Fleet operators are becoming increasingly concerned about standards of dealer workshops. At a recent round-table discussion, a number of major companies said that they had or will be moving dealers because of problems. And they think that truck manufacturers are not taking action agains their bad dealers.
Operators can lose their O licence if their vehicles are in a dangerous condition, but they often rely on the dealers doing the work properly. It is not the dealer who is penalised if they miss serious faults.
Meanwhile dealers complain about the small amount they receive to maintain vehicles under the increasingly common repair and maintenance contracts.
Let me know if you are having problems with your dealers and whether you support licensing of truck workshops. Just post a reply below.
For an account of the round table debate on the issue, see this week's Motor Transport.
Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell is speaking on this subject at the MT Fleet management conference. For details click here