In the recently updated DVSA Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness, Traffic Commissioners updated key guidance to operators that includes there is an expectation that they must ensure that all safety inspections include Roller Road Brake Testing or EBPMS.
Ever since the Bath tipper crash in 2015 that killed four people, regulators and stakeholders have been working towards improving brake testing standards to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again.
Prestige Transport Compliance & Training Ltd, along with their partner company Blyth Auto Solutions Ltd and the Institute of Motor Industry (IMI), worked with Tesco‘s engineering department to pioneer the Roller Brake Testing Accreditation, which was established in 2023.
The IMI-accredited programme was awarded the Safety Innovation of the Year award at the Society of Operations Engineers (SOE) Safety & Resilience in Engineering Awards 2024.
The accredited training programme is for LGV and PSV technicians who conduct safety inspections and MOT preparation, to improve their awareness and best practice when conducting roller brake testing and now, more than 500 technicians have completed the course and become accredited.
Technicians are trained in one day, in groups of six and at the end of the course, they need to pass a theory and practical assessment before being awarded their certificate.
The programme goes from strength to strength as the need for operators to conduct roller brake tests becomes more important than ever due to the course's effectiveness in identifying issues.
Dave Cooper, director at Prestige Transport Compliance & Training Ltd, says it was the first to be brought to the market and his son-in-law James now works on the programme every day, due to such high demand.
He explains: “The programme establishes that the candidate has the knowledge and competency to undertake a rolling road brake test on heavy goods vehicles, heavy trailers, coaches and buses, to understand the importance of a good brake test result and how that affects road safety and the operators’ responsibilities.”
This ensures the outcome of the test is suitable and confirms that the vehicle or trailer‘s braking system have been assessed to stop the vehicle under the speed and weight that it is designed for. It also ensures technicians conduct rolling road brake testing correctly and establish that the vehicle or trailer has an effective brake system under force.
The training programme covers all aspects of the Roller Brake Testing process, related braking components, how to read a brake test report and helps determine if a pass is actually a meaningful brake test. Those taking the course complete a theory paper and conduct a practical brake assessment.
Dave explains there are plans to grow the course with the potential to offer the training and assessment at their own training facility, as well as at the customer’s own workshop. There is also a transport managers version of the course, that is awaiting IRTE approval.
The programme has been a game-changer for operators and Tesco that helped to developed it, with all of its workshops in the UK undertaking the accreditation.
Steve Parker, engineering manager for distribution and fulfilment at Tesco, explains: “Following the roll out of the Roller Brake Testing course across the Tesco workshops and attending the course myself, it has proven that the information in the course is an eye opener even to the most experienced, myself included, giving me further knowledge in brake testing.
“As a result of this being delivered to the majority of the technicians, we have seen an improvement in brake issues at MOT based on our year-on-year KPIs across the business. This has certainly enhanced our already good first-time MOT pass rate. As well as our MOT standards, we have seen a decrease in issues resulting in roadside breakdowns.”
For more information contact Dave Cooper on 07539 233704, email
dave@prestige-tct.com or visit www.prestige-tct.com.
