Better uptime starts before the journey begins
Tuesday 26th May 2026
Better uptime starts before the journey begins
Around one in ten UK workers rely on an LCV to do their job. That’s around 3.4 million people across construction, engineering, utilities, logistics, public sector services and more, all depending on vans that need to be safe, compliant and on the road every day. We look at the steps which can be taken to help limit downtime through conducting checks and scheduling MOTs and servicing when required.
Published: 22th May 2026
Read time: 6 minutes
Common causes of avoidable MOT failure
To illustrate the point, we've taken our own data from January 2025 to December 2025 based on just LCVs to showcase how around half of the MOT failures we see are avoidable, with lamps, dashboard warning lights, tyres and windscreen visibility among the most common reasons for failure.
Lamps
Tyres
Visibility
Warning Lights
Bulbs, reflectors and electrical equipment account for around 30% of failures, while tyre, axels, wheels, and suspension issues are responsible for 20% of failures. Windscreen visibility is another frequent cause, with damaged wiper rubber, smearing or restricted visibility contributing to around 16% of failures.
The important point is that many of these are not obscure or unpredictable issues. In many cases, the early warning signs can be identified through simple daily walkaround checks, routine maintenance and prompt reporting when something does not look, sound or feel quite right.
That could be a worn tyre, a new warning light, uneven braking, poor visibility or an unusual noise from the vehicle or engine. Individually, these can feel like minor issues. Operationally, they can quickly become the reason a vehicle breaks down, fails its MOT, or needs to be taken off the road at the worst possible time.
Why early defect reporting matters
A small fault reported early enough can often be planned into routine maintenance and repaired at a time that causes the least disruption. Even when that’s not operationally feasible, a minor repair with minimal downtime is better than letting the issue escalate into something that takes longer and costs more to put right.
This is important because the true cost of repair cannot be measured by workshop invoices alone. It also includes lost working time, missed appointments, replacement vehicle costs and any remedial action needed to prevent customers being let down at the last minute.
The most important thing you can do each day
For commercial fleets, reducing downtime isn’t about eliminating every fault. That’s simply not realistic to achieve. But it is about spotting issues earlier, acting faster, and preventing manageable defects from becoming avoidable vehicle-off-road events.
Daily walkaround checks don’t need to be complicated and often take no more than five minutes to complete, but they do need to be consistent. In short, drivers should check the key areas most likely to affect driver and vehicle safety, legal compliance, or result in an avoidable breakdown, such as:
Vehicle Condition
Tyres and Wheels
Lights and Visibility
Vehicle Interior
Fluids
Load Area
DVSA guidance has previously estimated that 85% of roadworthiness infringements could be avoided if drivers complete a walkaround check before starting their journey. All of these checks are simple to do, rarely take more than a few minutes, and can help drivers identify the majority of common faults before they become more serious, more expensive and more disruptive.
Download our driver’s guide to looking after an LCV, including a full daily walkaround checklist that helps drivers carry out the right checks before every journey.
Walkaround checks are not enough
Of course, finding a defect is only half the job. The real benefit comes when drivers report it quickly, accurately and through the right channel, so the issue can be assessed and resolved before it becomes more serious.
That’s where our web-app, My Novuna Vehicle, can make a significant difference to our customer fleets. When a driver spots a fault or unexpected issue during a daily walkaround check, the app makes it quick and easy to report the problem digitally, 24/7, helping to reduce unproductive downtime for both vehicle and driver.
It’s a daily habit that can make a meaningful difference to fleet uptime and the true total cost of fleet. By taking action at the earliest opportunity, there is a much greater chance that repairs can be planned around the vehicle’s schedule. Where possible, mobile or workshop work can be arranged alongside existing bookings, routine maintenance or other planned events, helping to reduce unproductive downtime for both the vehicle and driver.
We also understand that not every repair can wait for a workshop visit. That’s why we have a network of mobile engineers to help customers resolve issues at home, on site or even schedule checks or repairs for multiple vehicles during a meeting, conference depot day or operational site visit, maximising repair time when vehicles are already off the road.
Proactive reporting leads to proactive maintenance
The real value in early reporting is that it creates the opportunity to move from reactive repair to proactive maintenance.
When defects are reported early, fleet teams have more options. A minor issue may be booked into routine maintenance, scheduled at a more convenient time, or resolved by a mobile engineer before it leads to a breakdown, MOT failure or vehicle-off-road event.
