in who have maintenance problems, and we ask them about their provider, and they have not got a clue.”
Rooney adds: “I would not be here if I did not think it would be a really great help to industry to help manage its compliance, both in the upskilling of staff and allowing people to know what they are buying. We have taken it slow and steady, because we wanted everybody from all parts of the industry, whether it is the regulator or the enforcer, to be on board.
“I think if everyone accepts the standard, it‘s a standard that is owned and derived by industry, then it‘s going to be a good thing to move the industry’s standards forward.”
Fellow panellist Andrew Donald, enforcement policy manager at the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), believes the MPRS will help its examiners to streamline the inspection process during maintenance investigations at workshops.
He notes that on completing these inspections, they will already have a benchmark and standard to work off and can then ask questions appropriately, to further improve the workshop‘s standards.
A key figure in the development of MPRS was Phil Lloyd, head of engineering policy at Logistics UK. “Workshops are currently entirely unregulated, but MPRS can be a beacon of confidence for operators working with external workshops and maintenance facilities,” he says.
“It provides a trusted way for maintenance providers to demonstrate their competencies to reassure operators, who will know that their vehicles are being maintained by workshops and facilities that are serious about quality, compliance and safety.”
THE MPRS IN DETAIL
MPRS was launched to bring consistency to performance ratings and generate more transparency for vehicle operators and workshop facilities. Workshops and maintenance providers will be differentiated via the five ratings.
The Qualified and Bronze levels are based on independent assessment of self-declarations reviewed through a remote audit process, while Silver, Gold and Platinum require an in-person audit of the facilities, staff, tools and equipment.
A Qualified rating indicates a workshop has the tools, equipment and staff competencies to meet minimum industry compliance standards, while the top Platinum level is awarded to operators at the leading edge of maintenance technology ensuring full readiness for future vehicle trends, including electric, hybrid and hydrogen-powered systems.
Workshops will apply for their rating through the MPRS portal, managed by IRTE on behalf of the industry, with the MPRS assessment based on the facilities, staff qualifications and competencies, tools and equipment.
If providers are unsure which level to apply at, they can answer a questionnaire on the MPRS website, at www.tinyurl.com/3bmnepnr, where they can assess themselves and establish what level they believe they are at. However, providers also have the opportunity to stretch themselves.
Elliott says: “While the scheme allows operators to choose the level that best suits their business, there are likely providers who would look to pitch themselves to a higher rating – this fosters continuous improvement and raising standards.
“Looking beyond the rating they believe they are at allows for a simple gap analysis, seeing where they are and where they might wish to be, and exploring what steps they need to take to get there.”
Elliott notes the scheme awards a rating which lasts for three years, at which point another audit is arranged for a further term. “At the point of application, providers make a formal declaration that they will comply with the requirements of that rating throughout the three-year term. The scheme relies upon honesty, trust and responsibility of the provider. They are expected to re-affirm they continue to meet the standard after 18 months,” he adds.
Elliott continues: “Also, there’s provision within the scheme for end users (operators) to voice any concerns they may have in terms of below-standard expectations in line with the rating. Any concerns are directed to the IRTE/SOE/MPRS for investigation.
“This process has the option for review by three members of the MPRS steering committee who can determine improvement steps to make or ultimately removal of the rating.
“IRTE/SOE have officers and staff members who can support and guide maintenance providers with any aspirations to move their rating upwards.”
For more information on the scheme, go to www.tinyurl.com/3bmnepnr.
BOX: TRUCK OEMS LEAD THE WAY
At the CV Show, Daimler Truck UK and DAF Trucks were announced as the first to beaccredited with MPRS. Both took part in the MPRS pilot where their workshops were used as a benchmark for its scoring criteria of competency levels and facilities.
Amy Carter, head of product, Daimler Truck UK, says it is important for the commercial vehicle industry to be setting new standards and it has needed a “consistent, nationwide rating scheme for a long time”.
She adds: “We believe the MPRS will help raise the bar in aftersales and, in the longer term, we hope customers start asking workshops for their MPRS ratings and that dealers start promoting their own scores.
“Daimler Truck takes customer service and compliance very seriously and although we already assess the standards of our own dealer network regularly, the MPRS now provides a useful independent benchmark to prove that when a customer sends their fleet into our workshops, they’re being looked after by the highest standards.”
Daimler Truck UK says that it will have MPRS ratings in place for every dealer in its UK network by the end of 2025.
Matt Coates, training and apprenticeships manager, DAF Trucks, believes the MPRS is a “significant advancement” in standardising and elevating maintenance practices across the commercial vehicle sector, and provides a “clear framework” for assessing workshop competencies and facilities.
“This initiative not only fosters consistency and trust within the industry but also empowers workshops to benchmark their services and strive for continuous improvement,” he says.
“For DAF Trucks, the MPRS provides an independent validation of our workshops’ commitment to excellence. Aligning with this scheme ensures that our maintenance services meet or exceed industry standards, enhancing customer confidence in our brand.
“Moreover, it facilitates the identification of areas for development, guiding our investment in training and infrastructure to maintain a competitive edge.” DAF’s main dealerships in the UK have all secured the Platinum rating and Coates explains that DAF is committed to the adoption of the MPRS across its entire UK network.
He adds: “By integrating the MPRS, we aim to ensure all our workshops are assessed and appropriately rated, reaffirming our dedication to upholding the highest standards in vehicle maintenance.”
