Health of heavy vehicle fleet becoming clearer

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.

“The results of the Survey are important not only for the Regulator but for operators and the industry as a whole,” Mr Casey.

“Industry support has been positive, with many operators proactively engaging inspectors to examine their fleet at depots across the country.

“The fact that operators are asking to be inspected and surveyed highlights the collaborative work of the NHVR, states, territories and industry.”

The Survey which commenced on August 1 is the first time Australia’s national heavy vehicle fleet has been assessed under the same criteria, using the National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual.

KS Easters Managing Director, Ken Easter said industry wanted better data to improve their understanding of the fleet’s overall condition as a benchmark of industries safety performance.

“If we know that our drivers and our fleet are operating at a high safety standard, we are a more productive business,” Mr Easter said.

The survey will sample up to 9000 heavy vehicles, including rigid, articulated, B-doubles, road trains, buses and plant equipment.

Further information is available at www.nhvr.gov.au.