FTA

What is this service?

Our commercial vehicle inspections are carried out on everything from vans and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) to buses and specialist lifting equipment. All our inspections are accredited by United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) and are available nationwide.

Why inspect my vehicles?

You should regularly inspect your vehicles to:

ensure compliance with the latest legislation
reduce the risk of defects that could cause accidents
save money on costly repairs that occur when defects are left
help reduce prohibitions such as graduated fixed penalties (GFPs) and Operator Compliance Risk Score (OCRS) points

Why choose FTA's vehicle inspection services?

Convenience

Wherever you are in the UK, you’ll have access to one of our highly skilled engineers, all of who are trained, accredited and audited to a national standard

Easy-to-use reports

Using our online interactive Vision software to identify areas in your reports for attention is quick and easy since they’re tailored to your requirements

First class service

All our inspections and audits are accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), ensuring they’re of the highest standard. View our inspection method statements and certificates of accreditation here

Reduction in defects

Statistics show that vehicles we’ve inspected have on average 66% less wheel defects and 57% less brake defects compared to the national average

Inspection services by operation

Commercial vehicle inspections

A variety of inspections of your vehicles are available to help ensure safety, compliance and reduced downtime due to faults.

Inspections available include:

Roadworthiness inspections - these report on defects that could affect the safety, legality or reliability of your vehicle before the next scheduled inspection. The inspection covers all the items that make up the statutory annual test, as well as items that should be covered by driver walk around checks.
Maintenance inspections - these in-depth visual examinations build upon the roadworthiness inspections to give you valuable insights into maintenance standards and the general care of the vehicle. The inspection looks at paintwork and livery, along with tyre tread depth and partially worn components.
Pre-Purchase Inspections - these provide information on the condition of a vehicle before you buy. You’ll receive a full maintenance inspection, a standard road and brake test, plus a report on the details of the vehicle such as plated weights, test certificate details and tyre types.
End-of-lease inspections - these provide an objective third-party report on the condition of vehicles before they’re returned. Our reports will highlight areas that require repair before the vehicle is returned.
Due diligence inspections - these examine the condition of a vehicle fleet or assess its financial value in the event of a takeover or merger.
Lifting equipment inspections - these full visual examinations are available as an addition to your roadworthiness or maintenance inspections. They focus on the operation and mechanics of lifting equipment and include tail lifts, lorry mounted cranes, bin lifts and demountable body systems.
Defra Vehicle Inspection - give you confidence in your compliance with the EC regulation. We are appointed by the Department of Enviornment, Food and Rural Affairs as a competent body.

MHE and racking inspections

Our warehouse inspection service is designed to make warehouse safety your main priority and save you the cost of non-compliance.

What are my legal obligations?

You must carry out racking inspections in accordance with the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), governed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Racking equipment

PUWER states that an independent and experienced person must regularly inspect racking structures and record these examinations. These generally take place annually, but may be more frequent depending on equipment usage and conditions.

Lifting equipment

Lifting equipment inspections fall under PUWER obligations and Lifting Operation and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER), which are governed by HSE. LOLER requires lifting equipment to be examined:

at least six months in the case of lifting people
at least every 12 months in the case of other lifting equipment
every time an exceptional circumstance arises that jeopardises safety

FTA's lift truck thorough examinations and audits

Our engineers carry out lift truck examinations and sytems audits to a national standard and ensure you are fully supported in rectifying any highlighted issues or defects.

FTA's racking inspections

Working with the Storage Equipment Safety Service (SESS), we provide racking inspections that examine the structure and functionality of your warehouse racking. These inspections ensure you stay compliant with health and safety requirements, promote effective use of space and give you peace of mind.

Passenger carrying vehicle inspections

A variety of inspections of your vehicles are available to help ensure safety, compliance and reduced downtime due to faults.

Our passenger carrying vehicle inspections cover vehicles such as coaches, buses and minibuses. All inspections are certified by UKAS and are availble nationwide to assist with the effective management of your fleet.

