News

Operators can now get their Low Emission Zone (LEZ) pollution-abatement equipment fitted and certified at the same time. Previously, the only certification route available to operators needing to fit abatement devices to their vehicles was to go to a VOSA test facility for certification once they'd had the equipment fitted.

Transport for London (TfL) has now granted authorised examiner status to seven pollution-abatement equipment manufacturers to conduct the Reduced Pollution Certificate  and Low Emission Certificate tests. To date, TfL has approved 25 individual examiners to carry out the tests - 19 of which work for Eminox - with the rest employed by Clean Diesel Technologies Dinex Gat Eurocat KleenAir Systems Per-tec and Pirelli Ambiente.

Nick Fairholme, head of the London LEZ, says the new service will reduce the amount of time that a vehicle needs to be taken off the road and provides a "one-stop shop for operators keen to get their vehicles back in service as soon as possible". Kathye Henderson, marketing manager at Eminox, says: "There was a last minute rush leading up to the 4 Feb deadline and VOSA ended up with quite a backlog of tests, so TfL has now given abatement manufacturers like ourselves the opportunity to provide the tests."

She adds: "Many operators have told us how difficult it can be to have their vehicle off the road for fitting and then testing, so we are pleased to offer a service that comb-ines these." Hicks Logistics operates  15 of its 80-strong fleet in the LEZ. Managing director Terry Hicks says: "It's a good move, but I still have reservations about the LEZ."