Road managers
Accessibility tools
Development of an industry master code of practice for heavy vehicle safety is progressing well with the project receiving $200,000 of Commonwealth Government funding assistance under the NHVR’s Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative program.
NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the industry-wide master code will provide consistent and risk-based approaches to improving safety and compliance with the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).
“Led by the Australian Logistics Council (ALC) and the Australian Trucking Association (ATA), the master code will help adopters to identify, assess and mitigate risks to meet their obligations under the national law and improve safety. I encourage industry to be involved in the consultation workshops being conducted by ALC and ATA to develop this code which will deliver significant heavy vehicle safety benefits,” Mr Petroccitto said.
ALC and ATA have established a company called Safe Trucking and Supply Chains Limited to develop the code of practice. Safe Trucking and Supply Chains Chairman John West welcomed the support of the NHVR for the project.
“This is a huge opportunity for all operators in the supply chain to be able to benefit from this industry master code being produced and ultimately placed on the web for all to use. The cooperation of the NHVR and the Commonwealth Government in supporting ALC and the ATA to facilitate this will benefit many in the supply chain well into the future,” Mr West said.
The Master Code will address the management of speed, fatigue, mass, dimension and loading and vehicle standards under the HVNL, particularly as it relates to the new primary duty as part of chain of responsibility amendments due to commence in mid-2018. It will especially assist small trucking companies with fewer than 20 employees, which comprise a significant proportion of trucking businesses, to build compliance systems that assist them in managing the safety requirements of the new primary duties.
A Registered Industry Code of Practice outlines guidance, procedures and best practice principles for parties in the chain of responsibility to implement safety standards. By adopting these codes, businesses can reduce their risk of non-compliance with the Heavy Vehicle National Law and improve safety.
ALC and the ATA plan to submit the industry master code to the NHVR for assessment in the first quarter of 2018.
Contact: Rebecca Ho | 0429 310 677