The VOStApo seem to be out in force now, checkpoints open 24 hrs, nearly every checkpoint open day time and very early, past a VOStApo wagon waiting for a victim to harass at 06:30 this morning M6 north.
How soon will it be when even the slightest tacho infringement will carry an instant £60 fine.
The nicer weather is here 
Yes they are skintight, they are self funding.
They’ve re-opened that one in the middle of nowhere on the m74 in to Scotland as well. Bit weird they have a sign out saying “trucks to go in to checkpoint” or some such, I thought sod that I ain’t pulling in unless theres a smoky in front of me.
Presumably if every truck obeyed the wording of the sign, every truck that goes past would have to pull in.
If vosa were really bother they’d go straight to the cause, but instead they just pick off drivers, fine them and then send them on their way… Their just interested in money and their never gonna make any if they shut down all the known bent companies!
Silver_Surfer:
They’ve re-opened that one in the middle of nowhere on the m74 in to Scotland as well. Bit weird they have a sign out saying “trucks to go in to checkpoint” or some such, I thought sod that I ain’t pulling in unless theres a smoky in front of me.Presumably if every truck obeyed the wording of the sign, every truck that goes past would have to pull in.
I think it’s says, “if directed” no idea if some one would stand before the slip road and point out who they want to pull in.
One morning about 3 weeks ago I pulled into Risby(A14) to get diesel at 04.10 and the checkpoint was open with a Wincanski truck in residence. 1 never seen it open that early and 2 thought Winkanski would of had a green light 
When i got at pull at Risby last June, there was a Wincanton truck parked up and wheels all locked going nowhere. Maybe they are letting their standards slip and they’ve had a few pulls and problems found
vosa have been 24hrs for some time now, i was on a late shift around a year ago and came into immingham at something like half midnight and they were riding about then. if your wagon looks shagged out or your ocr score is low then i would expect a pull - on the other end of the scale though my mate got a pull because his wagon looked nice, they wanted to make sure he wasnt bending it to fund it all lol, he was ok, quite suprised to find that was the reason he got a tug though!
from commercial motor don’t think they are skint 
Vosa expects to see its budget surplus drop to £13.3m in 2012/13, down from £16.4m a year ago, three years after revealing a £15m budget deficit.
In its annual business plan, Vosa said it wants to save £2.4m a year from 2014/15 through the continuation of the estates rationalisation programme, and will conduct 65% of tests at non-Vosa sites by March 2014.
Vosa estimates there will be 18,000 fewer vehicle tests and inspections in 2013/14 and 8,000 fewer trailer tests.
Chief executive Alastair Peoples said an increase in test fees will be below inflation at 1% and “not before the latter part of the year”.
He added that Vosa would work closely with the Department for Transport ahead of the introduction of the HGV Road User Levy next year.
sixaxles:
l - on the other end of the scale though my mate got a pull because his wagon looked nice, they wanted to make sure he wasnt bending it to fund it all lol, he was ok, quite suprised to find that was the reason he got a tug though!
Yeah I got stopped on the A19 around the Peterlee area for the same reason . Had a bit of a laugh about it with the lad who stopped me after getting the all clear 
More bad news for the dodgy drivers, I have heard that very soon the traffic wombles (HATOs), will also start pulling trucks for VOSA.
weeto:
Silver_Surfer:
They’ve re-opened that one in the middle of nowhere on the m74 in to Scotland as well. Bit weird they have a sign out saying “trucks to go in to checkpoint” or some such, I thought sod that I ain’t pulling in unless theres a smoky in front of me.Presumably if every truck obeyed the wording of the sign, every truck that goes past would have to pull in.
I think it’s says, “if directed” no idea if some one would stand before the slip road and point out who they want to pull in.
That checkpoint has been open regular for about 12-18 month now. They still have the sign open saying trucks to stay in lane one even when they are shut!
If they are open they usually have a copper in the police bay about 30 yards(and I mean 30! ) before the checkpoint who watches for trucks and indicates with his hands for them to pull in. If you are going past at 56mph and fully freighted and he waves you in I don’t know how the ■■■■ you are going to slow down in time! 
