Body Magazine - Body Builder
Here you can find the latest Commercial Vehicle bodybuilding news from BODY Magazine.
Government News
A consultation proposing the removal of a number of exemptions from the Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) roadworthiness testing scheme has been published by Transport Minister, Paul Clark. The consultation proposes the removal of annual testing exemptions covering 10 categories of vehicle.
The Department is reviewing the list of exemptions because the number of exempt vehicles is growing. This raises concerns about road safety as well as questions of fairness between operators. The UK also has to ensure compatibility between the list of exempt vehicle classes and EU law on testing. The consultation can be found at http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/mottestingexemptions and closes on 19 March 2010
The 10 categories that are under review includes mobile laboratories/display vehicles, electric vehicles, mobile cranes and breakdown vehicles. VBRA director general Malcolm Tagg welcomed the legislation as good for road safety. He continued “It still does not address the type approval bypass issue whereby a currently registered vehicle may be changed to something else thus avoiding the type approval process - a question on this aspect was included in the consultation ahead of the WVTA implementation”. VBRA continues to address this (see pp. 36, 37).
EVENTS 2010
* VBRA Toolkit Seminars, 20 January, Leeds; 21 January Sutton Coldfield
* Solutrans 2 – 6 March, Lyons Euroexpo
* CV Operator Show 13 – 15 April, NEC Birmingham
Collaborate to Save Costs
VBRA would like to hear from anyone interested in minimizing costs around trailer brake testing for NSSTA (national small series type approval) and IVA (individual vehicle approval). ‘The cost of this for individual companies would add substantially to the final cost of vehicles. If we can collaborate on a collective application for the necessary test reports there will be immense advantage for bodybuilders and transport operators’, said VBRA WVTA Manager Ron Cocker. ‘A similar situation applies to seats, their belts and anchorages fitted at rear of the driver in vehicles such as horseboxes and command vehicles’.
Ron is already coordinating a VBRA project that will lead to similar benefits with regard to vehicle under run protection. VBRA members will benefit not only from lower eventual costs on individual vehicles - which they can pass on to vehicle buyers - but also from the substantial work involved in getting such testing carried out.
Are You Prepared for Testing?
Bodybuilders are asked for their input regarding latest WVTA issues - seats behind the driver and trailer brake testing – both of which potentially require extensive and expensive testing. VBRA is proposing, if there is sufficient industry interest to undertake generic testing, which will reduce costs for those affected. Uptake of invitations to meetings in January have been low so this intitaive willbe delayed until later in 2010. ‘It is likely that many businesses that are affected by this have not yet realised the dilemma they face especially those who may think their product is an N class but actually becomes an M and therefore comes into scope more quickly,’ said Malcolm Tagg ‘maybe as the urgency become more apparent there will be more interest’. Email wvta@vbra.co.uk to register interest or find out more.