Faced with mounting concern from operators over third-party maintenance standards - particularly since the introduction of VOSA's Operator Compliance Risk Score (OCRS) system - the Institute of Road Transport Engineers (IRTE) has created a Maintenance Supplier Assessment guide. Recently, several operators of large fleets - including DHL - have expressed concerns that maintenance providers have not been up to scratch, leaving them with a less-than-perfect OCRS score on their O-licence.
The Maintenance Supplier Assessment (MSA) guide provides operators with a thorough checklist covering the expected standards of facilities such as bay dimensions, lighting, workshop size and even parking 
facilities. Also included are topics including tools and equipment, proof of maintenance staff qualifications and the overall general appearance of the workshop.
John Eastman, chairman of the IRTE council, says: "There's nothing regulating truck repairs and ultimately the condition of a HGV rests with the CPC holder. When you get stopped at the roadside there's no recourse. It's your O-licence and livelihood on the line." Eastman says his organisation has created this assessment guide to give its members, and the wider haulage industry, peace of mind that maintenance is being carried out to an adequate standard.
John Davies, head of service at MAN UK, says: "There appears to some suggestion that the MSA might not be in the best interest of a maintenance supplier. This is not the case; MAN fully supports this initiative because it complements our own UpTime Principle, which aims to improve first-time MOT pass rates." 
Gordon Irvine, group fleet director at Arla Foods, believes there is a "big gulf" between operators and maintenance suppliers and that both parties need to forge closer ties.
Irvine says: "I will admit we've had two prohibitions in the last 12 months due to repair work carried out by a service provider. We run a fleet of 350 vehicles and 450 trailers so in context it's not bad, but I'd prefer a 100% test record. "The MSA is a simple and effective way to establish and maintain standards and ensure 100% pass rates and compliance with VOSA." The document can be downloaded free of charge from the IRTE website.