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The NHVR has congratulated owners and operators that have contributed to a significant improvement in the mechanical health of Australia’s heavy vehicle fleet.
NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the results of the National Roadworthiness Survey 2021 (NRS:2021) which inspected 13,325 heavy vehicle units across 8338 heavy vehicle combination in all Australian states and territories between May and June showed significant improvements.
“In the last five years, we have seen the rate of non-conformities drop from 48 per cent of units inspected to 31 per cent,” Mr Petroccitto said.
“Importantly the most serious cases of major non-conformities and groundings has dropped from 12 per cent of inspected vehicles in 2016 to six per cent in 2021.
“The continuing maturity of the industry in adopting better safety practices like whole of business safety management systems and daily safety checks have been a key contributor in driving the downward trend.
“While it highlights progress made due to the hard work being undertaken to improve and monitor the Australian heavy vehicle fleet, I’m determined as an industry that we continue to push on and ensure that Australia has one of the safest heavy vehicle fleets in the world.
“In particular programs that continue to drive down the age of the fleet, such as the NHVR’s Vehicle SETUP plan will be vital going forward, as NRS:2021 again shows a strong link between vehicle age and mechanical safety.”
Key findings from the NRS:2021 survey included:
- The rate of all non-conformities has dropped from the 48 per cent in 2016 to 31 per cent in 2021
- The rate of major non-conformities and grounding has halved to six per cent of vehicle inspected
- Brakes remained the highest non-conforming components – reducing from 25 per cent in 2016 to 14 per cent in 2021
- Rigid trucks were the highest non-conforming vehicle type at 38 per cent, which has again reduced from 52 per cent in 2016
- The average age of the inspected fleet was 10.2 years, compared to 9.2 years in 2016.
Mr Petroccitto said the results would help inform the regulator’s modern approach to regulation that uses intelligence to address the greatest safety risks and keeps compliant operators moving.
“I’d also like to thank the NHVR staff and staff from transport agencies across Australia for their assistance in conducting the survey, particularly with constantly changing operating condition due to local COVID restrictions,” he said.
“Despite the challenges, officers across all states and territories inspected 17 per cent more heavy vehicles in 2021, and through the use of technology and consistent inspection systems we were able to reduce the average inspection time from the from 45 minutes in 2016 to 31 minutes in 2021.”
The full survey and other results are available here