One of the key tenants of running a commercial vehicle operation, whether it is ‘HGV’ or ‘PSV’ is that the maintenance of the vehicles is paramount.  For some operators this will mean having their own maintenance facilities and teams to look after their fleet of vehicles in house, but the majority of operators in the UK are reliant on 3^rd party maintenance providers for some, if not all of the vehicle maintenance.

That can sometimes give operators a problem.  To some extent they have to take on trust that the 3^rd party undertaking the work to the vehicles is doing the job to the correct standard and not cutting any corners in circumstances where it is more difficult to implement ‘checks or balances’ to ensure that what the operator has been told in terms of safety inspections and repairs is what has happened.  Many vehicle operators have fallen foul of this.  If there is a problem with a vehicle and the maintenance provision is found to be wanting the buck stops with the operator.  If the operator wants recourse for any costs or damages involved with the problem from the 3^rd party maintenance provider they must deal directly with them, but shortcomings on the part of the maintenance provider do not absolve the operator of responsibility.

The launch of this new rating scheme for maintenance workshops aims to address the issue by giving operators peace of mind; a form of accreditation being a substitute for regulation

Maintenance Provision Rating Scheme (MPTS) Launched:

During 2024 this multi-agency scheme, which is supported by the DVSA and the Department for Transport and crucially the Office of the Traffic Commissioner, was trialed successfully.  The institute of Road Transport Engineers (IRTE) has taken on the ongoing implementation and  management of the scheme.  It is aimed at maintenance workshops and facilities of all sizes and has a single rating scheme that gauges facilities and workforce quality through comprehensive audits and “collective evidence”.  The MPRS website states that the aim is to shine “[a] spotlight on improving current standards across workshops and maintenance facilities across the nation, highlighting non-compliant and unsafe practices that compromise safety and standards within the commercial industry”.

Neil Barlow of the DVSA concurs with this message in his DVSA Blog, stating “We’re fully behind the initiative as it aligns with our mission to improve industry standards and reduce the number of unsafe vehicles on the road.  By supporting the scheme we hope to enhance road safety and promote best practice”.

How will the MPRS Work?

The hope is that maintenance workshops and facilities will take up membership of the MPRS to show their commitment to road safety and demonstrate “their competency, compliance and credibility” in the vehicle maintenance industry.

Once a workshop has applied to be included in the scheme they are graded from “Qualified”, which means that they can provide essential maintenance and repair services, through “Bronze”, “Silver” and “Gold” to the top grading of “Platinum” which is for workshops that have the most advanced facilities with the highest levels of staff qualifications and full compliance with the latest industry standards.

Application is via the MPRS website, which has an easy to use “quick quiz” to guide workshops as to which level of grading they would currently qualify for.  The website also has assessment criteria guides so that owners of workshops can see what level they should be aiming for.

There are currently no fees involved with signing up to the scheme.  The funds that are needed to run the scheme are coming from a collaboration of 11 organisations.  As stated, the IRTE is managing the role out, but the scheme is supported by;

• Logistics UK
• Road Haulage Association
• CPT
• Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders
• British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association
• National Franchised Dealers Association
• Office of the Traffic Commissioner
• DVSA, and
• The Department of Transport.

Peace of Mind for Operators?

The scheme certainly has the potential to give commercial vehicle operators confidence that the maintenance workshop that they are using is “up to standard” and gives the operator more peace of mind that the work they are paying for is being done correctly and that their vehicles are being maintained safely.  This is especially useful for smaller operators who may not have the necessary technical knowledge to know what questions to ask and what to look out for.

Unsurprisingly, use of an MPR Scheme Maintenance Provider does not remove the ultimate responsibility for the roadworthiness of the vehicles from the operator and should not be seen by operators as a ‘get out of jail’ card.  The Office of the Traffic Commissioner has previously commented on the use of third-party maintenance providers stating that operators must do the due diligence on their capabilities before signing any contract. That message still stands.

The MPRS if properly run and supported should allow operators to have some assurance that they have contracted with a verified service by experts in the vehicle maintenance field and therefore have a good degree of confidence that the service provider is serious about safety standards and are subject to checks and oversight.

Overall, the industry seems to agree that this is a good idea and a big step forward towards making the UK’s road safer for all users.

If you would like any help or advice regarding your commercial vehicle operation, including its maintenance provision then give us a call now on 01279 818280 or click here to send us an email.  We are here to help.

© Richard Pelly, April 2025