Commercial Vehicle Inspections a true reflection of the condition of your fleet UKAS accredited inspections Comprehensive management information Aftercare, training and guidance Ensuring compliance, advancing performance
Summary of content and offer FTA s Commercial Vehicle Inspections cover a variety of services from inspections to training and auditing. Carried out on a range of vehicles including HGVs, vans, tankers and specialist vehicles such as waste vehicles and fire engines, these inspections will provide you with peace of mind that you are complying with your legal undertakings and quality monitoring any maintenance providers and procedures, and in many cases will save you money overall. Roadworthiness and Maintenance Inspections A full examination of the visual, operational and mechanical condition of your fleet, helping avoid failure at roadside and annual checks and reducing costs through correct wear and tear assessments. p5 Additional Inspections A wide range of UKAS accredited inspections, including inspections of your specialist lifting equipment, Pre Purchase, Pre Contract Extension, End of Lease and Due Diligence Inspections. p6 Tanker Inspection and Certification Service Regular inspections of the tank and its associated equipment in accordance with the schedules of the Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2009. p7 Fleet Management Information Designed to provide managers with a detailed analysis of the condition of their fleet, this value added service is available alongside your inspections to allow easy pinpointing of any safety, legal or maintenance issues. p8 Audits These audits provide an independent examination of the systems and procedures you have in place to deal with your vehicle maintenance arrangements and drivers walk around checks. p9 Training A range of technical training courses for drivers, engineers and supervisory staff to help ensure compliance with the vehicle maintenance requirements of your operator licence. p10 Information and support A wide range of services and information to help operators ensure they remain compliant with their operator licence undertakings. p11 *Calls may be recorded for training purposes 2 08717 11 22 22 *
Introduction With the economy relying on the world s supply chains, the Government must balance the smooth movement of materials within the UK with stringent targets to ensure safety standards are met and carbon emissions are lowered. For commercial vehicle operators it is a tough challenge of juggling regularly changing legislation with rising operating costs and customer expectations. It is therefore vital that all commercial vehicles are thoroughly inspected and a sound maintenance procedure is in place to avoid the risks associated with non-compliance and unplanned downtime. This guide has been produced to help show the ways in which FTA s accredited and impartial inspections can help support your operation to ensure you are running a safe, efficient and legal commercial vehicle fleet. Your legal obligations As part of your operator licence obligations and the Road Traffic Act, your declaration to ensure your vehicles are maintained to a roadworthy standard means you have agreed to undertake regular inspections, including preventative maintenance inspections and daily driver walk around checks. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in fines and prohibitions including licence curtailments, suspensions and revocations. For more information please see the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness. Do you know your OCRS? Your fleet s Operator Compliance Risk Score (OCRS) can determine how often your vehicles are stopped and checked at the roadside. Operators with high scores are more likely to be stopped and the risks of prohibitions and fines for defects are increased. Did you know? n VOSA has invested a further 20 million in enforcement 1 n VOSA has set a target of a 15 per cent increase in the number of dangerous vehicles being taken off the road compared with the year before 1 n Headlamp aim remains the most common cause of failure at annual test 2 n The average failure rate for HGVs at initial test is over 30 per cent 2 n Over 40 per cent of vehicles that fail their initial test are owned by operators that only have one vehicle 2 n In 2008/9 the number of public inquiries held for non-compliance increased by 18 per cent from 2007/08 3 1 VOSA Business Plan 2008/9 2 VOSA Effectiveness Report 2008/2009 3 Traffic Commissioners Annual Report 2008/9 To request your OCRS reports from VOSA email enquiries@vosa.gov.uk or call 0300 123 9000. www.fta.co.uk/inspections 3
Benefits of FTA Inspections Being at the forefront of industry developments and a wealth of experience have provided FTA with the tools to provide a wide range of UKAS accredited inspections and audits, carried out by highly skilled engineers. Detailed below are just some of the benefits you would gain from using FTA for your vehicle maintenance requirements. Proven reductions in defects, prohibitions and unnecessary repairs, which in turn can produce significant cost savings Peace of mind that your maintenance providers are protecting your interests and giving good value Access to the wealth of knowledge that FTA has accrued from 40 years experience in vehicle inspections The ability to book a nearby engineer who comes to you at a time to suit you, as FTA has over 100 qualified engineers nationwide A range of reports that can be tailored to suit your individual operational requirements FTA s influence and position within the industry, which ensures all work is carried out in accordance with the latest industry developments and legislation Proven reductions in defects with FTA s inspections These figures show the percentage reduction of defects found on vehicles and trailers inspected by FTA, in relation to the national average as detailed in the annual VOSA Effectiveness Report. With a FTA vehicle inspection contract you are in good company Bodywork 22% Suspension 21% Brakes 57% Wheels/ axles 66% Trailers Tyres 62% Lighting 42% Steering 16% Vehicles Bodywork 66% Lighting 15% Tyres 17% Wheels/ axles 83% Brakes 85% Suspension 62% 4 08717 11 22 22 *
