Thomas Hardie Commercials win ATF status

The Trafford Park, Manchester Volvo dealer, Thomas Hardie Commercials, has been awarded VOSA’s ATF (Authorised Testing Facility) accreditation.

Paul Manning, Operations Director at Thomas Hardie said, “We have five franchised sites, two non-franchised, plus a body shop specialising in accident repairs and refurbishment. Our Deeside and Preston operations are VOSA DP’s (Designated Premises), and Trafford Park now has VOSA ATF status from October 4th.”

All Thomas Hardie’s sites operate 24/7 and while Volvo Truck, Bus and Coach customers are their core business, operators with other brands are already getting their trucks serviced there. Paul Manning added, “When many of the non-Volvo operators we deal with knew that we were moving towards ATF accreditation, we got a lot of positive indications that mean extra service and testing business is on the way.”

Paul Manning sees the key issue for operators as the time that can be saved. “To be able to book your trucks in for inspection, service and test is an end-to-end service that will save time and money. Vehicles don’t leave the site wasting fuel on needless journeys and the whole process is faster, more efficient and safer too”, he said.

Paul Manning confirmed that Hardie’s will be evaluating whether ATF status is appropriate for their other DP sites in Deeside and Preston, and a decision will be made “by year end”, he said.

Because Thomas Hardie has a contract with VOSA at the Trafford Park site, it is up to the Hardie staff to ensure full utilisation of the personnel and facilities to make the operation pay its way. Paul Manning concluded, “It’s a credit to the already available facilities at Trafford Park that no further significant investment has had to be made to win this accreditation.”