EC whole vehicle type approval: Volvo Trucks warning 27 June 2014

All vehicles registered after 29 October 2014 must have European Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA) – it will no longer be possible to register incomplete vehicles.

That's the warning from Volvo Trucks, which also reminds operators that any delays in obtaining the relevant approvals and conformity documents will affect the registration and hence also the delivery datelater this year.

For tractor units the changes are not too onerous, given that the vast majority leave factories with ECWVTA, says Volvo Trucks managing director Arne Knaben.

The issues remaining include: fitting a fifth wheel post production, which requires multi-stage build conformity; and the fact that ECWVTA only covers trucks up to 4.0m high – meaning that even additional air kit will requires NSSTA (National Small Series Type Approval), he advises.

As for multi-stage builds working with bodybuilders, Knaben says Volvo has been prepared for ECWVTA since 2012.

"In 2012, Volvo Trucks, working with Fuller Tankers and the VCA [Vehicle Certification Agency], became the first manufacturer in the UK to register a truck using the ECWVTA process," he asserts.

"Customers tell us that the Volvo Trucks' bodybuilder liaison programme is the best of its kind. In addition, our engineers take an active role in working with bodybuilders and dealers to help ensure conformity with legislation."

However, Knaben says Volvo is advising its dealer network to make sure they "have a dialogue with all bodybuilders".

The concern: bodywork quoted by customers or dealers must fulfil the new legal demands and the bodybuilder must have a certificate of conformity in place.

"They also need to check that the bodybuilder – or bodybuilders in a multi-stage process – are covered in terms of the route to approval for the Volvo model or type, whether that be by an ECWVTA or NSSTA," explains Knaben.

"The completed approval is for that body on that make and type of chassis. Customers also need to note that, if they want to swap an existing body on to a new truck, the complete truck has to go through the approval process."

Author
Brian Tinham

Related Companies
Volvo Group UK Ltd

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