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The Maintenance Provision Rating Scheme (MPRS) was created by the industry for the industry to raise standards across the commercial vehicle maintenance sector. Scania dealer Keltruck has secured the Platinum rating across its workshops
The Maintenance Provision Rating Scheme (MPRS) was launched in April last year with the goal of elevating industry standards for commercial vehicle maintenance, reducing MOT failures or prohibitions, and improving safety, reliability and compliance. The latest to be accredited is Scania dealer Keltruck.
Steered and managed by IRTE, a professional sector of the Society of Operations Engineers (SOE), MPRS is an industry-led scheme and the result of collaboration across the commercial vehicle sector and government, jointly developed by IRTE, Logistics UK, RHA, CPT, SMMT, BVRLA and NFDA, and is backed by the Office of the Traffic Commissioner, DVSA and DfT.
Robert Powell, head of resource development at Keltruck, a Scania dealer for 42 years, explains: “The MPRS scheme is a great benchmark to measure the industry, irrelevant of brand or association. Therefore, it was a natural fit for us to be measured by the scheme and help us constantly develop our customer offerings and support, ensuring that we lead the way in both the Scania GB network and the wider industry.” (Pictured, above inset: Powell, left, with colleague Anthony Smeed and, centre, Leo Hubbard, SOE technical product manager.)
MPRS is a universal rating scheme and has five tiers – Qualified, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum – that can be applied to all types of workshops, from single-person outfits to international dealers, gauging workshops on their competence and facilities.
Keltruck has achieved the MPRS Platinum rating at its 15 retail outlets. It currently has sites under development that will be accredited once the building works are completed.
Platinum – the highest rating – is for workshops with the most advanced facilities, the highest levels of staff qualifications, and full compliance with the latest industry standards.
This level is for operators at the cutting-edge of maintenance technology and practices, ensuring full readiness for future vehicle trends, including electric, hybrid and hydrogen-powered systems.
REAP THE BENEFITS
Gaining MPRS provides many benefits and Powell believes some of the main ones for Keltruck are reassurance for employees and customers that it is “investing and driving responsible investments” in technology, training and processes that support sustainable transport solutions for the industry.
“Along with the manufacturer standards and processes, it will give us focus on key touchpoint areas such as training which are vital,” he says. “The industry is transitioning to more drivetrain options based on a tailormade -for-application process; therefore, such standards will drive the industry forwards in this changing landscape.”
The commercial vehicle maintenance sector is unregulated with the competency and standards of the people and facilities of providers not assessed, meaning operators have no idea what quality they are receiving in workshops. MPRS was introduced to bring consistency to performance ratings and transparency for vehicle operators and workshop facilities.
Powell believes that MPRS was something needed by the industry to help to elevate the standards and give operators confidence across commercial vehicle workshops. Keltruck, for its part, hopes that the uptake across the whole industry is positive.
“It comes at a time where the industry is needing significant investment around future technology,” he says. “We see this standard naturally growing as the measurement points increase with the transition away from just diesel-powered vehicles.”
GAME-CHANGER
MPRS, in Powell’s view, will play an important role moving forward. He explains: “Eleven years ago, we were all having similar discussions around the HGV Technician irtec inspection standard – it’s now the benchmark for quality assurance in the industry.
“This scheme provides a holistic measurement across both OEM workshops and non-OEM workshops, showing the investments that will drive further quality and safety standards for the industry. We believe the trajectory of the scheme will follow a similar path to the irtec inspection standard.”
Workshop standards are generally high across the commercial vehicle industry, but there are, however, some that slip through the cracks in terms of the standards that they are providing operators.
“The standards are vast in all areas,” Powell says. “We have to make pivotal moves to support such standards, making for a cleaner and safer industry that is vital for society.”
Does Powell, and Keltruck, have any concerns with workshop standards across the industry? “We invest heavily in safety at Keltruck. It is important that the non-OEM workshops ensure that safety practices and processes are invested in,” he explains.
“Electrification and alternative fuels are going to increase that risk while our employees will have to be more diverse in their knowledge in such areas.”
CORNERSTONE OF BUSINESS
Across Keltruck’s sites in the UK, it now employs 190 technicians, and they are a cornerstone of the company’s ongoing success and business operations.
It is a mandatory requirement for all Keltruck technicians to be accredited with HGV Technician irtec Inspection Standard. Powell says that Keltruck has a basic training standard which all technicians must complete to take them to maintenance level standard.
He adds: “Then we cater our learning to the individual’s needs, strengths and progression desires. We have the full Scania Master Technician process at our disposal to support our team through this.”
INTERESTED IN MPRS?
Workshops can apply for their rating through the MPRS portal, managed by IRTE on behalf of the industry, with the MPRS assessment based on the facilities, staff qualifications and competencies, tools and equipment. MPRS is a single rating scheme with five tiers – Qualified, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum – that can be applied to all types of workshops, from single-person outfits to international dealers, promoting transparency and consistency across commercial vehicle maintenance.
If providers are unsure at which level to apply, they can answer a questionnaire on mprs.org.uk, where they can assess themselves and establish what level they believe they are at. Providers also have the opportunity to stretch themselves.
