Having my 45 yesterday morning (Sat) on Sandbach southbound,whilst I was there,3 european wagons arrived,dutifully following the dreaded " Follow me" van,at 15 minute (ish) intervals 
Logistically,I would have thought this difficult to do (for one Vosa van),unless there was a particular operation under way 
On reflection,could it have been the same truck…(I couldn’t identify it because of the horizontal rain and steamy windows),with a niggly fault,just doing circuits of the MSA as a sort of road test ■■
Thoughts ?
There are more than 1 DVSA examiner that works out of Sandbach, there is a huge compound around the back that they get pulled into. I have seen 4 of the galaxy’s on the overbridge a few junctions back from there.
I doubt it would have been the same wagon.
The usual set up at the checkpoints is for one galaxy to go out and pull the vehicles in and another team are set up to do the checks so once the galaxy has brought you in then he goes back out for another victim
I joined the M6 at J18 and 3 of them where parked up on island looking down at the motorway.
After long day off they must work hard to reach plan. 
It’s always in operation sometime over every weekend.
Baggie:
Having my 45 yesterday morning (Sat) on Sandbach southbound,whilst I was there,3 european wagons arrived,dutifully following the dreaded " Follow me" van,at 15 minute (ish) intervals
Logistically,I would have thought this difficult to do (for one Vosa van),unless there was a particular operation under way
On reflection,could it have been the same truck…(I couldn’t identify it because of the horizontal rain and steamy windows),with a niggly fault,just doing circuits of the MSA as a sort of road test ■■
Thoughts ?
Its amazing that VOSA are getting away with doing this as they are specifically only allowed to send stationary vehicles for inspection. But they’re rounding them up on the motorways !! 
They had a check point set up a southbound layby on the Rainford bypass today,Galaxy sitting off by jn4 M58.
Not sure where they go now as the area they used at Switch Island is getting redeveloped as part of the new link road.
Mike-C:
Its amazing that VOSA are getting away with doing this as they are specifically only allowed to send stationary vehicles for inspection. But they’re rounding them up on the motorways !!
Are you sure about that? They’ve had power to stop vehicles for a few years now and I’ve been pulled like this many many times
switchlogic:
Mike-C:
Its amazing that VOSA are getting away with doing this as they are specifically only allowed to send stationary vehicles for inspection. But they’re rounding them up on the motorways !!Are you sure about that? They’ve had power to stop vehicles for a few years now and I’ve been pulled like this many many times
I’m pretty certain that what they are doing is unlawfull. Out of interest talk me through how a stop goes for you . I don’t mean the exact details of every stop you’ve had, i just mean in general, what happens when you are stopped, who says what, what do they ask you and what do they tell you to do ?
Mike-C:
I’m pretty certain that what they are doing is unlawfull.
What makes you think that?
gov.uk/roadside-vehicle-che … ur-vehicle
Basically they pull you in, they say alright drive and normally I’ve got all they need straight away, generally O Licence certificate, licence, CPC card and digicard. Sometimes CMR. Off they toddle and do their thing and depending what you’re driving the mechanical man may come and have a look but rarely with us as out equipment is generally spot on. Then they’ll come back with your stuff and generally say ‘thats all good, you’re free to go’ and that’s it. Takes anything from 20 minutes to an hour. As often is stated on here your attitude towards them has a serious bearing on how you get on. Be charm personified and I’ve found they’ll be great and not even mention the odd infringement. They want to see you are generally doing everything right, if they see that they usually have no interest in a few minor infringements
mazzer:
The usual set up at the checkpoints is for one galaxy to go out and pull the vehicles in and another team are set up to do the checks so once the galaxy has brought you in then he goes back out for another victim
Not always ,at Carlisle there can be up to 3 or 4 cars in operation,it wouldn’t matter how many times you went around the island there would never be a good time to re join the motorway ,also when the Evel Knievels are in action on the A1 there’s always 2 waiting to pounce so the slipway is never unmanned .
