As a follow on to my column on respect, I’m sure you’ve all seen the focus on the Transport Agency in the mainstream press and, while they may be a little confused in their understanding of the nuances of the various strands of the certification system in New Zealand, have quite correctly pointed out that the Agency has not been playing its role as the transport regulator effectively, having been convinced that the ‘willing compliance’ , co-operative model would be more efficient and less disruptive.
While, as participants in the industry, you may have a wry smile over the difficulties the Agency is having, you should also be taking a long look in the mirror to see how you may have contributed to the Agency’s woes.
There have been a number of Heavy Vehicle Certifying Engineers who have had their Notices of Appointment suspended or revoked in the last few months. This has created significant problems for many operators who have had, are having or will have, to have their towing connections and possibly other certifications re-inspected and recertified or replaced. Most will be saying ‘why wasn’t the Agency all over the certifier and holding him to account?’ That is only one of the questions to be asked. The other is ‘why did I continue to use that certifier when I knew he hadn’t seen the vehicle or was certifying by phone/email?’
The Agency is only one part of the Transport industry and has been doing its best to support the industry with initiatives such as HPMV and 50Max while respecting the industry by using the ORS system as a tool to identify and then educate sub-standard operators rather than as a big stick to beat them with.
The perceived failure of the ‘willing compliance’ model has been caused by a naïve belief by the Agency that the industry has a firm commitment to safety and compliance that it only needed light handed guidance to keep it on the right track.
While I will accept that generally the industry considers safety a critical factor far too many consider compliance to be a game where they are doing their best to see what they can get away with. This lack of respect for the Agency and the role it has to play within the industry is now about to haunt the industry. With its lack of enforcement having become very public the pendulum is about to swing away from the light handed approach and back to a severe regulatory one where all players in the industry will be held firmly to account.
How will this affect the industry? No more ‘easy’ CoFs, longer wait times at testing stations, more time consuming and expensive certifications, more scrutiny of operators and their maintenance regimes.
What can you do about it? Its too late now to say you support ‘willing compliance’, the best you can do is limit the pain by making sure you have a fully documented fleet management system and that you present your vehicle safe AND compliant at all times .
Just think what a little bit of respect for the regulator and their role in the industry could have saved.