Roadworthiness and Maintenance Inspections FTA s Roadworthiness and Maintenance Inspections provide regular opportunities to fully examine the visual, operational and mechanical condition of your vehicles, to ensure compliance with your legal obligations and help avoid failure at roadside and annual checks. They can also provide opportunities to reduce maintenance costs, through wear and tear evaluation and allow for early detection of defects, thus increasing reliability and peace of mind that you are operating legally, safely and efficiently. Roadworthiness Inspections A Roadworthiness Inspection reports on defects which could affect the safety, legality or reliability of a vehicle before the next scheduled inspection. A typical Roadworthiness Inspection includes: an inspection of all items covered on the statutory annual test an inspection of all items that should be covered by driver daily walk around checks. These include lights, tyres, wheel fixings, bodywork, trailer coupling, load security and ancillary equipment a computer printed report of all items contravening annual test regulations, and that may affect the compliance and reliability of the vehicle, the severity of these defects and the level of prohibition the defect would attract at a VOSA roadside check Maintenance Inspections A Maintenance Inspection builds on the Roadworthiness Inspection and is a complete in-depth visual examination which provides a valuable insight into maintenance standards and the general care of the vehicle including its cosmetic appearance. A typical Maintenance Inspection includes: all items as per the Roadworthiness Inspection legal requirements cosmetic appearance including paintwork and livery tyre tread depth information partially worn components FTA carries out Roadworthiness and Maintenance Inspections of many types of vehicles at your premises including hgvs, tractor units, vans, tankers and specialist vehicles such as fire engines and refuse vehicles. We rely on FTA to provide comprehensive and impartial inspections of our HGV fleet. This enables us to audit our internal and external maintenance suppliers and quickly identify and rectify any maintenance issues that are highlighted. Dave Carpenter Fleet Compliance Officer Scottish and Southern Energy Using the FTA Vehicle Inspection Service provides us with a cost saving of 35 per cent against other internal and external options. Chris Hall Network Transport Manager ASDA Stores Ltd www.fta.co.uk/inspections 5
Additional Inspections FTA s experienced engineers are trained to high standards and can provide a wide range of inspections to suit your requirements. Whether you are looking at purchasing new vehicles, involved in a merger or fleet takeover or whether your vehicle lease contract is about to expire, FTA has a solution to ensure you are fully aware of the condition and potential value of a vehicle or fleet. These unbiased examinations can be carried out on any type of vehicle from vans through to HGVs and tankers. Specialist vehicles such as waste vehicles and vehicles with tail lifts or other lifting equipment can also be thoroughly checked. Pre Purchase Inspections Pre Purchase Inspections are designed to provide sufficient information on the condition of the vehicle to enable a decision on whether or not a purchase should be made. The inspection includes a full Maintenance Inspection, a standard road and brake test, plus a report on the details of the vehicle including plated weights, test certificate details and types of tyres. We can also manage leasing processes, communicate with operators and arrange the inspections for the lessor. Case study Pre Contract Extension Inspections These are designed for both leasing companies and vehicle users who may want to extend their contractual agreement beyond the initial hire period. This independent check references the condition of the vehicle allowing for fair wear and tear. End of Lease Inspections This independent third party inspection provides an objective report on the condition of the vehicle, considering fair wear and tear and highlighting areas requiring repair before the vehicle is returned. Estimated repair prices can be supplied on request. Strathclyde Fire & Rescue is one of the largest fire and rescue services in Europe and serves an area of 14,000 square kilometres. Having found that its own centralised workshops were too far away to efficiently inspect and maintain vehicles based at its more remote stations, Strathclyde Fire & Rescue turned to FTA. A best value review of the procedures the service had in place found that using FTA s skilled engineers to inspect its remote vehicles would save them time and money. From this simple solution Strathclyde Fire & Rescue has