All completed/bodied trucks will need full type approval, small series approval or time consuming and costly "IVA" individual vehicle approval. Prior to being able to tax and register vehicles for customers, these approvals need to be carried out at a limited number of VOSA/DVSA test stations, and, according to NAFA, could cause serious cash-flow issues and technical difficulties, in addition to customers being dissatisfied due to delayed deliveries.
Commenting on the discussions, Stephan Latham, senior operations manager for NFDA Truck and Vans, said: ‘To facilitate a better understanding of these type approval issues facing truck dealers selling new vehicles, we decided to hold a meeting (on 12 August) where Ron Crocker from the VBRA (Vehicle Builders & Repairers Association) presented solutions derived from its Type Approval section.
‘The meeting was well attended by dealer principles, owners and sales managers who will be mostly involved in the issue of full type approval from October 2014.
‘We hope that following this important and informative meeting, all aspects of type approval and methods of obtaining approvals on trucks will run smoothly later this year.’