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A recent National Heavy Vehicle Regulator-led operation targeting fatigue showed 93.9 per cent of truck drivers are complying with fatigue regulations aimed at keeping everyone safe on our roads.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said Operation Wake Up intercepted 4096 drivers over an eight-day period in December at more than 80 locations and mobile patrols across Australia.

The processing of Class 1 Oversize and Overmass permit applications for Queensland will transfer from Queensland’s Transport and Main Roads to the NHVR from 16 December 2019.

This is the last phase of the delegations to return to the NHVR and from this date, all permit applications in Queensland must be submitted to the NHVR via the NHVR Portal.

The NHVR is urging heavy vehicle drivers to take care in the lead up to Christmas while Authorised Officers conduct a multi-agency fatigue compliance operation.

NHVR Chief Operations Officer Paul Salvati said the latest Operation Wake Up, coordinated by the NHVR, was underway across Australia with Authorised Officers checking drivers for compliance with fatigue regulations.

“Making sure that you’re managing your fatigue is one of the most important things you can do as a heavy vehicle operator to keep yourself and other road users safe,” Mr Salvati said. 

All VicRoads on-road services have transitioned to the NHVR, with Victoria joining South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said operators would see distinctive NHVR uniforms and vehicles on Victorian roads. 

“As a national regulator, the NHVR can provide nationally consistent training and enforcement methods and resources, and undertake more complex, cross-border Chain of Responsibility investigations,” Sal said.

The first Port Declared Freight Precinct in Queensland has been declared at the Port of Brisbane, improving access for approved Performance-Based Standards (PBS) Level 2 combinations. 

The joint initiative by the NHVR, TMR, Brisbane City Council and the Port of Brisbane will deliver greater efficiencies relating to the importing and exporting of heavier and larger containers that are over current mass and dimension restrictions. 

Some minor regulation changes for three-axle bus mass limits and steer axle mass limits for road trains will begin today.

Three-axle bus limits will increase from 20 tonnes to 22 tonne, reflecting increasing average weight of passengers. Previously buses were able to operate in some states at 22 tonne under permit.

The steer axle limit for road trains will increase from 6.7 tonnes to 7.1 tonnes (for tyre widths of at least 375mm). This reflects the increases in modern road trains’ tare weight.

The NHVR will engage with several local governments during the first half of 2020 on the rollout of the Strategic Asset Assessment project.

NHVR Program Director Annette Finch said the NHVR would speak to council about a list of key assets on regional heavy vehicle freight routes.

“In addition to a list of key freight assets, the program will also provide a standardised heavy vehicle framework for bridge information and assessment on key routes,” Annette said. 

The NHVR has made a number of recommendations to the National Transport Commissions review of the Heavy Vehicle National Law, including the issues paper Easy Access to Suitable Routes.

NHVR Strategist Fiona Brophy said the NHVR’s response was based on the current and past permit approval system.

“We’ve looked at a range of significant reforms to the process for heavy vehicle operators to obtain access, which incorporate the latest updates to the NHVR Portal, while also allowing for education and training for road managers on their role,” Fiona said

The final NHVR Performance Based Standards (PBS) demonstration day for 2019 was held in Bundaberg last week.

NHVR Stakeholder Officer Dan Casey said the event was another successful day attended by more than 50 people representing six local councils and industry.

“These events rely on the support of local councils and businesses. 

“It was great have enthusiastic input from Bundaberg Regional Council, the Mayor Jack Dempsey and local businesses Isis Sugar Mill and Hawe Earthmoving, as well as Qube Logistics,” Dan said.

An NHVR survey of close to 40 heavy vehicle operators using Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM) has found that those taking advantage of the flexibility offered by AFM had fewer fatigue-related incidents, an improved safety culture and higher productivity than other operators. 

NHVR Principal Safety Assurance Advisor Andreas Blahous said that the study followed calls for the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) to allow for increased flexibility when effective fatigue management systems are in place.

National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme services will be available in the NHVR Portal from 2 December 2019.

Operators will be able to manage their NHVAS tasks including:

A new permit scheme for crane operations began across Queensland in late November as part of the on-going transition of Class 1 permits.

NHVR Program Director Annette Finch said the new Queensland Class 1 Crane Permit Scheme was the result of work undertaken by the NHVR, Local Government Association Queensland and the Crane Industry Council Australia.

“This scheme will increase productivity and reduce the burden for the crane industry operating across Queensland,” Annette said.

The NHVR has welcomed the release of the Productivity Commission’s Draft Report into National Transport Regulatory Reform.

NHVR Chair Duncan Gay said that the draft report highlighted the benefits that had already been achieved, while charting a path for improvement.

“We welcome the draft report and will continue to work with the Productivity Commission as they finalise their inquiry over the coming months,” Mr Gay said.
“The draft report reinforces the key safety and productivity benefits that have already been enabled through the work of industry and the NHVR.

Three of the 60,000 access permits processed through the NHVR this year were for giraffes.

The latest was Kamili who last week completed the trip from Perth to Melbourne, transported by Melbourne-based operator L Arthur Transport Services.

The NHVR coordinated the oversize, overmass access arrangements in place to ensure Kamili’s safety on the 3400 km journey.

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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.