Pictured above: (l-r)  Gary Bulley, Managing Director at Bullwell Trailer Solutions Ltd, Kevin Tomlinson, Financial Director at Bullwell Trailer Solutions Ltd, and Alistair Peoples, Chief Executive of VOSA, launch the new ATF at Bullwell's headquarters in Lichfield

Bullwell Trailer Solutions Ltd unveiled its new Authorised Testing Facility (ATF), the 100th Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) approved test lane in the UK, at its Lichfield headquarters on Monday 18th July. 

Representing an investment of £173,000, the ATF has been installed as a result of VOSA reviewing its estate requirements and the success of the ATF strategy, which has led to the announcement of the closure of some of its testing stations. Bullwell's ATF will allow VOSA representatives to test up to three HGVs in the 1.6 deep, 18m long, pit at any one time. 

Bullwell's facility, the first ATF in the Lichfield area, will be open for bookings from members of the public with larger vehicles such as camper vans and trailers, who will incur VOSA's standard testing fees. However, by installing an in-house test lane, Bullwell anticipates cost savings of £60,000 per annum across the 5,000 strong fleet of HGVs that are serviced and maintained by the company. 

The decision to install an ATF means Bullwell engineers can service, repair and test trailers and tractor units in one go, reducing journey time and down time incurred travelling to the nearest VOSA site 20 miles away in Garretts Green, Birmingham, which ceased testing on 1st July. 

Gary Bulley, Managing Director at Bullwell Trailer Solutions Ltd said: "With the VOSA site ceasing testing at Garretts Green in east Birmingham, it made both financial and environmental sense to introduce a significant test lane facility on site at our Lichfield headquarters. More tests than ever before are being carried out by VOSA staff at privately owned facilities, reducing the time and money incurred transporting large fleets such as our own to government operated test sites.

"Since establishing our business in 2007, our entire philosophy has been based on ensuring that the HGV trailers we maintain under contract undergo minimal movement. This creates the most practical and economical solution for trailer repairs, maintenance, and now testing, whilst reducing our carbon footprint and that of our customers."

Trailers and HGVs are required to be inspected on a regular basis to comply with operator licensing and road safety commitments. With carbon reduction being an intrinsic business policy for Bullwell, by utilising its own ATF, the company is anticipating a reduction of circa 1,776,000kgs of carbon dioxide emissions per year. This is based on an average return journey to the current VOSA centre in Garretts Green of 40 miles, where a HGV would use 33.3 litres of fuel and produce 88.7kgs of carbon dioxide emissions. 

The growth in ATFs has been fuelled by VOSA's drive to reduce the burden on industry and take testing to the customer as part of its Testing Transformation Programme (TTP). TTP aims to ensure that testing is carried out at or near where vehicles are maintained. 

Alistair Peoples, Chief Executive of VOSA said: "I'm really pleased to see the 100th test lane facility in the country now open for business here in Lichfield. Bullwell's testing bay will help us meet our target to open 75 new non-VOSA sites across the UK by the end of this financial year. It shows that the industry has confidence in the changes we are implementing to the system, and that ATFs are the way forward. We have been working tremendously hard to provide an efficient, modern service for our customers which delivers convenient, high quality testing, whilst reducing costs, down-time and mileage."

Independently owned Bullwell Trailer Solutions Ltd, which employs 90 people, has experienced a sustained period of growth and expansion in both operations and service capability, increasing turnover by 20 per cent from £5.6 million in 2010 to a projected £7 million by its November 2011 year end. 

Bullwell's testing facility will be open for use by the general public from 18th July. The facility is suitable for all larger vehicles that cannot be tested in regular MOT testing facilities, such as camper vans, trailers and low floor buses. To contact Bullwell regarding the ATF, telephone 0845 602 4130.