This not only helps minimise unnecessary and hard-to-manage downtime, but also gives fleet operators a clearer view of recurring issues across the fleet. If the same faults keep appearing by vehicle type, age, mileage, location or driver group, maintenance decisions can become more targeted and predictive.
That means fewer surprises, better compliance and a more reliable fleet.
Better insight, better uptime
To help fleets move from reactive repairs to more proactive maintenance planning, we track and analyse MOT tests, repairs and maintenance trends across customer fleets. This allows us to benchmark performance against similar vehicles, operating profiles and fleet types, helping customers understand where avoidable failures are occurring and where targeted action could make the biggest difference.
Importantly, we also distinguish between true mechanical MOT failures and issues that could potentially be reduced through stronger driver vehicle management. This gives customers clearer, more actionable insight into the steps they can take to improve first-time pass rates, manage risk and reduce avoidable cost.
For example, some fleets choose to carry out pre-MOT inspections to improve pass rates. While this can be effective, it can also add cost and additional downtime. By using the maintenance data we hold, we can help customers identify where failures are most likely to occur and where more focused, lower-disruption action may be more effective.
Tyres are a good example. As one of the most common causes of MOT failure, tyre condition can often be improved through a combination of driver checks, free supplier tyre inspections and targeted education. In some cases, we can help arrange supplier support at customer sites, allowing multiple vehicles to be checked at once and giving drivers practical advice on tyre safety, tread depth, pressure and visible damage.
The same principle applies more broadly. By combining fleet data with practical support, we can help customers identify patterns, recommend preventative action and educate drivers on the simple steps that protect vehicle condition, improve safety and reduce avoidable downtime.
Driver Education has a role to play
Data can highlight where the risks are, but driver behaviour often determines whether those risks become real operational problems.
Vehicles that are checked regularly, reported promptly and looked after properly are more likely to remain safe, compliant and available. That’s why driver education is such an important part of reducing MOT failures and improving fleet uptime.
Simple guidance on daily checks, tyre safety, dashboard warning lights, fluid levels, load security and defect reporting can make a meaningful difference. Fleet managers can also support this by carrying out occasional spot checks, reinforcing MOT requirements and helping drivers understand their role in keeping vehicles roadworthy.
Risk scoring and driver behaviour data can also provide useful insight. In some cases, harsher driving conditions or driving styles may contribute to faster wear on mechanical components, tyres or brakes. Understanding these patterns allows fleet operators to focus support where it is most needed, whether that means additional driver guidance, maintenance intervention or a review of how vehicles are being used.
Ultimately, driver education is not about placing more responsibility on drivers without support. It is about giving them the tools, knowledge and processes they need to spot issues early and keep themselves, their vehicles and other road users safe.
Data and real-world understanding work best together
A van operating across multiple urban jobs, carrying tools and equipment, or supporting time-critical customer work faces very different pressures from one used on predictable routes with lighter loads. That’s why first-hand operational insight matters.
Giving our fleet teams the opportunity to spend time on site with the customers they support has helped them build a deeper understanding of how individual vehicles, drivers and service teams work in practice. As a result, we’re better able to identify where the right support, process change or maintenance intervention can make a real difference to fleet uptime.
As one of our Customer Fleet Managers put it:
Seeing first-hand what happens when a vehicle is off the road, and how that affects our customer’s operation and the businesses they serve, has changed how I respond to every request.
Tom Grant
Customer Fleet Manager
Novuna Vehicle Solutions
For LCV fleet operators, this combination of data and real-world understanding helps turn MOT performance and defect reporting into earlier intervention and better maintenance planning. It means recurring issues can be identified sooner, repair work can be prioritised more effectively, and avoidable downtime can be tackled before it starts affecting customers, productivity and cost.
Better uptime starts before the journey begins
Daily checks, early defect reporting, driver education and proactive maintenance all play a role in reducing avoidable downtime, controlling repair costs and keeping more vehicles on the road when and where they are needed.
And when a vehicle is unsafe, the message should always be clear: it should not be driven until the issue has been checked and resolved. No job, journey or deadline is worth compromising driver safety, vehicle compliance or the safety of other road users.
At Novuna Vehicle Solutions, we help customers take a more proactive approach to fleet maintenance by combining data-led insight, driver tools, mobile repair support and practical fleet management expertise. From helping drivers report defects through My Novuna Vehicle, to arranging mobile engineer support and identifying recurring maintenance risks, we work with customers to reduce disruption before it impacts their operation.
