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Heavy vehicle drivers and operators will benefit from a greater level of consistency in on-road compliance and enforcement outcomes when the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) commences.
For heavy vehicle drivers, this will bring about more consistent on-road processes for fatigue, defective heavy vehicles, mass and dimensions, load restraint and restricted access vehicles, no matter who conducts the inspection or in which state or territory it is conducted.
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) CEO Richard Hancock says the Regulator and its partners have worked together to ensure compliance and enforcement was a key priority under the HVNL.
“Previously, on-road compliance and enforcement activities varied between states and territories. Since mid-2012, the NHVR and its partners have worked to harmonise these processes under the soon-to-be commenced national law,” Mr Hancock said.
“We’ve worked collaboratively with state and territory road transport authorities and Police agencies with the aim of delivering consistent on-road compliance and enforcement, aiming for the same outcome in the same circumstances.”
The heavy vehicle industry will see improved consistency and transparency for:
- managing driver fatigue and the National Driver Work Diary – more consistent interpretation and application of driver fatigue and work diary requirements
- defective heavy vehicles – a tiered defect scheme (formal warning, minor, major and major grounded) and promoting more standardised defect notices and label formats
- load restraint – the National Transport Commission’s Load Restraint Guide continues to be the standard with more consistent application and outcomes
- mass and dimensions – a focus on applying measurement adjustments for all on-road inspections delivering consistent weighing and measuring assessments
- restricted access vehicles – uniform, national processes for on-road inspections of Class 1, 2 and 3 vehicles operating under mass or dimensions exemptions (notices or permits).
The NHVR also has a dedicated Compliance and Enforcement team which will work with industry and continue to support Police agencies and on-road enforcement officers including transport inspectors.
Enforcement officers employed by participating state and territory road transport authorities will continue to wear their own state-or territory- issued uniform while performing functions on behalf of the NHVR.
Mr Hancock says more consistent on-road enforcement will boost industry confidence in the new regulatory framework. “Ultimately, this should lead to greater community confidence that Australia’s heavy vehicle operators work within the rules and put safety first,” said Mr Hancock.
ENDS...
Contact: Orla Thompson
Manager – Marketing and Communication
Email: media@nhvr.gov.au
Mobile: 0419 092 510