You can choose from the following inspections:

Roadworthiness inspections - these report on defects that could affect the safety, legality or reliability of your vehicle before the next scheduled inspection.
Maintenance inspections - these in-depth visual examinations build upon the roadworthiness inspections to give you valuable insights into maintenance standards and the general care of the vehicle.
Pre-purchase inspections - these provide information on the condition of a vehicle before you buy. You’ll receive a full maintenance inspection, a standard road and brake test, plus a report on the details of the vehicle such as test certificate details and tyre types.
End-of-lease inspections - these provide an objective third-party report on the condition of vehicles before they’re returned. Our reports will highlight areas that require repair before the vehicle is returned.
Due diligence inspections - these examine the condition of a vehicle fleet or assess its financial value in the event of a takeover or merger.
Lifting equipment inspections - these full visual examinations are available as an addition to your roadworthiness or maintenance inspections. They focus on the operation and mechanics of lifting equipment such as wheel chairlifts.

Tanker inspection and certification inspections

Comprehensive examinations of tankers and their associated equipment in accordance with the current road transport regulations for dangerous goods movement.

These inspections help support a robust tank maintenance system, checking components which are often overlooked during regular preventitive mainteneance such as tank openings and valves.

Your legal obligations

The schedules of the current road transport regulations for dangerous goods movment require that all dangerous substance tankers have a periodic or intermediate examination at specific intervals and tank documentation is retained for the life of the tank.

Additionaly tankers must undergo an extra annual test over and above the normal heavy goods vehicle roadworthiness test, an ADR test, to ensure they comply with part 9 of the European Agreement concering the ADR.

If loading in a participant terminal, additionally tankers require a UK petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA) / Tank Storage Association (TSA) Safe Loading Pass Scheme inspection at six-monthly intervals and display a pass to gain access to the terminal.

Road Tanker Certification Service

FTA successfully holds UKAS accreditation and Department for Transport (DfT)/Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) approval for the certification of both ‘old’ UK (pre 9 May 2004) and ‘new’ (post 10 May 2004) ADR tanks meeting the requirements of the current road transport regulations for dangerous goods movement and the requirements of ADR.

Regular Tank Inspections

A regular dangerous substance tank (DST) inspection helps ensure that tankers remain compliant with ADR requirements whilst in operation. It provides an assessment of maintenance standards and helps highlight any developing issues in between certifications.

Safe Loading Pass Inspections

FTA is equipped to provide inspections meeting the Safe Loading pass Scheme (SLPS) requirements with a disc issued on successful completion. Inspections can be tailored to members’ requirements with discounts available when tank inspection products are combined. Inspections can be used as part of a robust maintenance system, providing detailed information on tank condition and compliance peace-of-mind.

Find out more about...

Defra Vehicle Inspections

FTA offers Defra Vehicle Inspections to give you confidence in your compliance within the EC regulation. We are appointed by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs as a competent body - achieved by UKAS accreditation.

View Defra Vehicle Inspections

Pre-Purchase inspections

Pre-Purchase Inspections provide information on the condition of a second-hand vehicle that you are looking to purchase. With the inspection you will receive a full maintenance inspection, a standard road and brake test, plus a report on the details of the vehicle.

View Pre-Purchase inspections

Roadworthiness awards

Our prestigious Roadworthiness Awards highlight FTA members' efforts to keep their fleets safe, legal and efficient. Award winners are presented with a custom-printed 1:50 scale model truck, a certificate and a feature in FTA's Freight magazine.

View Roadworthiness awards

What our members say

Fowler Welch uses FTA’s Vehicle Inspection Service to help with our fleet compliance through regular vehicle audits. Information provided through our membership helps us to keep our fleet compliant and maximise vehicle uptime.

Paul Allera

Head of Fleet

Fowler Welch

Interested in this service?

Take a look at our brochure or get in touch

Have a read through our Vehicle Inspection Service brochure. You can find out more by completing our enquiry form or calling us to discuss your requirements on 03717 11 22 22*

* Calls may be recorded

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