Braking performance assessment requirements from April 2025

In a significant move to enhance road safety, the UK’s Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has announced that, effective April 2025, there is an expectation that every safety inspection will include a brake performance assessment using either an RBT, a suitable electronic brake performance monitoring system (EBPMS) or a decelerometer with temperature readings. If EBPMS is not used it is expected there is a minimum of four laden brake tests spread evenly across the year, this can include the annual test.

Acceptable reasons for not carrying out a laden brake assessment.

Vehicles where laden brake assessments may not be possible or where additional loading would be difficult are listed below (this is not an exhaustive list), however there is an expectation that at least four of the assessments will use an RBT unless the construction or weight of the vehicle prevents its use.

Vehicles where under normal operating conditions (more than 70% of the time) run at less than 65% of the permitted axle weights. This may include car transporters where they are designed for that specific task
Furniture removal vehicles – Only when designed and constructed as a furniture removal vehicle
ADR – Only when the load is considered dangerous and specialist facilities are not available
Vehicles operating at 50% or more of permitted axle weights when unladen – This could include fixed plant, mobile libraries, compactor vehicles, exhibition type vehicles, bullion vehicles, etc.

Where a laden brake test is not carried out a risk assessment detailing the reasons, must be completed by a competent person who understands braking systems and its components at every safety inspection.

There must be an evaluation of the vehicle/ trailer performance report before every safety inspection by a competent person who can interpret the data. The evaluation must be signed, dated, and attached to the vehicle record together with the performance data report. The evaluation and data report may be a single document.

To allow flexibility vehicles can be presented for brake testing up to 14 days before the safety inspection date; this allows the operator to conduct a laden brake test during the vehicle/trailer normal activities without the need to specially load it.

Reliable brake testing is crucial to ensure road safety, helping to identify any potential brake issues that may lead to accidents on the road, minimising risks to the HGV drivers and other road users.

What does this update mean for you?

To follow best practice and comply with the proposed new legislation, the DVSA expect that with every safety inspection a brake performance assessment is completed with an RBT, suitable electronic brake performance monitoring system (EBPMS) or using a decelerometer and taking temperature readings as the sole method for evaluating brake performance.

In some cases, a loaded brake test may be impractical. As such, if a vehicle or trailer consistently operates under specific conditions, exemptions may apply. Examples include:

ADR vehicles: when the load is considered dangerous, and specialist facilities are unavailable.
Livestock carriers: when recreating the load is not possible.
Noxious load carriers: only if the vehicle is specifically designed for this purpose.
Furniture removal vehicles: only if the vehicle is specifically designed for this purpose.
Public service vehicles: this includes prisoner transfer vehicles.
Vehicles that operate at 50% or more of permitted axle weight when unladen. This could include fixed plant, mobile libraries, compactor vehicles or bullion transport vehicles.
Vehicles that more than 70% of the time run at less than 65% of the permitted axle weights, these may include car transporters or unladen tri-axle semi-trailers.

For businesses running vehicles not fitted with an EBPMS (currently only available on trailers) or exempt, a minimum of four laden RBT assessments are required, these are to be spread evenly across the year and include the existing requirement to conduct a RBT at each MOT test. To ensure minimal disruption, these tests can be completed as early as 14 days before the next safety inspection date.

A risk assessment (example here) must be available to support every safety inspection where a laden brake test is not completed. The operator will still be responsible for a risk assessment is in place to justify any exemption. This assessment should be:

Available to review during every safety inspection.

Updated annually, or whenever there is a change in vehicle use.

Retained with vehicle maintenance documents for 15 months.

What Should Our Customers Do?

At Mac’s Truck Rental, we are dedicated to providing safe and roadworthy vehicles to our customers and as part of this dedication we will be working with our customers to ensure they re-main compliant.

To achieve this, we will continue to complete our standard 4 laden RBTs per year across our managed fleets, while supporting our customers’ unique operational needs but will offer an increase in the frequency of the laden brake tests being conducted at the customer’s request. (Conditions apply).

We will be available to assist our customers, offering advice on how the new requirements affect their operations, any potential cost implications and providing information on keeping their own fleet in compliance.

For more information on the Braking performance assessment requirements from April 2025 and further reading please see below links.

