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New Chain of Responsibility laws for Australia’s heavy vehicle industry are coming in mid-2018.

The NHVR’s Chain of Responsibility Manager Kym Farquharson-Jones has been travelling across Australia outlining the changes to many of the 165,000 businesses which make up the heavy vehicle supply chain.

The NHVR has released the draft Electronic Work Diary (EWD) Compliance Policy ensuring that heavy vehicle drivers using either electronic or written work diaries are treated the same.

NHVR Productivity and Safety Executive Director Geoff Casey said the EWD Compliance Policy would provide the right balance between safety and compliance to ensure a consistent approach for those who voluntarily use the new technology and that information is accurate and accessible.

The NHVR has agreed to work with tipper body manufacturers to develop a new modification code to provide clear requirements for hoisting systems.

NHVR Vehicle Safety and Performance Manager Peter Austin said the code would assist manufacturers that were concerned about achieving compliance with the standards released under Vehicle Standards Bulletin (VSB) 6, Version 3.

“Some manufacturers raised concerns that some tippers would require re-design of tipper body systems in order to meet Australian Standards, required under VSB6,” Mr Austin said.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has welcomed the appointment of Michael McCormack as Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister and thanked outgoing Minister Barnaby Joyce.

NHVR Chair Bruce Baird said he looked forward to working with Mr McCormack to deliver the Regulator’s ongoing reform to heavy vehicle safety and productivity.

“On behalf of the NHVR staff, our Chief Executive and Board, I congratulate Michael,” Mr Baird said.

More than 300 participants across the forestry supply chain are expected to attend the next round of safety workshops hosted by the Australian Forestry Contractors Association (AFCA).

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the safety workshops, which target operators and loaders that contract to the forestry industry, were supported by Commonwealth Government funding through the NHVR’s Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative program.

“Our commitment to a safer heavy vehicle industry will also improve business outcomes and conditions for the forestry sector,” Mr Petroccitto said.

The NHVR has welcomed state road transport agencies delivering a coordinated compliance focus this week, led by NSW Road and Maritime Services’ Operation Shield.

NHVR Regulatory Compliance and Assurance Director Tony Martin said road transport agencies from other states would also conduct similar operations in addition to NSW.

“The NHVR is coordinating efforts this week to focus on fatigue and vehicle roadworthiness,” Mr Martin said.

New roller brake testing procedures will commence across Australia from today following industry-wide consultation into brake testing methods and actual vehicle brake testing studies.

NHVR Chief Engineer Les Bruzsa said the new procedure followed extensive consultation with manufacturers, Australian Trucking Association, Truck Industry Council, Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia and NSW Roads and Maritime Services.

"The national brake testing standard of 45%g, or 4.4kN/t, was released as part of the National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual in 2016," Mr Bruzsa said.

Animal welfare will be boosted under new rules allowing Western Australian and South Australian livestock operators to avoid cross loading livestock on the border.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the NHVR had agreed to allow 27.5m B-doubles carrying sheep and cattle to a limited network running from the West Australian border to the South Australian Livestock Exchange in Dublin, north of Adelaide.

"This is an important step forward saving time and improving animal welfare for livestock carriers across Western Australia," Mr Petroccitto said.

The NHVR has approved a user-friendly exemption to allow drivers of fatigue-related heavy vehicles additional time for personal use.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the Personal Use Exemption would allow operators more flexibility with up to one hour of personal use of a heavy vehicle outside their regulated driving hours, from February 1, 2018.

“We undertook extensive consultation with the heavy vehicle industry last September and October on a proposal to allow personal use of a heavy vehicle,” Mr Petroccitto said.

The NHVR has extended its pre-advised design approvals process to cover 80 per cent of new Performance-Based Standards scheme design approval applications.

NHVR Chief Engineer Les Bruzsa said A-doubles, B-doubles and prime mover semi-trailer combinations would be added to the PBS scheme's simplified pre-advised design approval process.

"Following feedback from the heavy vehicle industry we have simplified and sped up the approval process for a range of common PBS scheme combinations," Mr Bruzsa said.

The NHVR will fast-track safety tools and an education campaign to assist heavy vehicle operators implement Safety Management Systems.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the push to provide operators with practical tools and guidance to implement safety management systems was in response to a spate of serious heavy vehicle crashes in recent days.

The NHVR is urging heavy vehicle drivers to take care following tragic incidents near Lake Macquarie, Grafton and Dubbo in the past two days.

On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me…

It's December and the festive season is underway. The NHVR has come to the Christmas party offering daily tips over the next 12 days, with advice for motorists and heavy vehicle operators.

The 12 Days of NHVR Safety are a series of tips to help you stay safe on Australia’s roads.

From all the staff at the NHVR, when you are on the roads this Christmas, please drive safely.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has thanked outgoing Infrastructure and Transport Minister Darren Chester for his support and efforts in delivering heavy vehicle reform over the past two years

NHVR Chair Bruce Baird said Mr Chester’s contribution to the heavy vehicle industry helped to deliver significant progress for Australia’s heavy vehicle and freight industry.

Heavy vehicle drivers will soon have the option to have work and rest hours recorded on an electronic device following the release of the Policy Framework and Standards for Electronic Work Diaries (EWDs).

NHVR Safety and Productivity Executive Director Geoff Casey said EWDs were a step closer with today’s release of the NHVR’s EWD Policy Framework and Standards for comment until 30 January 2018.

The NHVR said today's NRMA's Dead Tired would provide key recommendations to continue to address driver fatigue.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the report highlighted education and technology as key fatigue management tactics to ensure safety across the heavy vehicle and freight industry.

"When someone drives a heavy vehicle while impaired by fatigue, they put all road users at risk," Mr Petroccitto said.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has congratulated Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey, who was today officially sworn in following the recent Queensland election.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said Mr Bailey’s contribution to the heavy vehicle industry over the past three years had helped to deliver significant reform across Queensland.

“Minister Bailey and his team have shown strong leadership in delivering national reform for Chain of Responsibility laws, which are due to begin in mid 2018,” Mr Petroccitto said.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has thanked outgoing National Transport Commission Chairman David Anderson for his contribution to the Australian transport and the heavy vehicle industry.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said David's guidance over the past four years had provided the foundations for the NHVR to deliver significant reform across heavy vehicle safety and productivity.

The NHVR has released the latest Electronic Work Diary (EWD) Fact Sheet, ahead of the next round of industry consultation.

NHVR A/Executive Director of Safety and Productivity Darrin Rasmussen said the Fact Sheet would prepare heavy vehicle operators and technology providers for the EWD Policy Framework and Standards release on December 18.

“The Standards will be publicly available for comment until early February 2018,” Mr Rasmussen said.

Heavy vehicle supply chain businesses can access information on safety practices from other transport and logistics operators in a new NHVR video.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the latest NHVR video provided first-hand accounts from four heavy vehicle operators and logistics companies about controls and systems they were implementing ahead of changes to Chain of Responsibility (CoR) laws, coming in mid-2018.

“Accessing this kind of information from a range of operators is important for everyone across the heavy vehicle supply chain,” Mr Petroccitto said.

The NHVR and the Australian Logistics Council (ALC) have both praised the commitment shown by several leading Australian distribution and retail companies to improving heavy vehicle safety ahead of new Chain of Responsibility laws coming into effect in mid-2018.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator's online permitting system has been recognised for its innovation and customer-focussed approach in the Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Public Sector Management, announced in Canberra last night.

The NHVR Portal was one of 17 finalists in a strong field of contenders for the Award.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said it was an honour to be recognised as a finalist alongside the high calibre entries from the Australian Government, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmanian and South Australian Governments.