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The juggling act to balance mass on heavy vehicles will be easier for many operators with the introduction today of the 1-Tonne Tri-Axle Mass Transfer Allowance (1TMTA).

CEO of the NTC Paul Retter said the 1TMTA promotes more efficient use of vehicle load space by allowing flexibility in distributing the weight of a truck’s load across its axles.

The National Transport Commission (NTC) and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) are calling for submissions on potential improvements to safety outcomes for the heavy vehicle industry as part of the National Heavy Vehicle Roadworthiness Program.

NTC Chief Executive, Paul Retter, and NHVR Chief Executive, Sal Petroccitto, today released the second of two foundation reports on Australia's current roadworthiness systems.

"We've now completed the second step in the four-stage process of this program," Mr Retter said.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has issued its first safety and compliance alert to industry following early observations of investigators on the recent fatal fuel tanker crash in country Victoria.

NHVR Chief Executive, Sal Petroccitto, released the alert ahead of the completion of the investigation since it offered important and practical advice that operators could act on promptly.

"Our mission is to Facilitate, Innovate, Regulate and issuing timely safety advice to industry is one of the key tasks of a national Regulator," said Mr Petroccitto.

The CUB Clydesdale team found a novel way to get more "horsepower" in their latest semi-trailer combination with a Performance-Based Standards (PBS) approved horse float.

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) Chief Executive, Sal Petroccitto, said the vehicle combination shows that PBS is not just about productivity gains but also innovative and optimised vehicle design.

NHVR CEO, Sal Petroccitto, used his address to the NatRoad Annual Conference in Adelaide today to highlight the progress on its work program and outline the future for the NHVR and the heavy vehicle industry.

"We're on the road to One Regulator, one rulebook and our role on that journey is to facilitate, innovate and regulate," said Mr Petroccitto.

"In all three of those areas, we will continue to refine and improve the way we do business and the outcomes we achieve, together with our industry and government partners.

Heavy vehicle drivers and operators must make the switch to the new National Driver Work Diary by this weekend.

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) Chief Executive, Sal Petroccitto, says Sunday, 10 August, marks the end of the six-month change-over period following the introduction of the new work diary on 10 February 2014.

"From midnight, 12.00am, on Monday morning, 11 August, drivers need to be recording their work and rest time in the new work diary," said Mr Petroccitto.

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) Chief Executive, Sal Petroccitto is urging operators to take care in dealing with companies or individuals who may be selling advertising space in publications using words and images that imply a connection to the NHVR where none exists.

"Recently, we have received many enquiries about a company called Countrywide Marketing purporting to sell advertising space in the 'NHVR Roadbook' or 'National Heavy Vehicle Roadbook'," said Mr Petroccitto.

JOINT RELEASE - National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and National Transport Commission (NTC)

The National Transport Commission (NTC) and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) today announced the completion of Phase One of their joint Heavy Vehicle Roadworthiness Review, with the publication of a report examining current practice in heavy vehicle roadworthiness across the nation.

CEO of the NTC Paul Retter said Australia’s transport industry deserved cost-effective, evidence-based safety solutions.

Heavy vehicle drivers and operators are urged to make the switch to the new National Driver Work Diary before 10 August 2014.

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) Chief Executive, Sal Petroccitto, says Sunday, 10 August, marks the end of the six-month change-over period following the introduction of the new work diary on 10 February 2014.

Performance-Based Standards (PBS) smart trucks are now on the roads in the nation’s capital, as Ron Finemore Transport delivers goods and produce to local Woolworths’ stores, using 20-metre long PBS semi-trailer combinations newly approved for the Australian Capital Territory.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) Chief Executive, Sal Petroccitto, said the innovative PBS vehicle combinations meant fewer trucks, less congestion and better safety outcomes all delivering less impact on the ACT community.

Address given by NHVR CEO, Sal Petroccitto, at the Trucking Australia 2014 event on 6 June 2014.

Roll out, review and the future (PDF, 233KB).

All operators accredited under the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS) will now benefit from three months advanced notice of when audits are due.

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) CEO Sal Petroccitto said the NHVR had listened to operators and increased the NHVAS audit reminder period from one month to three months ahead of the due date.

“Many accredited operators told us that a one-month advance reminder just wasn’t long enough,” Mr Petroccitto said.

Heavy vehicle drivers who carry out primary production journeys in Queensland will no longer have to carry and record information in a National Driver Work Diary if travelling or working under 160km from their base.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) newly appointed CEO, Sal Petroccitto, today announced that from 1 June 2014, the work diary exemption area would increase from a 100km to 160km radius for Queensland primary producers and their transport providers.

The Board of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has today announced the appointment of Mr Sal Petroccitto as Chief Executive, following a nationwide recruitment search.

Mr Petroccitto joins the NHVR from the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, bringing extensive knowledge of heavy vehicle regulation to this challenging role.

An ineffective legal requirement to fit spray suppression devices on B-doubles has been removed under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).  

Spray suppression devices on B-Doubles were a requirement under previous individual state laws, except Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

However, the National Transport Commission (NTC) concluded on the basis of empirical evidence that the devices were not effective in real-world conditions at reducing the spray from B-doubles on wet roads. As a result, their requirement is not included in the HVNL.

From Thursday 20 March 2014, heavy haulage operators in the ACT can temporarily apply directly to Roads ACT for certain heavy haulage and special purpose vehicle permits applications when travelling within ACT borders.

In line with similar arrangements with other states, Roads ACT has agreed to process all new applications for oversize, overmass (OSOM), agricultural and special purpose vehicles (SPV) taking trips wholly within territory borders.

The Board of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has accepted the resignation of Chief Executive, Richard Hancock, with immediate effect.

Mr Hancock has resigned for personal and family health reasons.

Chief Financial Officer and General Manager, Corporate Services, Melinda Bailey, will take on the responsibility of Acting Chief Executive of the NHVR until a permanent replacement is announced.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator is undertaking the review of the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS) as part of the Heavy Vehicle Roadworthiness Program, a joint initiative with the National Transport Commission (NTC).

The Roadworthiness Program is the first major initiative undertaken by the Regulator and the NTC under the recently agreed memorandum of understanding between the two organisations. The Program aims to develop policy and implementable measures for an improved national heavy vehicle roadworthiness system.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is in Tamworth this weekend to discuss initiatives under the new national law at the Livestock and Bulk Carrier Association's (LBCA) annual conference.

The LBCA is the New South Wales state body of the Australian Livestock and Rural Transport Association (ALRTA).

This will be the first time since the commencement of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) on 10 February 2014 that the NHVR has had the chance to meet face-to-face with frontline operators from this important sector.

Australia's transport ministers agreed last week to reduce the paperwork burden affecting drivers and operators of accredited heavy vehicles.

The Transport and Infrastructure Council has asked the National Transport Commission (NTC) to prepare an amendment to the Heavy Vehicle National Law, to remove clauses that require heavy vehicle drivers to carry documents that arise from their employers enrolment in the 'mass' or 'maintenance' management accreditation schemes.

From tomorrow, heavy haulage operators in South Australia can now temporarily apply directly to their state road transit authority for certain heavy haulage permit applications travelling within South Australian borders.

In line with similar arrangements in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales, to ease processing delays, the South Australian Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure will temporarily process applications for over-size and over-mass vehicles (OSOM) and special purpose vehicles (SPV) for journeys wholly within the state.