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.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the logistic industry has played a crucial role as an essential business. The continuity of the supply chain and the logistic industry’s role in supporting the economy has helped keep us running. Maintaining the flow of goods to businesses and consumers across the UK, Europe, and the world has never been more important. Logistic companies deliver personal protective equipment (PPE), supporting businesses as they adapt to safety guidelines and pivot their operations to stay afloat. The logistic industry has certainly faced many challenges as businesses and factories are temporarily closed and reopened, changing demand significantly, in one direction or the other. Transportation businesses have also needed to respond quickly to changing circumstances, such as battling port closures as the UK identified the new more-transmissible variant of the coronavirus.

The Increased Demand

Logistics companies have seen a huge change in demand, partially driven by business-to-consumer trade, which has increased significantly as non-essential shops are closed, and lockdowns ensue. Transport trucks are busy delivering essential products such as food, face masks, disinfectants, test kits, medical equipment, and the more than 700 parts required to manufacture ventilators. The logistic industry is also seeing an increase in demand for delivering garden furniture as people spend more time outdoors in their back garden. There is also a strong demand for skips and waste removal as homes are renovated, and outstanding DIY jobs are tackled as people stay or work from home. The knock-on effect of this rise in delivery and collection services is causing an increase in sales of new and used delivery trucks, with financing or leasing agreements. From skip loaders to box vans, sales are up.

How They Are Keeping Safe

Truck drivers and logistic staff are keeping safe by following strict safety measures. These measures may involve segregating shift schedules, avoiding shaking hands, and using their phones or radios to talk with dock managers. Many companies are introducing paperless invoices and delivery receipts, making contactless deliveries where goods are left on customer’s doorsteps, and encouraging their drivers to take packed food with them so they can avoid truck stops. Their cleaning regime has been strengthened, with drivers cleaning frequently touched surfaces on their truck at least daily. These surfaces include door handles, the steering wheel, seat belt, window wiper controls, air ducts, radio switches, and temperature controls. Workers are asked to stay away from work if they present symptoms and not return to work until they meet the criteria set out for discontinuing home isolation. Businesses are supporting their workers by offering paid sick leave or financial support for drivers and warehouse staff who present symptoms. Of course, staying at least two metres away from other drivers, warehouse staff, dock workers, and retail unit staff is essential, and drivers are wearing masks and limiting the amount of time they spend out of the truck’s cab during loading, unloading, and refuelling.