Roller Brake Tests for HGVs - The Things You MUST Know!

Brake testing for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) isn’t just a regulatory checkbox—it’s black and white documented evidence. With new standards set to take effect in April 2025, understanding the essentials of brake testing is paramount.

Regular brake testing (RBTs), mandated by the Driver of Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), requires HGVs to meet safety requirements. As of April 2025, only laden roller brake tests or Electronic Brake Performance Monitoring Systems (EBPMS) will be accepted, with few exceptions.

The announcement comes in the wake of the DVSA’s updated Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness, which has recently undergone a significant rewrite, particularly regarding the section on brake testing, reflecting industry best practices and minimum standards.

Every safety inspection must evaluate brake performance, utilising various assessment methods. However, not all options are applicable to every vehicle. There are three ways to test your brakes’ efficiency:

1. Decelerometer:
   A Decelerometer is a calibrated device placed in the vehicle, which assesses the overall braking performance when brakes are applied. While it cannot identify individual brake performance, a temperature check of each brake can help pinpoint issues. Consistent temperature readings suggest a brake is not functioning, while inconsistent readings compared to the opposite side of the same axle indicate one brake’s superiority. This method is not consider suitable by either the DVSA or us at SMS Ltd.
2. Electronic Brake Performance Monitoring Systems (EBPMS):
   EBPMS monitors braking performance in real-time, providing automatic feedback to the operator and generates a comprehensive brake performance report suitable for safety inspections. This method for brake testing is accepted by the DVSA, but is not the preferred choice for SMS Ltd.
3. Roller Brake Test:
   A Roller Brake Test uses calibrated rollers and is the most effective method for measuring both individual and overall braking efficiencies. Each axle is placed on rollers to gauge brake efficiency accurately. A roller brake test provides the most accurate evidence of brake performance and is considered the best method for brake testing by SMS Ltd.

Presenting the vehicle in a laden condition enhances test accuracy significantly, especially when compared to an unladen test. Starting April 2025, all brake tests must be either laden roller brake tests or EBPMS data. To prepare for this change, both the DVSA and SMS Ltd strongly advise that a laden roller brake test is carried out at every safety inspection. For optimal results, the vehicle or trailer should be loaded to at least 65% of its total maximum weight during testing.

Preparing for Brake Testing

Authorised Test Facilities (ATFs) are responsible for ensuring vehicles are properly loaded before the MOT starts. You can arrange to load the vehicle or trailer yourself, or ask the ATF to provide load simulation, where a loading fee may apply.

As part of Staffordshire Motor Services’ Preventative Maintenance Inspection (PMIs), we provide loaded test trailers for conducting loaded brake tests on tractor units or for travel to and from ATFs for the loaded MOT test. Additionally, we offer test weights for loading vehicles and trailers, along with a pallet truck to facilitate the movement of lighter weights.

Matt Boulton, managing director for Staffordshire Motor Services Ltd, said, “As we approach April 2025, when all safety inspections must include a meaningful brake test, we think it’s wise to future-proof your operation before you have to legally comply.”

“It has been our philosophy for past two years to conduct a laden roller brake test at every safety inspection, irrespective of the vehicle. The costs work out minimal when planned alongside your routine inspection and put drivers, operators, and maintenance providers’ minds at ease.”