Latest news

The NHVR will process all Class 1 heavy vehicle permit applications across Victoria from today.

NHVR Project Director Annette Finch said the NHVR had been working with VicRoads and the Victorian heavy vehicle industry to further streamline the permit process through the NHVR Portal.

"Victorian heavy vehicle operators have been using the NHVR Portal since 2016, but from today will receive additional benefits with the NHVR and VicRoads streamlining the consent process," Ms Finch said.

The NHVR will start accepting applications from Australian and international companies for Electronic Work Diary (EWD) approvals from today.

NHVR Safety Standards Director Greg Fill said the acceptance of applications was an important milestone in providing fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle drivers with a voluntary alternative to Written Work Diaries.

"I expect we'll start to see applications lodged to have EWDs approved in the coming weeks," Mr Fill said.

Reforms to the Chain of Responsibility (CoR) laws will be implemented from 1 October.

Timing for the changes was confirmed by Queensland Transport and Main Road Minister Mark Bailey.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the start date for the reforms follows lengthy consultation and information for heavy vehicle businesses over the past 18 months.

“The NHVR has been engaging with many of the 165,000 businesses which make up the heavy vehicle supply chain, and conducted more than 100 workshops,” Mr Petroccitto said.

The Australian Forestry Contractors Association (AFCA) will host its next round of free safety workshops for forestry workers in regional NSW, Victoria and South Australia.

The NHVR has joined forces with AFCA, providing funding for the Forestry Logistics Safety Program under the Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative.

NHVR Stakeholder Manager John Gilbert said it is imperative Australia’s forestry workers have a safe environment and the training is providing much-needed support and advice, particularly in relation to truck rollovers.

Australian and international companies will demonstrate their Electronic Work Diary (EWD) concepts to show goers and NHVR staff at MegaTrans in Melbourne today.

NHVR Executive Director of Productivity and Safety Geoff Casey said 32 technology providers and transport operators intending to develop an EWD had now registered a Notice of Intent with the NHVR.

“Seven of those companies have accepted an invitation by the NHVR to participate in an opportunity to discuss and present their products and concepts at the NHVR stand at MegaTrans,” Mr Casey said.

The NHVR has launched a series of tools to help heavy vehicle operators boost the safety performance of their business.

Victorian Roads and Road Safety Minister Luke Donnellan told today’s MegaTrans 2018 launch that NHVR’s Safety Management System guidance material and tools would drive a positive safety culture across the heavy vehicle industry and provide a similar systems-based approach used successfully in maritime, rail, aviation and other industries

Australia’s appetite for modern technology that matches heavy vehicles to a specific task has grown to 17 per cent of all new heavy vehicles, according to a new report released today.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the joint report by the Australian Road Transport Suppliers Association (ARTSA) and the NHVR into the Performance Based Standards (PBS) scheme showed the significant penetration of PBS-approved vehicles into the Australian market.

The NHVR has teamed up with one of Australia’s best known TV and big screen personalities to talk heavy vehicle safety.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said Shane Jacobson had agreed to front the Tell a mate heavy vehicle social media safety campaign.

“I met Shane at a heavy vehicle event in Cairns and I was impressed with his passion for heavy vehicle safety,” Sal said.

“I’m pleased someone with Shane’s profile has agreed to encourage heavy vehicle drivers to get out there and ‘Tell a mate’ about heavy vehicle safety.”

The NHVR will use feedback from a new safety survey to measure how the industry manages safety and provide an update on preparations for changes to Chain of Responsibility laws later this year.

NHVR Productivity and Safety Executive Director Geoff Casey said the NHVR Industry Safety Survey results would also assist in informing the development of future education and guidance materials.

There will be changes to freight, servicing and deliveries during the Commonwealth Games that operators will need to plan for, including:

Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads has advised that a Flood Recovery Road Access Group (FRRAG) has been established to manage emergency and disaster heavy vehicle access to parts of Far North Queensland.

Those areas include Gulf of Carpentaria, Aurukun, Kowanyama, Pormpuraaw, Weipa, Normanton, Doomadgee, Mornington Island, Mt Isa, Ingham, Innisfail and Cairns Region.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has welcomed the appointment of Tasmanian Deputy Premier Jeremy Rockliff as Infrastructure Minister.

NHVR Chair Bruce Baird said he looked forward to working with Mr Rockliff as a shareholding Minister of the NHVR to continue to deliver services to Tasmania’s heavy vehicle industry.

“On behalf of the NHVR staff and board, I congratulate Jeremy on his appointment and confirm our commitment to working with him to deliver on-going reform to heavy vehicle safety and productivity,” Mr Baird said.

The NHVR has welcomed the extension of Adelaide’s pre-approved heavy vehicle network with access to an additional 27kms from Monday.

NHVR Access Operation Supervisor Sean Pederick said the pre-approvals of 33 additional roads across Adelaide’s northern and western suburbs would slash permit application times and allow the continued safe movement of heavy vehicles up to 30 metres in length.

“The extension of the pre-approval network will result in a further reduction in permit turnaround times for South Australia’s oversize, over mass freight industry,” Mr Pederick said.

Tasmanian primary producers who have questions on changes to Chain of Responsibility laws can meet with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) at information sessions next week.

NHVR Chain of Responsibility Manager Kym Farquharson-Jones said primary producers play an important role in supporting safe, reliable road transport to all road users, particularly heavy vehicles.

“Because they are part of the heavy vehicle supply chain, primary producers have for almost a decade had the same role to play for heavy vehicle safety as other parties in the chain,” she said.

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.