seen notable cost savings due to reduced vehicle downtime and has been given peace of mind that it has an increased number of safe, legal and reliable vehicles in service at any one time. Strathclyde Fire & Rescue has benefited greatly from the continued support it has received from FTA and their inspections have been key to our compliance, efficiency and smooth running of operations within our remote locations. Benny Mallon Operations Manager Strathclyde Fire & Rescue Due Diligence Inspections Due Diligence Inspections are designed to examine the condition of a fleet of vehicles, or to show its financial value in the event of a take over or merger. Lifting Equipment Inspections In addition to our regular Roadworthiness and Maintenance Inspections, FTA engineers can also carry out a full visual, operational and mechanical inspection of any lifting equipment including tail lifts, lorry mounted cranes, bin lifts and demountable body systems. For inspections within the warehouse, including forklift trucks and warehouse racking, a brochure is available on request. Inspections of lifting equipment have to meet standards governed by the Health and Safety Executive (LOLER/PUWER). These standards stipulate that inspections must be carried out by a person who is independent, impartial and competent. Lifting equipment should be inspected once every 12 months or once every six months in a man-up operation. 6 08717 11 22 22 *
Tanker Inspection and Certification Service FTA s Tanker Inspection and Certification Service provides comprehensive examinations of tankers and their associated equipment in accordance with the schedules of the current road transport regulations for dangerous goods movement. The testing carried out follows the industry standard guidelines of pressure and leakproofness testing. Regular tank inspections ensure compliance with your legal obligations and also provide the opportunity to increase safety and reduce maintenance costs, through early detection of defects. Road Tanker Certification Service This certification complies with schedules of the current road transport regulations for dangerous goods movement and the requirements of ADR for carrying out periodic examinations. The thorough inspections incorporate: a leakproofness and vapour tightness test low pressure oxygen free nitrogen to fill the tank ensuring there is no need to clean or degas the tank prior to the test an examination to identify any leaks in the tank and ancillaries (p/v valves, run off pipes, vapour recovery systems and related valves, vents and seals) a comprehensive 31 point check on the safety and integrity of the remainder of the tank and its associated equipment Following the inspection a certificate is provided along with the certification plate and/or relevant stamp. Using FTA for our tanker inspections and certification and gas pressure testing has given us peace of mind that in this highly regulated environment, our vehicles and equipment are safe and legal. This ensures that our transport operation can run smoothly and our customers remain happy. Ray Fowler Transport Manager George J Goff Ltd Regular Tank Inspections A regular tank inspection helps ensure that tankers remain compliant in between the periodic examinations test. This stand-alone service provides the operator with a comprehensive inspection of the tank and its equipment, covering 31 individual points. Your legal obligations The schedules of the current road transport regulations for dangerous goods movement require that all dangerous substance tanks have a periodic examination at specific intervals. The Major Oil Companies Safe Loading Pass Scheme requires a vapour tightness test every two years for all road tankers. Since 1 July 2006, any inspection body which undertakes the inspection or examination of old (pre 9 May 2004) tanks or new (post 10 May 2004) tanks must be accredited by the Department for Transport after firstly satisfying the requirements of the accreditation body UKAS. ADR tanks (post May 2004) are legally required to be tested at a pressure of 200mb every three years and a hydraulic test is required at six yearly intervals to a test pressure of 360 mbar, therefore requiring the tank compartment to be filled to its ullage level. FTA s tanker inspections have successfully acquired UKAS accreditation and Department for Transport (DfT) approval for the certification of both old and new tanks. Please note: from 1 July 2010 a change in regulations requires old tanks built after 31 December 1996 to ADR standards to be certified to the requirements of new tanks. For more information FTA members can call the Member Service Centre on 08717 11 22 22 *. www.fta.co.uk/inspections 7
