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The NHVR has joined state and local road authorities to boost productivity and slash red tape for the construction industry.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the National Class 1 Special Purpose Vehicle Notice ensured that vehicles like mobile cranes and concrete pumps would have access to a large network of state controlled roads across Australia and we’ll continue to work with road managers across the country to expand this network.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has released Australia's first gazette Notice for Performance Based Standards (PBS) truck and dog combinations.

PBS combinations are modern vehicles designed to perform tasks more productively, safely and sustainably and are tested to rigorous safety standards.

The Notice will replace the need for state based permits for heavy vehicle combinations comprising of a three or four-axle truck, towing a three, four or five-axle dog trailer.

NHVR Chairman, Bruce Baird congratulates Noelene Watson on her re-election as the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) Chair.

“It is great news to hear that Noelene will take on her second term leading an important section of the heavy vehicle industry,” Mr Baird said.

“Her experience and passion for the industry is to be commended.

“We look forward to continue working collaboratively with the ATA to provide a safer and more productive heavy vehicle industry,” Mr Baird said.

Two of Australia’s leading heavy vehicle industry groups have thrown their support behind new guidelines for nationally consistent Codes of Practice.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto welcomed the support of the Australian Logistics Council and the Australian Trucking Association for the new guidelines which will be introduced from July 1, 2016.

“The new guidelines will add further assistance by helping to educate and support industry to deliver better and more consistent safety outcomes,” Mr Petroccitto said.

Consultation is underway to assess the health of Australia’s 520,000-strong heavy vehicle fleet.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said information had been released to each state and territory to measure the roadworthiness of heavy vehicles later this year.

“For the first time in Australia, we’ll be conducting a national survey of heavy vehicle roadworthiness using trained inspectors to gather consistent safety information,” Mr Petroccitto said.

More than 400 local councils and six state and territory governments will now have access to new guidelines to better assess and apply conditions to permits for heavy vehicles, through the release of two guidance documents.

NHVR CEO, Sal Petroccitto said the release of two guidance documents would deliver consistency and standardise the conditions which can be applied to a heavy vehicle permit.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator will target freight efficiency in a series of face-to-face meetings with councils and industry representatives in country NSW this week.

NHVR’s Industry and Stakeholder Manager John Gilbert said discussions would focus on two of Australia most important freight routes – the New England Highway and the Newell Highway.

“We need a better understanding of local freight issues and how we can assist both industry and councils to improve freight efficiency and safety, to grow local economies,” Mr Gilbert said.

The ACT and Tasmania joined South Australia this week in adopting the National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual Version 2.

The ACT Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Shane Rattenbury MLA welcomed this step towards a nationally consistent approach.

"Due to the hard work of Access Canberra, the NHVR and other stakeholders, operators can start benefitting now from the improved safety outcomes that a national manual will bring," said Mr Rattenbury.

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, Sal Petroccitto, says the Regulator is gearing up to meet with 220 expected delegates at the Livestock and Bulk Carriers Association (LBCA) 2016 Conference at Bathurst this weekend, 4-5 March.

“Heading into our fourth year of operation, the NHVR is a regular fixture at the LBCA Conference, because we know the vital role that livestockers and bulk carriers play in growing regional economies across the country,” said Mr Petroccitto.

Tasmania implements national inspection standards for heavy vehicles today, representing the first step in moving toward a new approach for managing the safety of Australia’s heavy vehicle fleet.

The adoption of the National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual Version 2 in Tasmania provides a national set of standards and criteria for inspecting heavy vehicles. Developed with extensive industry consultation, all participating states and territories will adopt the manual into their inspection regimes by 1 July 2016.

Operators under NHVAS mass management accreditation are now only required to keep trip records when the vehicle/combination is loaded above general mass limits (GML) under changes announced today by the NHVR.

NHVR Executive Director, Productivity and Safety, Geoff Casey said the change would benefit up to 4,500 transport operators using approximately 32,000 vehicles.

"After discussions with industry we have decided that only when a trip involves an axle or gross vehicle mass above GML will the operator be required to keep a mass record for the trip," said Mr Casey.

The NHVR will deliver additional productivity benefits through a reduction in red tape, following the Commonwealth Government's relaxation of the Australian Design Rules.

The NHVR today issued a vehicle standards exemption notice that removes the requirement for in-service semitrailers to have their rear bumper bars painted white.

NHVR's Executive Director of Productivity and Safety, Geoff Casey confirmed the NHVR exemption broadens the Commonwealth's decision to remove the requirement for new semitrailers built after 1 January 2005.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) Board Chairman, Bruce Baird, said today the nation's trucking Regulator is set to work with Darren Chester, incoming federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport.

"I congratulate Mr Chester on his appointment and assure him that the Regulator is ready to work with him and all states and territories on continued reform for Australia's road transport industry.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) pays tribute to the outgoing Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister, Warren Truss, who announced his retirement today.

"I'm indebted to Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss for his support for the national Regulator and enduring commitment to reform in the road transport industry, said NHVR Board Chairman, Bruce Baird.

Moree Plains Shire Council embraces permit process, benefiting local economy and freight businesses.

The NHVR has developed a video capturing the council’s outstanding work, which is providing widespread benefits across the community.

NHVR CEO, Sal Petroccitto said the council’s approach to access permit requests and their commitment to engagement with the heavy vehicle sector is a great example of the productivity benefits which can be achieved for local governments and industry.

The NHVR supports the use of telematics within the Heavy Vehicle Industry.

NHVR Executive Director for Productivity and Safety, Geoff Casey appreciates the Australian Logistics Council’s (ALC) commitment to improving the Heavy Vehicle industry.

"The NHVR agrees with the ALC's recent statement that data captured from heavy vehicles, with regard to their speed, fatigue and a variety of other measures, can lead to improved safety and compliance outcomes on our roads.

The NHVR's enhanced performance heat map technology will advance the movement of freight across the country. The maps will provide local government with the ability to compare permit requests and work with adjoining councils to locate where improvements can be made to the road network.

NHVR Director of Access, Peter Caprioli said that the NHVR developed tool will assist with the unblocking of impacted red areas shown on the maps.

Australia’s openness to the idea of high productivity vehicle design has gained it international attention, but a complex approval process and on-going political quarrel have long held it back. Where are we standing now?

Prime Mover magazine published a national PBS fleet report in December 2015 that explored the beginning of the PBS to its growth today.

Heavy vehicle operators now have a comprehensive guide to heavy vehicle safety with the launch of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator's (NHVR) revised National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual.

The manual provides a simple guide to what makes a vehicle roadworthy. Although designed as a compliance tool for assessing roadworthiness, heavy vehicle operators can use the manual in routine maintenance programs to ensure compliance with vehicle standards and improve their vehicle's safety.

A nationally consistent approach to heavy vehicle safety moved one step closer with the launch of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator's (NHVR) revised National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual by South Australia's Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Stephen Mullighan at the South Australian Freight Industry Council meeting in Adelaide today.

Minister Mullighan said the manual paved the way for a consistent national approach to heavy vehicle inspections and was a foundation towards improvement in safety across the heavy vehicle industry.

Every individual in the Chain of Responsibility can make a difference to safety for all road users, says the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator's (NHVR) Manager for Chain of Responsibility, Michael Crellin, speaking at the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Chain of Responsibility Conference in Sydney today.

"With a national Regulator and national law in place, we have the right infrastructure to effect change.