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The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is calling for funding applications for programs that improve heavy vehicle safety on Australian roads.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Federal Government had provided $5.48 million for safety projects for round five of the NHVR’s Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI) program.

“This funding is focused towards groups and projects delivering real safety benefits for the heavy vehicle industry and all road users,” Mr McCormack said.

Heavy vehicle operators should be aware of a large number of heavy vehicle movements taking place in fire-affected areas of Queensland and NSW over the coming days.

The NHVR and road managers have fasttracked a large number of permit applications over the past 24 hours to allow movement heavy vehicles in relation to firefighting operations, including Australian Defence Force vehicles.

Operators travelling in areas affected by firefighting operations should take care and be aware that delays may occur.

Stay up-to-date on road closures due to bushfires at:

The Federal Government has announced the extension of an initiative that will make it easier and more flexible for truck drivers to use their vehicles outside work hours.  

Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said the Government had worked with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) to extend the Personal Use Exemption for drivers operating under Basic Fatigue Management (BFM) and Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM). 

“There are currently more than 2300 operators utilising the benefits of AFM and BFM,” Mr Buchholz said.

The NHVR has welcomed a NSW Government decision to improve access for high productivity vehicles along the Newell Highway at Coonabarabran.

NHVR Freight and Supply Chain Executive Director Peter Caprioli said the additional access for Modular B-Triples, B-Triples, AB-Triples & Type 1 Road Trains up to 36.5 metres was another step forward for industry productivity.

“These classes of heavy vehicles will now be able to travel under the National Class 2 Heavy Vehicle Road Train Authorisation Notice and associated NSW Higher Mass Limits Declaration.

The NHVR will provide heavy vehicle on-road compliance and enforcement services in Victoria from 8 December 2019, with 54 staff currently employed by VicRoads in on and off road heavy vehicle compliance roles joining the NHVR.

Grapegrowers and wine producers, together with carriers, harvest operators and drivers, must ensure they take all reasonable steps to comply with the Chain of Responsibility (CoR) laws. 

NHVR Manager Stakeholder Relations and Customer Experience John Gilbert said a recent Wine Industry Day in South Australia was an important opportunity for grape growers to understand their obligations under Chain of Responsibility legislation.

“Grapes spilling off the back of heavy vehicles can make our roads slippery and dangerous for other motorists,” John said.

Two new members have been appointed to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) Board.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said current NHVR Board Deputy Chair Peter Garske and Board member Coral Taylor would retire this month.

“Julie Russell and Catherine Scott will replace Mr Garske and Ms Taylor when their appointments end,” Mr McCormack said.

“Ministers have unanimously agreed Ms Russell and Ms Scott should be appointed to the Board.

The NHVR has released a top tips guide to the Portal to help operators reduce their application processing times.

NHVR Access Manager Roger Garcia said the short guide was aimed at addressing common errors and questions when applying for access permits.

“Following these simple tips makes it faster and easier for us to process your permit applications,” Roger said.

The NHVR has announced that the Vehicle Standards service will be available in the NHVR Portal from 4pm Wednesday 16 October.

This is another step towards giving industry a single source of business information, streamlining interactions and linking NHVR’s services.

Vehicle Standards applications for In-Principle Support, Exemption Permits and Modifications will be able to be lodged through the NHVR Portal.

You will also be able to attach:

A reminder that feedback on the Grain Harvest Management Schemes Review Issues Paper closes this week.

NHVR Executive Director Freight and Supply Chain Productivity Peter Caprioli said the paper addressed the different heavy vehicle loading schemes used during grain harvest across Australia. 

A national operation inspecting more than 3500 heavy vehicles, including oversize overmass and Performance Based Standards combinations, has found that 93 per cent were compliant with their permit conditions.

NHVR Chief Operations Officer Paul Salvati said the third Operation Kingsize was conducted over nine days in September.

“This year, officers inspected 3533 heavy vehicles which showed that 93.1 per cent were compliant with their permit or notice conditions,” Mr Salvati said.

A revamped PBS scheme that focuses on flexibility and continued innovation should be a central part of reforms to the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), according to the NHVR. 

NHVR Manager Vehicle Safety and Performance Peter Austin said that a vision for a reformed PBS Scheme, PBS 2.0, was a central part of the Regulator’s response to the National Transport Commission’s (NTC) HVNL Review issues paper Vehicle Standards and Safety.

From 1 December, 2019 in Tasmania, all motorists must safely slow to 40km/h as they pass any stationary or slow moving emergency vehicle with red, blue or magenta lights flashing. 

The rule includes NHVR vehicles displaying magenta lights.

It applies to traffic travelling in either direction, unless there’s a dividing barrier between the motorist and the emergency vehicle. 

The NHVR has welcomed the rollout of a user-pay trial by the Australian Livestock Rural Transporters’ Association (ALRTA) to support safety in the unloading of livestock.

The trial, being conducted at Kilcoy Global Foods in South-East Queensland, allows heavy vehicle drivers to use the innovative Parallel Access Landing (PAL).

The NHVR is currently assessing a number of applications for approval as Electronic Work Diaries.

NHVR Executive Director Safety Standards and Assurance Geoff Casey said the current round of applications were of a varying quality after a number of earlier applications had fallen short of requirements. 

The NHVR has commenced an investigation into two Tasmanian heavy vehicle companies in relation to possible maintenance and mass breaches under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL). 

NHVR Director Investigations Steve Underwood said NHVR officers recently entered the companies’ premises in relation to alleged breaches of safety duties under the HVNL. The companies were also required to present heavy vehicles for inspection. 

An important trial to provide a significant boost to safety in the livestock industry is underway at Kilcoy Global Foods in South-East Queensland’s Somerset Region.

The NHVR is seeking Expressions of Interest from owner operators and drivers to participate in a workshop to discuss the specific issues this group faces in relation to gaining flexibility through Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM) accreditation.