Fleet Management Information FTA s Fleet Management Information provides detailed analysis of the condition of your fleet, maintenance arrangements and systems, outlining their effects on the efficiency of your business and training needs. This service enables managers to benefit from our extensive database of inspection reports, allowing accurate sector benchmarking and industry comparison. It will also allow for quick pinpointing of any safety, legal and maintenance issues which will save time, reduce costs and lead to greater efficiency and confidence in your operation. You can also measure the impact of any changes that you have implemented. There are a variety of reports that can be created to show trends such as driver reportable safety defects, number of defects by component, depot benchmarking and defects by vehicle manufacturer. Some of the types of report available are shown below. Safety defect report A report showing the percentage of safety defects that should have been reported by your drivers. This type of report can help highlight whether your drivers training and working procedures require attention. Component or system report A report showing each component or system and a breakdown of the category that defect falls within (such as driver related safety defect or immediate repair defect). These reports allow for easy pinpointing of areas that need remedial action. Depot report A report showing the average number of defects per depot, presented alongside industry sector or national averages. This report will highlight any inconsistencies in levels of defects between depots and industry averages. Manufacturer or maintenance provider report A report detailing the defects either by manufacturer or maintenance provider. This report allows you to compare the performance of your fleet by quality monitoring your maintenance providers and the manufacturers of your vehicles. Operator Compliance Risk Score (OCRS) reports A report detailing the OCRS points that your vehicles would have attracted if the vehicle had been stopped by VOSA at the roadside. These reports can benchmark depots and maintenance providers as well as showing where the defects are. Maintenance system and compliance audit report Following an audit of your systems and procedures at each depot, FTA s engineers will present reports back to you in person. They will enable easy identification of the areas that require attention to ensure compliance with your obligations and our qualified engineers will be on hand to provide help and advice on any action that is required. 8 08717 11 22 22 *
Audits Much time, energy and money is spent on carrying out various procedures to ensure that operator licence regulations are met. Yet how can you be sure that all the systems you have in place are being carried out properly, cover all the areas necessary and are in line with VOSA s recommendations? FTA s audits examine various aspects of your operation to ensure that you are fully aware of how your procedures are being carried out, whether they conform with the latest regulations and recommendations and if there are any aspects of your operation that may require attention. Vehicle Maintenance Systems Audit A Vehicle Maintenance Systems Audit provides independent auditing of both the systems and procedures you have in place to deal with your vehicle maintenance arrangements, using recommendations in VOSA s Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness as the benchmark. The comprehensive reports produced break down your systems into seven key areas and include best practice tips and invaluable advice for determining which areas of your operation require special consideration, in order to avoid noncompliance should VOSA visit your operating centre. A typical Vehicle Maintenance Systems Audit will cover the following areas of your systems and records: driver walk around checks driver defect reporting safety inspections maintenance facilities quality monitoring records vehicle condition FTA remains our first choice for an unprejudiced, objective, high quality vehicle inspection to a national standard; and is the only independent organisation who offers the benchmarking and inspection information which meets our needs, for the quality and compliance benchmarking analysis of our transport operations and their associated maintenance providers. Dave Rowlands Technical Services Director Wincanton Group plc Driver Walk Around Check Audit A Driver Walk Around Check Audit provides an independent stop and check at random on vehicles that are about to exit your premises. These checks will enable you to quality monitor the competency of the drivers carrying out their routine checks and the number of driver detectable defects going unnoticed. Over 50 per cent of all defects found from FTA vehicle inspections should have been found by the driver During a check the following areas will be examined: lights tyres wheel fixings bodywork trailer coupling load security ancillary equipment The findings from the check will then be cross referenced with the drivers own records and a report will be produced on the day, showing the defects found and any vehicles that were free of driver reportable defects. Management information can also be provided with recommendations given for subsequent driver training. www.fta.co.uk/inspections 9
Training A company s systems and procedures are only as strong as the staff that are implementing them. Whether it is your supervisory staff, vehicle engineers or drivers, in order to ensure that your staff understand their role in complying with operator licence regulations and carry out the necessary procedures, staff training is paramount. By training your staff with the following courses you can benefit from: a reduction in maintenance costs through correct wear and tear evaluation minimised failures at the roadside and annual checks Specialist Inspection Training Aimed at engineers tasked with inspecting vehicles, this three day course covers all the elements required to teach your staff the appropriate skills to comprehensively evaluate the condition of your vehicles in accordance with operator licence requirements. The course covers the following key areas: the need to inspect