Alongside care, common sense and hard work on the part of operators, this reputation is also attributable to the UK’s robust legislation and targeted enforcement approach.
Today, a critical part of the UK’s safety regime is the MOT test, and the introduction of the Authorised Test Facility (ATF) programme marked a significant shift in the way that was delivered.
However, that introduction was some years ago. More recently, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has been working with the DVSA and other stakeholders to review the MOT regime, looking for incremental improvements in service delivery, and with a significant new software system roll-out by the end of the year.
A recent problem has been the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on the ability of testers and operators to get vehicles through their checks. Significant backlogs built up, but, as we return to some sort of normality, normality should also return to MOTs with no vehicle going beyond its normal test date in the future.
The current situation poses an important question for some operators. With vehicles facing delayed testing and with concerns about the outcomes for their older vehicles, is now the time to off-load those trucks and trailers; accruing what working capital they can by doing so, and turning instead to the kind of rental, leasing and contract hire options we provide?
The supposed benefits of vehicle ownership, once so popular, are now far outweighed in today’s fast-moving economic and operational environment by the very real benefits of ‘usership’.
Usership provides the vehicles you need - modern vehicles, when you need them - at sensible costs and with a nationwide support network to deal with much of the service and maintenance management – thereby leaving you more time and money to concentrate on running your business smoothly… and even more profitably!
Peter Snowden, Engineering Director