The Road Haulage Association has endorsed the IRTEC voluntary accreditation scheme that assesses the safety and competence of technicians working on commercial vehicles.

The scheme provides a guide to hauliers seeking a supplier for HGV inspection, maintenance and repair services and provides independent evidence that the technicians in the workshop are trained and competent.

 “The RHA Board has been keen to identify a standard that can assist members in choosing a provider and the IRTEC standard does just that,” said RHA Head of Technical Services Ray Engley. “It also has the advantage of being a scheme in which the industry is closely involved, in terms of setting and maintaining the standard.”

The IRTEC scheme was initially developed in the bus sector but has now been extended to cover HGVs. Engley continued, “Hauliers should always actively manage their vehicle maintenance arrangements, because they remain responsible in law for the condition of their vehicles at all times, regardless of who is carrying out the maintenance. In cases where standards do not meet regulatory requirements, or maintenance records are inadequately kept, it is the haulier’s licence to operate that is at risk."

The IRTEC scheme adds further strength to the argument put forward by the RHA and others that HGV annual testing should be opened up to the private sector, rather than remain a monopoly activity of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency.

The RHA has also welcomed the IRTEC workshop accreditation scheme, which is concerned with equipment and services as well as personnel.

Image: The scheme aims to provide evidence of the competence of technicians.