I went past one Friday and they had trucks queuing all the way onto the hard shoulder nearly, they must have been skint that week!
extrucker:
More bad news for the dodgy drivers, I have heard that very soon the traffic wombles (HATOs), will also start pulling trucks for VOSA.
not unless they get warranted, the same as police and vosa, you need to be warranted to do that, also they are the only people allowed to stop vehicles on the road, unless there is new legislation going through parliament
wildfire:
extrucker:
More bad news for the dodgy drivers, I have heard that very soon the traffic wombles (HATOs), will also start pulling trucks for VOSA.not unless they get warranted, the same as police and vosa, you need to be warranted to do that, also they are the only people allowed to stop vehicles on the road, unless there is new legislation going through parliament
I think you may be mis informed … the HATO service Traffic Officers already have the power to stop and direct traffic under the traffic management act of 2004, they doing rolling road blocks you have to comply with they tell you to stop you stop or are breaking the law, there is a section under the act where they can stop traffic and have any more powers imposed on them as seen fit … I am sure a HATO on here HIghwayman?? will confirm this.
so if a HATO indeed is telling you to stop/follow me then I suggest you do as they will malgamate with VOSA and then VOSA will get even more powers
legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2004/18/contents
(1)This section confers the following powers on a traffic officer–
(a)a power, when the traffic officer is engaged in the regulation of traffic in a road, to direct a person driving or propelling a vehicle–
(i)to stop the vehicle, or
(ii)to make it proceed in, or keep to, a particular line of traffic;
(b)a power, for the purposes of a traffic survey of any description which is being carried out on or in the vicinity of a road, to direct a person driving or propelling a vehicle–
(i)to stop the vehicle, or
(ii)to make it proceed in, or keep to, a particular line of traffic, or
(iii)to proceed to a particular point on or near the road on which the vehicle is being driven or propelled;
(subject to the restriction in section 35(3) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52));
(c)a power, when the traffic officer is engaged in the regulation of vehicular traffic in a road, to direct persons on foot (or such persons and other traffic) to stop;
(d)a power to direct a person driving a mechanically propelled vehicle, or riding a cycle, on a road to stop the vehicle or cycle.
(2)In section 35 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (drivers to comply with traffic directions)–
(a)in subsection (1)–
(i)after “a constable” there is inserted “ or traffic officer ”;
(ii)after “duty” there is inserted “ or the traffic officer (as the case may be) ”;
(b)in subsection (2)(b) after “constable” there is inserted “ or traffic officer ”.
(3)In section 37 of that Act (directions to pedestrians)–
(a)after “uniform” there is inserted “ or traffic officer ”;
(b)after “duty” there is inserted “ or the traffic officer (as the case may be) ”.
(4)In section 163 of that Act (power of police to stop vehicles), in subsections (1) and (2) after “uniform” there is inserted “ or a traffic officer ”.
(5)In Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 (c. 53) (prosecution and punishment of offences under the Traffic Acts), in column 5 of the entry relating to section 35 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 after “constable” there is inserted “ , traffic officer ”.
Yeah, I hadn’t been up to Scotland for a few years when I was trunking regular up there and it was always shut back then, I suppose now they can fine on the spot, they’re a bit more up for it. What would you do if you had no cash though, not as if there’s any cash machines round there, do they take plastic?
I think there has been an upward trend and will continue to be, to try and bail the government out of the black hole they’re in finance wise.
Have just done apart of CPc and the instructor taking it told us that Vosa have taken on an extra 150 officers ready for sept when coach drives come under the CPc law and trucks 12 months later.
Yep open 24 hours and still full o ■■■■■■
Thats VOSA for ya!!!
discoman:
I think you may be mis informed … the HATO service Traffic Officers already have the power to stop and direct traffic under the traffic management act of 2004, they doing rolling road blocks you have to comply with they tell you to stop you stop or are breaking the law, there is a section under the act where they can stop traffic and have any more powers imposed on them as seen fit … I am sure a HATO on here HIghwayman?? will confirm this.
You’re quite right, we do have powers under TMA2004 to stop and direct traffic. We stop vehicles now, but that tends to be for safety reasons, we don’t have enforcement powers like VOSA and I haven’t heard anything about amalgamations - just because I haven’t heard about it, doesn’t mean it’s not being talked about amongst pay grades far higher than mine.
went passed the one on the A17 at Sleaford the other day and one of the officers was on the road with what looked like a pair of binoculars ,i was in a battered old '51 plate merc 7.5t so surprised i didn’t get a pull .Was he checking for seat belts with the binoculars ■■