Orwell Truck & Van opens new Authorised Test Facility 21 June 2012

Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles dealer Orwell Truck & Van's new ATF (Authorised Test Facility) has been officially opened by VOSA chief exec Alastair Peoples.

The ATF was built at a cost of more than £600,000 at the dealer's Ipswich headquarters and was unveiled on 11 June 2012.

Also in attendance was Orwell managing director David Grant, who sits on the Franchised Dealer National Executive Committee of the Retail Motor Industry Federation, and chairs its 13-member Truck Council.

Like many other OEM dealers, Orwell Truck & Van now sees itself as offering operators a quick and convenient local service.

Its new lane is housed in a purpose-built unit equipped with a 16-metre inspection pit, as well as new equipment, including brake roller and headlight alignment testers, as well as shaker plates.

"The commercial vehicle working group I chair has been working closely with VOSA for some eight years on the development of the ATF concept," states Grant.

"But it's only since he became chief executive in 2009 that Alastair Peoples has accelerated the process and made it a reality," he continues.

"He and I have established an excellent working relationship over the last three years. Alastair's great strength is that, although he's running an enforcement agency, and could easily have adopted a dictatorial approach by focusing solely on issues of compliance, he's actually fostered a genuine spirit of partnership with the industry."

Orwell Truck & Van's new ATF is open round-the-clock from Monday mornings until Saturday afternoons, and can accommodate trucks and trailers of all sizes.

Orwell's own technicians are also trained in tachograph calibration and offer MoT tests on vehicles of all marques in the Class 4 (cars, vans and small minibuses up to 3.0 tonnes gross weight), Class 5 (buses with up to 15 passenger seats, as well as ambulances), and Class 7 (vans up to 3.5 tonnes gross weight) categories.

"Orwell's ATF has been purpose-designed and constructed, and offers a truly comprehensive service," comments VOSA's Peoples.

"Under David's leadership the RMI's Franchised Dealer National Truck Council has worked with us in a spirit of openness and co-operation on the development of the ATF strategy. As a result, new testing facilities, such as the one opened by Orwell Truck & Van, are now making life easier and more convenient for operators nationwide."

Author
Brian Tinham

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