The requirements for DVSA’s earned recognition scheme will need to find a balance between stretching hauliers to a level of excellence whilst remaining achievable, the FTA has said.
The DVSA last week revealed the KPIs that hauliers taking part in the scheme’s trial will have to meet. Some of these require 100% compliance, including: the completion of a full set of safety inspection records; inspection records signed off as being roadworthy; safety inspections completed in the frequency stated on the firm’s O-licence; and road safety defects appropriately actioned where drivers have reported issues.
While the requirement for 100% compliance in some areas leaves operators no room for error, the FTA said the pilot is intended to put its KPIs to the test and intentionally stretch operators.
James Firth, the FTA’s head of licensing and compliance information said: “Record keeping is a critical aspect of the operator licensing system, and could be seen to be a fair indicator of an operator’s intent to maintain compliance, compared with other aspects which could be considered to be influenced by circumstance.
“Earned recognition will need to find a delicate balance between stretching operators to a level of excellence while keeping it achieveable. There will be no point in having a gold standard if no operator is able to achieve it.”
RHA technical director Steve Biddle reminded hauliers that the scheme is still in the pilot stage and it is possible that KPIs and audit requirements could change.
“The 100% requirement does not mean that if you do not meet that requirement you lose approval,” he said. “It usually initiates a reminder to the operator that it has not met the requirement, so that it can look into the reasons why and try to rectify it going forward.”
“Once the pilot is complete, DVSA will need to provide clear guidelines of the requirements,” he added.
Biddle said the RHA has so far delivered two earned recognition audits for hauliers looking to take part in the pilot, and is hoping to inform the DVSA of any issues that arise.
Last month the DVSA conceded that the earned recognition pilot still needs more support from the industry.
