VBRA TRUCK & VAN BODY REPAIR STANDARDS
LAUNCHED 5TH July 2022
The VBRA have stepped up and created a Standard for Accident repair in the Commercial vehicle industry – We launched the Standard on Tuesday the 5th July at 3M Atherstone where it was received with open arms both by Accident Management companies and repairers alike.
The standard will utilise the certifications from the IMI and other bodies to identify competency of technicians in this complexed repair sector.
If you would like to register your interest as a repairer in the new Elite Truck Standard on the following form, we will then take it from there and be in touch – https://forms.office.com/r/xcHPBiJUzR
There has been a Body Repair Standard for Car repair in place since 2007, originally called PAS125 it developed into a full BSI standard as BS10125.
However, no thought was given to a much more important area of body repair which is Trucks, Bus & Coach, Trailers & Large Vans (Panel Vans & Chassis Cabs up to 5.0 tonnes)
The potential for disaster with a badly repaired vehicles of this type is much greater than any car.
Yet still no standards have existed? The VBRA Commercial the only trade association for the Commercial Vehicle sector decided to develop a fully audited standard for Truck & Van Repairs.
This standard which we launched at 3M, Radcliffe Road, Atherstone on the 5th July 2022 gives the insurance industry a consistent solution for Heavy vehicle repairs in bodyshops that are fully equipped with trained staff to carry out the full range of repairs required.
Each potential Elite Truck & Van Body Repair member must undergo a full audit & inspection before being granted membership, the full details of each member will be held on the ITAs platform which is used by many manufacturers, it enables virtual online audit of all qualifications, service & calibration of all equipment with all assets.
This leaves a physical visit to cover any other areas of the standard to be inspected, the ongoing inspections can be online.
The standard consists of several grades of membership:
- Elite Truck & Van Body Repair (Structural with Cab & Chassis Repair)
- Elite Truck Repair (Structural with Cab & Chassis Repair)
- Elite Van Repair (Structural with Chassis Repair)
- Elite Truck & Van (Non-Structural no Cab or Chassis Repairs)
Vans can be repaired in many Car & Van workshops under BS10125 up to 5 tonne, but chassis cabs between 3.5 to 5.0 tonnes require special extended jigs and specialist staff to cope with bespoke body repairs (Specialist training)
We often hear from work Providers & Insurance companies the difficulty in selecting a capable Bodyshop to carry out the repairs in full without subcontracting jig work.
Too often vehicles are sent into bodyshops who the subcontract work on chassis repair as they do not have the staff or equipment.
They would prefer a one stop shop which would improve the key to key times.
As part of the standard the Elite member will be expected to ensure an independent inspection of completed work over a cost threshold, this inspection will be available to view.
This will give an ongoing quality control to the member & customer, finally we can talk about standards of repair.
