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Managing fatigue, particularly within the heavy vehicle industry, is crucial to the success and safety of everyone involved.  The NHVR receives and answers thousands of questions from calls with drivers each year and we’ve included a few of the more common questions that may be of interest.

A new notice for road train prime movers will ease pressure on the road network, improve fatigue management and increase the efficiency of Australia’s heavy vehicle fleet.

The National Road Train Prime Mover Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2021 comes into effect today, following widespread consultation between the NHVR, road managers and industry groups.

A joint report from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Australia (CILTA) and the National Truck Accident Research Centre (NTARC) has revealed Performance Based Standards (PBS) vehicles are involved in 60 per cent fewer major crashes than conventional vehicles.

This is a significant improvement over the results in a 2018 report which found 46 per cent fewer major crashes compared to the conventional fleet.^[1] PBS vehicles are also forecast to save 143 lives over 20 years.

The NHVR has urged heavy vehicle drivers to take extra care when using Adelaide’s South Eastern Freeway ahead of tomorrow’s Fatality Free Friday.

NHVR Chief Operations Officer Paul Salvati said the NHVR had investigated operators involved in two incidents on the downhill stretch of road over the past week.

“This stretch of road includes a long descent into Adelaide where heavy vehicle drivers need to be mindful of their own road safety and that of others particularly when carrying heavy loads,” Mr Salvati said.

An exciting new online safety hub has been unveiled by Australia’s leading transport and logistics specialist insurer, NTI, to support the growth and development of the industry.

The Better Business Hub helps protect Aussie fleet, transport operators and drivers by providing interactive, downloadable, applicable tools and resources to support them in their day-to-day.

The NHVR has highlighted the importance of ongoing heavy vehicle safety education within the industry following its first successful Supervisory Intervention Order (SIO) in Victoria.

The matter related to the intercept of a heavy vehicle in March 2020 where the driver failed to comply with loading and dimension requirements under the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

Farmers are starting to reap the benefits of the removal of the requirement for Class 3 livestock mass exemption permits to include registration numbers, which took effect in December last year.

NHVR Network Access Policy Manager Jose Arredondo said, while transporters, operators or farmers could apply for a permit, farmers who have Class 3 permits often use a third-party operator to carry their livestock.

The NHVR has filed charges against a national transport company and its executive, following a nine-month investigation into the company’s business practices.

The NHVR initiated the investigation following multiple vehicle collisions and Safe-T-Cam footage that identified breaches relating to the transport company.

Records for 15 drivers were analysed by NHVR Investigators revealing 225 fatigue and work diary breaches by the company.

The NHVR’s Performance Based Standards (PBS) scheme is a key pillar to delivering safe and efficient movement of freight across the country. We are committed to its ongoing success and ensuring it continues to deliver safety and productivity benefits for the heavy vehicle industry.

We are currently experiencing some operational challenges due to the significant increase in application volumes and departure of senior PBS team members. This has impacted our ability to assess and process applications within acceptable timeframes.

The NHVR’s Strategic Local Government Asset Assessment Project (SLGAAP) will fund more than 200 engineering assessments under Round 1.

NHVR Freight and Supply Chain Productivity Executive Director Peter Caprioli said the 232 assessments covered assets owned by 69 local governments.

The NHVR has welcomed the appointment experienced transport operator and General Manager of All Purpose Transport Paul Kahlert as president of the Queensland Trucking Association (QTA).

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said Mr Kahlert's appointment would continue the strong leadership that the QTA board provided heavy vehicle operators.

"Paul has represented QTA as Vice President and will continue to lead a board that is a passionate advocate for heavy vehicle operators across Queensland," Mr Petroccitto said.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is urging heavy vehicle operators to use their Daily Safety Checklist, ahead of the second major health check of Australia’s heavy vehicle fleet.

Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Minister Michael McCormack said heavy vehicle operators should take a few minutes before each trip to check basic safety items on their vehicle.

“A quick visual inspection can identify any issues and give you peace of mind that the vehicle is safe and ready for the journey,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.