Guide to maintaining roadworthiness: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6751b5d044885d072cecbd62/guide-to-maintaining-roadworthiness-commercial-goods-and-public-service-vehicles.pdf

Brake test risk assessment: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67362fbaf6920bfb5abc7bc1/annex-7-example-of-a-brake-assessment-risk-assessment-template.pdf

Understanding your HGV or trailer’s brake test report: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/understanding-your-hgv-or-trailers-brake-test-report/understanding-your-hgv-or-trailers-brake-test-report

EBPMS Industry Standard Specification:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electronic-braking-performance-monitoring-systems/electronic-braking-performance-monitoring-system-ebpms-industry-standard-specification

Fill in your details below to get more information from the team at Mac’s Truck Rental, whether you’re looking into contract hire or simply want to know more about one of our trucks.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) between October and December 2022, construction work increased by 0.3%. This was mainly due to growth in both new work (0.4%) and repair and maintenance (0.1%). Overall, the construction industry saw an output increase of 5.6% in 2022 compared to 2021. This follows a record increase in 2021 of 12.8%. In terms of costs, new orders rose by 30.5% in 2021 to £72,578 million. The highest level in over 45 years, driven by private housing, private industrial, and commercial buildings.

Construction workers who operate in high-growth areas such as housebuilding and infrastructure are closely guarded by regulations. For instance, the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH) 2002, and Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996. Therefore, high-quality construction trucks are required to be awarded contracts and maintain efficiencies. When it comes to construction, the right tools and trucks are often the key to a successful project.

Why Hire A Construction Truck?

Construction trucks for hire come in many shapes, sizes, and varieties, depending on the type of construction you are doing. A great way to get the job done quickly and efficiently. They are essential pieces of machinery to get your project running as they can help clear land, move large objects, work on rough terrain, and much more.

Mac’s Truck Rental are a truck rental specialist, with a fleet of construction vehicles for hire for short and long-term rental. Having many years of experience, they can work with you to deliver the trucks to wherever you need them across the UK. Meaning your construction trucks aren’t sitting unused in yards. Equally, you’re not struggling to complete jobs due to a lack of vehicles.

Depending on the length of lease you require, you have various options when choosing which construction vehicle to hire. You can choose a high-quality late-used truck that complies with the latest regulations. Or a brand new truck with a custom body built specific to your needs, that also features custom colours and branding throughout. By hiring a construction truck, your business will be compliant immediately, with new trucks available to you as and when you need them in the future.

What to consider when renting a construction vehicle?

When looking for the perfect construction truck for hire, it is important to consider the following factors:

Project Size

Consider the size and scope of your project when choosing the right construction truck. If you are working on a large construction project, you may need a larger truck with a higher capacity.

Material Type

The type of material you need to transport will determine the type of construction truck you need. For example, if you need to transport heavy materials, such as concrete, you may need a concrete mixer truck.

Cost

The cost of renting a construction truck will depend on the size and type of truck you need, as well as the rental period. Be sure to get quotes from several truck rental companies to find the best deal.

Types Of Construction Trucks For Hire

There are various types of construction trucks available for hire from Mac’s Truck Rental. The type of construction truck needed depends on the size and scope of the project, as well as the type of materials being transported.

Tipper Truck

Tipper grab lorry hire from Mac’s Truck Rental provides you with high-quality HGV grab loaders that help you complete the job at hand. Our tipper grabs feature bodies from Thompson, the UK’s Number 1 tipper bodybuilder. Optimised to deliver strength without compromising the tipper grab truck’s payload. Our tipper trucks also come equipped with Epsilon grab cranes, renowned for their performance in recycling, scrap, and timber industries with high-performance clamshell buckets.

Beavertail Truck

We take on the responsibility of making sure your business can simply and efficiently transport goods and materials. By providing you with the highest quality beavertail truck hire. Our beavertails come equipped with our own high-quality truck bodies, with a range of features. Including fall arrest systems such as protection straps that are mounted around the entire beavertail truck to meet safety regulations. As well as a fully remote-controlled winch system, and Euro VI engines.

Plant Transporter

Beavertail plant trucks from Mac’s Truck Rental are purpose-built for easy operation, with custom bodies designed to your specifications. Equipped with a heavy-duty plant body, manufactured in-house with a built-in fall arrest system. Enabling them to transport plant equipment easily and securely. What’s more, our trucks are Euro VI compliant and come fitted with a fully remote-controlled winch system.