The dust has settled after the Commercial Vehicle Show and a hugely successful one at that, cementing its position as the UK’s biggest and best trade exhibition for the road freight sector. Visitor numbers rose by 24% compared with last year – meaning more than 13,000 people attended, including hundreds of media, across the three days. It gives us all cause for optimism for the event’s future with Nineteen Group, supported by SMMT and industry, ensuring the sector has a place to meet, showcase its very latest innovations and do crucial business in the years to come.
The Show also has a pivotal role of sharing new knowledge and insights, and an important initiative launched this year was the new Maintenance Provision Rating Scheme, which SMMT has helped produce over the past two years as part of its steering group, led by the Institute of Road Transport Engineers. Heavy vehicle workshop standards have never been more important as we move towards maintaining more zero emission vehicles and, as with all new technology, there is a need to continue to ensure best practice in the workplace.
Until now, there hasn’t been a single rating scheme for heavy vehicle operators to compare one workshop with another, so with the scheme based on the range of facilities, testing equipment and skills available at each site, it will help drive standards and efficiency.
The rating system involves five levels – Qualified, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum – with the first two requiring a desktop audit, and the top three an additional in-person audit of facilities and technician records. Under the operator licensing scheme, the accountability of maintenance lies with the operator, encouraging them to choose the best maintenance provider for their needs.
The British Standards Institute, meanwhile, has produced new guidance on protocols and training for inspection, repair and maintenance of zero emission vehicles. As more battery electric and hydrogen powertrain vehicles are registered, we need to ensure the safest procedures are put in place to remove any risk of technicians working on these.
Heavy vehicle workshops are the backbone of fleet operations and keep vehicles on the road, cutting downtime and driving efficiencies – so improving workshops standards can promise a huge boost to our sector in the years ahead.
