Logistics firms warned to obey lorry sideguard rules
Date: 12 July 2007
Freight forwarders are being warned to make sure their lorries are fitted with the proper sideguards when they are presented for the annual HGV test.
The Freight Transport Association (FTA) notes that the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) is set to apply a stricter approach towards the construction and use requirements for sideguards.
There is currently some confusion as to what the legal test requirements for sideguards actually are. Back in 200 VOSA said that vehicles with sideguards of an incorrect dimension should not be failed, but recently the body has begun failing them for this.
Now VOSA is to advise operators of non-compliance in respect of sideguards that have parts missing or are of the wrong dimensions until April 1st, 2008, in order to give the industry time to comply.
"VOSA has highlighted that an increasing number of vehicles are being presented for test with sideguards which do not fully conform to the required regulations, usually the result of missing sections," said FSA national quality manager Paul Whitehead.
"This may result from equipment not supplied to the correct specification, having been supplied by the dealer incorrectly, or not picked up during routine inspection.
"Sideguards are an important piece of safety equipment and there can be no argument that they must meet the full regulations, to which there has been no recent amendment, only stricter enforcement.
The FTA advises haulage firms and other logistics operators to comply with the regulations or risk failing the test.
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