CPA Bulletin

The CPA hosted an introduction event at Vertikal Days to discuss the new CPA voluntary roadworthiness scheme for mobile cranes on bespoke chassis. There was a great deal of interest in this introductory meeting which was held on the first morning of Vertikal Days at Donington Park Media Centre, attracting attendance from over 30 equipment manufacturers, crane owners and operators, plus other interested parties. The CPA’s Crane Interest Group (CIG) Steering Committee has approved the final version of the new voluntary scheme and the associated Good Practice Guide. The overall aim of the meeting was to explain the background to the scheme, instil the importance of roadworthiness inspections as part of the maintenance process, outline the details of the scheme and express the importance of training roadworthiness inspection personnel. Following an introduction from CPA Chief Executive Kevin Minton, former CPA Chief Executive Colin Wood gave a comprehensive overview detailing the background to the voluntary roadworthiness scheme. The majority of vehicles on the road in Britain are required by law to have an annual roadworthiness inspection (often known as the “MOT test”) to ensure that vehicles are roadworthy and meet the requirements of the regulations governing construction and use. Some large vehicles, including mobile cranes mounted on bespoke chassis, which form the majority of the UK mobile crane fleet, are not included in the regulatory regime for the annual testing requirements. Mobile cranes have been exempt from annual roadworthiness testing since the introduction of commercial vehicle MOT testing in 1962. Colin referred to the fact that the Department for Transport (DfT) published a consultation in 2009 about bringing mobile cranes into scope. At the time, the CPA’s Crane Interest Group responded with concerns about practical and logistical issues. For example, the availability and size of suitable testing stations and the fact that mobile cranes are often on extended hire and not available fixed test dates, but agreed that mobile cranes should be brought into scope, providing that such practical issues were addressed. Colin detailed that the DfT then consulted with the European Commission on a new roadworthiness directive and issued a second consultation on the removal of exemptions in December 2014, to which the CIG again responded positively. Following this, the CPA met with the DfT and it transpired that, at the time, they only intended to remove the exemption for mobile cranes on those commercial chassis which complied with the Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986 (C&U). The DfT recognised that 95% of the mobile cranes on UK roads would continue to be exempt and the issue was to be addressed at a later date. It was at this point that the CPA suggested that it would be appropriate to devise a voluntary roadworthiness inspection scheme which could address the issues of testing station unsuitability and the need for test date flexibility. The DfT were highly supportive of this approach and a working group was subsequently established with representatives of the CIG, whereby a first working draft of the scheme was completed in May 2017. Just a few months later, the DfT published The Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2017, removing the exemption from plating and testing mobile cranes on lorry based chassis and requiring annual testing from the next VED renewal date after 20th May 2018. Colin finished his presentation by announcing that the final ‘Good Practice Guide: Annual Roadworthiness Inspection Scheme for Mobile Cranes Mounted on Non-Standard Chassis’ was now available on the CPA website. The CIG working group held a total of six drafting meetings on the voluntary scheme and the final document is supported by both the DfT and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). Colin thanked the members of the working group for their contribution and made special mention of the efforts of CPA Consultant Tim Watson in completing the document in such a professional and efficient manner. The next presenter was John Miller, Crane Care Director of the Manitowoc Crane Group (UK) and a member of the CIG working group. John spoke about the fact that modern mobile cranes have become Introduction of the CPA Voluntary Roadworthiness Scheme for Mobile Cranes ASSOCIATIONNEWS: 3 www.cpa.uk.net CPA Bulletin > August 2019 11