DVSA says there's no shortage of vehicle testing staff

The DVSA has denied it has a shortage of vehicle testing staff – despite admitting it has only 440 vehicle standards assessors in place to serve more than 500 authorised testing facilities (ATFs) and its remaining test stations.

Responding to enquiries by CommercialMotor.com, a DVSA spokesman said the agency was “confident it could meet the demands of all ATFs” despite their increasing numbers and the introduction of the next generation testing (NGT) model, which increases hours during which ATFs can carry out tests.

He went on to admit, however, that the DVSA is “looking to have about 500 vehicle standards assessors, an increase of about 60 compared to the current number of testing staff”.

The agency has long maintained it has sufficient test staff and told CommercialMotor.com last week that recruitment of new testing staff, who will operate under NGT, was “on track”.

It has also confirmed that it can use some roadside enforcement officers for vehicle testing if necessary. “Enforcement staff are sometimes deployed to carry out testing,” the spokesman said.

“This provides additional flexibility to ensure the DVSA can meet fluctuations in demand.”

The agency has confirmed that 174 of its 540 front-line roadside enforcement staff are approved for testing but has declined to specify how often these staff are seconded to such duties.

A number of ATF operators have voiced concerns about an apparent shortage of test staff, with some telling CommercialMotor.com that testers are travelling from up to 120 miles away, and others are being refused extra testing days due to a lack of resources, as reported last month.

ATF Operators Association president Stephen Smith told CommercialMotor.com he thinks that the DVSA “needs to look at the forecast [ATF] growth figures and be in a position to supply more testers when required”. 

“The DVSA has a bad record on forecasting, which is why we are in a position where some ATFs cannot get testers for love or money,” he added.

Smith expressed concerns about the idea of taking staff away from roadside enforcement duties to carry out HGV tests, describing it as a “sticking plaster approach”.

“What happens three months down the line when they have a shortage of testers and are pulling all their guys off the roads?” he asked.“Who will be looking after the roads then?”