Transport planning bosses are being urged to have their say on a number of proposed changes to the Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) roadworthiness testing scheme.
The government has launched a consultation period concerning plans to remove ten exemptions from the annual testing scheme in a bid to improve road safety and fairness.
Currently, several categories of vehicle do not have to conform to the roadworthiness scheme, including those such as mobile cranes, tower wagons and breakdown vehicles.
However, with this list of exemptions continuing to grow, ministers are set to consider bringing ten currently exempt vehicles within the scope of the system.
Transport minister Paul Clark said the move is necessary if the UK is to ensure vehicles meet the highest possible standards and maintain its status as one of the safest countries in the world for road travel.
"The annual roadworthiness tests for lorries and other larger vehicles are vital in helping us to meet this challenge by identifying faults before they cause an accident," he added.
News of the proposals comes after the government last month outlined a number of new testing requirements for lorry and bus drivers, which will come into effect in 2013.
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