Latest news

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has welcomed the appointment of Melinda Pavey as NSW Roads, Maritime and Freight Minister and thanked out-going Minister Duncan Gay.

NHVR Chair Bruce Baird said he looked forward to working with Ms Pavey to deliver on-going reform to heavy vehicle safety and productivity.

The NHVR and Road and Maritime Services will further extend the current brake testing transition arrangements in NSW until June 30.

NHVR Safety Director Daniel Elkins said the NHVR, in conjunction with Roads and Maritime are working together to determine the best approach to achieve national consistency in regards to brake testing requirements in the National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual.

Better safety outcomes and a stronger Chain of Responsibility (CoR) are the result of the Queensland Parliament yesterday passing amendments to the National Heavy Vehicle Law.

NHVR Acting CEO Ray Hassall said the amendments to the Law are a welcomed improvement and will be critical for a more robust heavy vehicle industry.

“These reforms are a significant leap forward in recognising everyone in the supply chain has a role to play in ensuring safety,” Mr Hassall said.

The NHVR’s second Local Government Heavy Vehicle Access Forum will target industry needs and productivity in NSW.

NHVR Manager Industry Stakeholder Engagement John Gilbert said the Forum was hosted by Blacktown City Council in partnership with Local Government NSW.

“The objective of the event is to outline the access role local government plays in the freight task under the Heavy Vehicle National Law,” Mr Gilbert said.

“We want to continue to advocate and highlight the local governments who have played their part to cut red tape and enhance local economies.

The NHVR has welcomed recognition by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Australia (CILTA) at their Annual Awards for Excellence today.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the win was in addition to being nominated as a finalist in three categories – Excellence in Moving Freight, Excellent in Government Innovation and Excellence in Transport Policy, Planning and Implementation.

“This recognition as winner shows the NHVR’s work is delivering benefits for heavy vehicle safety and productivity,” Mr Petroccitto said.

A simple safety initiative launched by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) will help truck drivers – and other motorists - stay safe on Australian roads.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said the NHVR’s Daily Safety Check List would promote safety standards in the trucking and logistics sector.

A review of business systems will boost heavy vehicle safety and productivity, according to a supply chain survey.

NHVR Compliance Executive Director Tony Kursius said the survey of 800 transport and logistics supply chain businesses showed there were still improvements to be made in implementing and managing Chain of Responsibility.

“The initial finding of the survey showed four out of five companies believed they had all or some systems in place to provide adequate CoR training for managers,” Mr Kursius said.

The NHVR has released the first suite of heavy vehicle standards audio podcasts to assist with making modifications safer.

NHVR Director Safety, Daniel Elkins said the podcasts outline minimum design, construction, installation and performance requirements for modifying heavy vehicles outside the manufacturer’s specifications.

“These podcasts cover five common modifications including recent changes to the heavy vehicle safety standards, driving lamps, semitrailer rear bumpers, couplings and backlit badges,” Mr Elkins said.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator this week released its first series of podcasts and factsheets for the heavy vehicle supply chain as part of a national effort to boost safety for all road users.

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Darren Chester said the new education material for the heavy vehicle supply chain showed that road safety goes well beyond truck drivers.

Road access will be the centrepiece in a series of forums to be rolled out across six regional councils for the South Australia grain transport industry from October this year.

NHVR Industry and Stakeholder Manager John Gilbert said the forums would assist regional councils to streamline route assessments for their freight task, and in particular the upcoming grain harvest next month.

The 5000th heavy vehicle permit application has been submitted to the NHVR’s Customer Portal.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the Customer Portal has become the permit application customer platform of choice since its release.

“In just under three months the Portal has become the preferred option for 95 per cent of all NHVR heavy vehicle permit applications,” Mr Petroccitto said.

The NHVR’s first Technical Working Group meeting will provide input into the delivery of improvements to coupling safety.

NHVR Director Safety Daniel Elkins told today’s Technical Maintenance Conference in Melbourne that the Regulator would examine a range of safety issues, including tyre inflation, brake systems and the on-going work around coupling safety.

“We recognise that technology has a growing role in heavy vehicle safety and the Technical Working Group will assist the NHVR to accelerate deployment of safety technologies and systems,” Mr Elkins said.

Businesses involved in the heavy vehicle supply chain have only one more week left before the NHVR’s Chain of Responsibility online Survey closes on October 31.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the 10-week Survey results would assist the NHVR design information and education packages to ensure greater awareness and safety across the heavy vehicle supply chain.

“The Survey, aimed at the heavy vehicle industry and greater supply chain, only takes around 15 minutes to complete so please make sure you have your say before it closes,” Mr Petroccitto said.

Approvals for high-performance heavy vehicles reached new heights during July-to-September, according to the latest quarterly data released by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the Quarterly Snapshot Q1 2016-17 results for the Performance Based Standards (PBS) scheme showed 450 new combinations approved, an 80 per cent increase on the same period in 2015.

“PBS vehicles deliver higher productivity and safety through innovative vehicle design, meaning less trucks and safer vehicles,” Mr Petroccitto said.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto thanked outgoing CEO Chris Melham for his significant contribution to the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) and the heavy vehicle industry.

“As a member of the NHVR’s Industry Reference Forum, Chris made a substantial contribution to the heavy vehicle industry and the advocacy he provided for his members has been invaluable,” Mr Petroccitto said.

The NHVR and Road and Maritime Services will extend the current brake testing transition arrangements in NSW until January 31, 2017.

NHVR Director Safety Daniel Elkins welcomed Roads and Maritime’s commitment to achieving national consistency in vehicle standards through the National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual.

“Together with Roads and Maritime and industry we have listened to operator concerns with the current roller brake test procedures and agreed to undertake further work to determine the best approach for testing,” Mr Elkins said.

The NHVR’s new online Customer Portal will be the main avenue for heavy vehicle operators to apply for national access permits from today.

AccessCONNECT Program Director David Carlisle said the effective roll out of the Portal had seen 2200 vehicle configurations created in the first two months.

“The Portal is saving more than 1400 businesses valuable time and money through a more efficient application process,” Mr Carlisle said.

After a successful staged roll out, the NHVR’s new online Customer Portal will become the main platform for heavy vehicle access permits from September 30.

AccessCONNECT Program Director David Carlisle said there has been an average of 70 per cent of access permit applications received per week through the online Portal as more customers embrace the new system.

Understanding the health of Australia’s heavy vehicle fleet is a step closer with more than three-quarters of the National Roadworthiness Baseline Survey completed.

NHVR Executive Director for Productivity and Safety Geoff Casey told today’s Australasian Road Safety Conference that survey inspections had been completed in NSW, Victoria and Tasmania with inspections due to commence in Western Australia and the Northern Territory shortly.

Almost 300 national heavy vehicle permit applications a week are being delivered by the NHVR’s new digital platform, just five weeks after going live.

AccessCONNECT Executive Director David Carlisle said the staged rollout of the system was proving successful, delivering almost half of all permit applications processed by the NHVR.

“Online form validation alone has saved industry 729 days and improved productivity by ensuring an application is completed correctly before it is submitted,” Mr Carlisle said.

More than 50 local government representatives from across Queensland and NSW will today identify further local access improvements for heavy vehicles at a forum hosted by the NHVR.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said its inaugural Local Government Heavy Vehicle Access Forum was part of the on-going consultation with councils to provide assistance and guidance in handling the increasing freight task on their local network.