Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether heavy goods vehicle (HGV) operators are expected to carry out six-weekly safety inspections during the COVID-19 pandemic; whether they are conducting such inspections; and if so, why it is not possible to carry out statutory MOT tests on HGVs.

Heavy goods vehicle (HGV) operators are expected to maintain their vehicles in order to ensure their safety at all times. During the COVID-19 pandemic, specific guidance relating to periodic maintenance inspections was published by the Traffic Commissioners, setting out circumstances in which inspection periods may be extended.

Primary legislation identifies annual testing for heavy goods vehicles as distinct from the MOT scheme. For most heavy vehicles the statutory annual tests are an independent check which supplements the periodic maintenance inspections. Permitting a wider range of testers for the statutory annual HGV test would require significant work to establish a regime which assures the quality and independence of testing and manages road safety risk and financial incentives.