BETTER: Service must improve, say FTA
Better service and value for CV operators must be a priority of the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) and Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) merger, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) have claimed.
The decision to merge DSA and VOSA and place under the control of VOSA Chief Executive Alastair Peoples from July was announced by Department for Transport today.
Although welcomed by the FTA, they said any merger must be at the benefit of commercial vehicle operators.
Karen Dee, Director of Policy at the FTA, said: “FTA support any move which can deliver improved services and better value for money for its members, and we can certainly see some potential for this in the proposed merger of DSA and VOSA.
“For example, if this allows transport managers to check their OCRS scores at the same time as their drivers’ DCPC status that would be a big step forward.
“However, we will be looking very carefully at the detail behind this to ensure that benefits such as this are delivered.”
The Motoring Services Strategy consultation involving the four executive agencies – VOSA, DSA, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) – floated the idea of ‘streamlining’ the agencies.
However, the FTA claimed there were few indications of how this might be achieved.
“While bringing VOSA and DSA together puts testing of drivers and vehicles in one place, licensing of both will still be dealt with by DVLA,” added Ms Dee.
“It is questionable therefore whether the proposals will deliver the improved links between testing and licensing that operators feel are necessary.
“FTA looks forward to working with the new – and existing – agencies to bring this about.”
