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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.
“Safer technology, such as braking systems, that also delivers greater productivity outcomes is providing benefits for more than two billion tonnes of freight moved around Australia each year.”
“Truck and dog combinations continue to be the most popular combinations making up more than half of all approvals, followed by semis, B-double and A-double combinations.”
The PBS scheme has been in operation since October 2007 and managed by the NHVR since January 2013.
The NHVR Quarterly Snapshot also showed 7465 heavy vehicle permit applications, a slight reduction in the number of applications, compared to the record levels (7591) of the previous quarter.
The National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation scheme, which provides flexibility for operators that demonstrate robust safety management systems, was up slightly on the 2015-16 result – 6231 accredited operators, compared to 6188 in 2015-16.
“I was also pleased to see that local government road managers are continuing their recent record of turning around permit applications quickly, despite the increase in requests from heavy vehicle operators in many areas,” Mr Petroccitto said.
“Tasmanian local road managers led the way with 4.8 days per consent, followed by South Australian and Victorian local road managers.
“We’ve been working closely with local councils and their peak bodies across Queensland, NSW and South Australia to increase awareness of the types of heavy vehicles and their impact on local roads.
“This includes a PBS demonstration day which was held in Bundaberg and one to come in Toowoomba, a local government forum hosted by the peak council associations in NSW and Queensland, and the release of the final two videos in our Local Government in Focus series.”
The Q1 2016-17 Quarterly Snapshot, including state-by-state heat maps and data is available at www.nhvr.gov.au/publications