COVID-19: DVSA to increase the use of Desktop Assessments?

18 March 2020

During the current Coronavirus pandemic, we expect that the DVSA’s ability to undertake site visits will be reduced for the purposes of both maintenance investigations by a Vehicle Examiner and/or traffic investigations (i.e. drivers hours, load security, driver licensing) by a Traffic Examiner as the nation is encouraged to minimise unnecessary contact with others and all but essential travel.  

As a result of this we may see that the number of DVSA Desktop Assessments by the DVSA Remote Enforcement Office will rise. Indeed under the latest Senior Traffic Commissioner Statutory Document on contingency and emergency planning due to the Covid-19 outbreak, STC Turfitt hopes that the Remote Enforcement Unit might be able to assist the Traffic Commissioners in the disposal of hearings by the Operator producing documents to them. 

For those who are unfamiliar with such assessments, the DVSA have successfully trialled and now implemented these across the UK whereby the Operator receives a written request from the DVSA to submit either by post or electronically, a description of your compliance systems as well as enclosing specimen documents for them to review. 

The DVSA will then undertake an analysis and invite the Operator to respond to any issues before the report is deemed as satisfactory or potentially reported to the Traffic Commissioner.  

In our experience, the ability of an Operator to respond correctly to such a request is paramount and all to often the Operator either provides too little detail, misunderstands what is requested or incorrect information which leads to unsatisfactory ratings.  

If you receive such a request, we are more than happy to assist you with the response so that you provide the correct information the first time or mitigate as early as possible any failings that you may have in your system. Please call 01254 8282300 or email scott@backhouses.co.uk