switchlogic:
Basically they pull you in, they say alright drive and normally I’ve got all they need straight away, generally O Licence certificate, licence, CPC card and digicard. Sometimes CMR. Off they toddle and do their thing and depending what you’re driving the mechanical man may come and have a look but rarely with us as out equipment is generally spot on. Then they’ll come back with your stuff and generally say ‘thats all good, you’re free to go’ and that’s it. Takes anything from 20 minutes to an hour. As often is stated on here your attitude towards them has a serious bearing on how you get on. Be charm personified and I’ve found they’ll be great and not even mention the odd infringement. They want to see you are generally doing everything right, if they see that they usually have no interest in a few minor infringements
Thats my experience too. And like i thought, these pulls are unlawfull. You’ve described a HGV Inspection. In actual fact DVSA/VOSA are only warranted to stop you for a “test”. You never went through a test thougth ? You did have your HGV documents inspected ? There is no provision in law for them to send or direct a moving vehicle for an Inspection. Infact the law is very specific in that only a “stationary” vehicle may be sent for such a test.
m1cks:
Mike-C:
I’m pretty certain that what they are doing is unlawfull.What makes you think that?
gov.uk/roadside-vehicle-che … ur-vehicle
That link is a very broad piece of misinformation.
Mike-C:
switchlogic:
Basically they pull you in, they say alright drive and normally I’ve got all they need straight away, generally O Licence certificate, licence, CPC card and digicard. Sometimes CMR. Off they toddle and do their thing and depending what you’re driving the mechanical man may come and have a look but rarely with us as out equipment is generally spot on. Then they’ll come back with your stuff and generally say ‘thats all good, you’re free to go’ and that’s it. Takes anything from 20 minutes to an hour. As often is stated on here your attitude towards them has a serious bearing on how you get on. Be charm personified and I’ve found they’ll be great and not even mention the odd infringement. They want to see you are generally doing everything right, if they see that they usually have no interest in a few minor infringementsThats my experience too. And like i thought, these pulls are unlawfull. You’ve described a HGV Inspection. In actual fact DVSA/VOSA are only warranted to stop you for a “test”. You never went through a test thougth ? You did have your HGV documents inspected ? There is no provision in law for them to send or direct a moving vehicle for an Inspection. Infact the law is very specific in that only a “stationary” vehicle may be sent for such a test.
So the next time a VOSA man pulls in front of me with his “follow me” sign lit up, I’m free to ignore him?
Radar19:
Mike-C:
switchlogic:
Basically they pull you in, they say alright drive and normally I’ve got all they need straight away, generally O Licence certificate, licence, CPC card and digicard. Sometimes CMR. Off they toddle and do their thing and depending what you’re driving the mechanical man may come and have a look but rarely with us as out equipment is generally spot on. Then they’ll come back with your stuff and generally say ‘thats all good, you’re free to go’ and that’s it. Takes anything from 20 minutes to an hour. As often is stated on here your attitude towards them has a serious bearing on how you get on. Be charm personified and I’ve found they’ll be great and not even mention the odd infringement. They want to see you are generally doing everything right, if they see that they usually have no interest in a few minor infringementsThats my experience too. And like i thought, these pulls are unlawfull. You’ve described a HGV Inspection. In actual fact DVSA/VOSA are only warranted to stop you for a “test”. You never went through a test thougth ? You did have your HGV documents inspected ? There is no provision in law for them to send or direct a moving vehicle for an Inspection. Infact the law is very specific in that only a “stationary” vehicle may be sent for such a test.
So the next time a VOSA man pulls in front of me with his “follow me” sign lit up, I’m free to ignore him?
No, far from it. My advice would to be follow him like he says. Then ask him what has he stopped you for.
I think you may find that the stopping etc of vehicles by DVSA officers for purposes other than “a test” is fully authorised under The Road Vehicles (Powers to Stop) Regulations 2011
Roymondo:
I think you may find that the stopping etc of vehicles by DVSA officers for purposes other than “a test” is fully authorised under The Road Vehicles (Powers to Stop) Regulations 2011
I’m well aware of that. It authorises stopping for checking Community Authorisation, directing to a weighbridge for example. But it does not authorise HGV Inspections which is what DVSA are carrying out. S68 RTA covers that, and the associated powers of the examiners.
Most of S68 of the 1988 Act has been amended by later enactments and Statutory Instruments.
I’m not sure what aspect of the DVSA stopping/examining/checking/testing activities you think to be unlawful?