vehicles legal requirements Inspection Manual standards inspection procedures increased confidence that you are operating safe, legal and reliable vehicles Driver Walk Around Check Training Aimed at drivers, this half day course is designed to provide candidates with a practical knowledge and understanding of their responsibilities when carrying out walk around checks. Correct identification of defects will help prevent possible prohibitions and spot fines. The course covers the following key areas: an overview of operator licensing, VOSA enforcement and the prohibition system practical and theory based walk around checks pre-use walk around check video report writing practical training and wear assessment Categorisation of Defects Training Aimed at technical and supervisory staff, this theory based two day course is designed to explain all the engineering requirements laid out under operator licence regulations. It provides candidates with the necessary information to assist in correct decision making in respect of the minimum allowable operating standards. The course covers the following key areas: operator licensing VOSA enforcement and the prohibition system comprehensive presentation of the Categorisation of Defects Manual assessment of attendee competence At Veolia Environmental Services we are committed to ensuring the standard of our fleet remains consistently high. Part of this commitment is ensuring that our technical staff are fully trained to the high standards of FTA, through their Categorisation of Defects Training. Paulette Madden Support Services Manager Veolia Environmental Services 10 08717 11 22 22 *
Information and support Being at the forefront of industry developments and latest legislation has enabled FTA s intelligent development of a range of services to ensure vehicles, related equipment and general maintenance arrangements stay legally compliant, adhere to safety standards and add value to operational efficiency. For more information on how else FTA can help choose the option that suits you Telephone Website Email 08717 11 22 22* Post www.fta.co.uk Fax Address overleaf 01892 552360 info@fta.co.uk Training In addition to the courses listed on the previous page, FTA also offers a wide range of courses for staff from drivers to engineers and managers. With numerous public course venues nationwide and the ability to provide courses in-company, FTA can help create a training solution to fit your individual requirements. Courses available include: Driver CPC modules including Vehicle Checks and Defect Reporting National Freight CPC Operator Licence Awareness Training a range of health and safety courses For the full range of training courses please download a copy of the prospectus from www.fta.co.uk/training or call 08717 11 22 22*. Briefings and seminars Throughout the year FTA s policy and information experts run a series of briefings and seminars to ensure delegates are upto-date with the latest legislation and are given best practice advice. The events, that are available up and down the country and cover a variety of topical areas and subjects, include: Transport Manager Seminar Fleet Engineer Seminar Safety in Transport Seminar Member Briefings Consultancy Whether you are moving premises, deciding on outsourcing your vehicle maintenance arrangements, facing new challenges or looking to implement new procedures, FTA s team of knowledgeable consultants can provide guidance and bespoke solutions. Shopfta www.shop.fta.co.uk 08717 11 11 11 * FTA s one-stop-shop for all your transport consumables, Shopfta offers a range of regularly updated products for sale online or by phone. Products that may aid in keeping your vehicles maintained to the required standards include: Yearbook of Road Transport Law An indispensable publication designed to keep you fully aware of all aspects of road transport legislation A range of driver walk around check training dvds DVDs showing the importance and best practice in relation to drivers carrying out their routine walk around checks A range of vehicle inspection and defect report pads Various report pads available for drivers and engineers to record vehicle defects To view our full range of products visit www.shop.fta.co.uk or request a catalogue by calling 08717 11 11 11 * www.fta.co.uk/inspections 11
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Enquiry Form For more information on any of the services or products mentioned please fill out and fax this form back to 01892 552360 Alternatively, send the form back to us using this freepost reply card, call 08717 11 22 22* or visit www.fta.co.uk Contact name Job title Company Address Postcode Telephone Email Are you a member of FTA Yes No Membership no (if known) I am interested in the following (please tick) Roadworthiness and Maintenance Inspections Additional Inspections Lifting Equipment Inspections Tanker Inspection and Certification Service Fleet Management Information Vehicle Maintenance Systems Audit Driver Walk Around Check Audit Training Briefings and Seminars Shopfta Consultancy Other, please specify... Please contact me to discuss my requirements * Calls may be recorded for training purposes VIS0410 Freight Transport Association Limited Telephone: 01892 526171 (a private limited company) Fax: 01892 534989 Hermes House Website: www.fta.co.uk St John s Road Tunbridge Wells Registered in England Number 391957 Kent TN4 9UZ 04.10/SP
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