It’s ‘Take Your Dog To Work Day’ and the NHVR wants to know: is your ‘dog’ fit for the road?

What’s longer than a dachshund and heavier than a wolfhound…

…Every truck and dog combination on Australia’s roads, of course.

Today on ‘Take Your Dog To Work Day’, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is seizing the opportunity to issue a cheeky reminder about safely securing your load.

NHVR Chief Operations Officer Paul Salvati said though the message was tongue-in-cheek, the importance of safety was as critical as ever.

“They may not be the first type of ‘dog’ that comes to people’s minds, but industry would know these trailers are some of the road’s hardest working- moving bulk materials and ensuring timely and efficient freight movements,” Mr Salvati said.

“However, for operators and drivers using truck and dog combinations, it’s essential to take the time to ensure every load is secure.

“Trucks and dog trailers require proper load restraint to ensure safe transport and prevent a load from moving excessively or dislodging.

“The extra time spent securing a load could be the difference between being compliant or not, and more importantly, keeping all road users safe- including a potential four-legged friend in your cabin!"

Mr Salvati said industry could seek advice from the NHVR’s Load Restraint Guide, which provides best practice load restraint systems to meet a broad range of loading requirements and standards.

“The NHVR’s Load Restraint Guide was recently rebranded and reformatted to enhance usability,” he said.

“It includes technical information, detailed diagrams and worked examples to help determine the restraint required for heavy vehicle loads.”

The NHVR has also launched a discussion paper to assess the scope and direction of future updates of the guide, ensuring it will continue to meet industry’s needs.

Feedback is welcome from anyone with an interest in the safe loading of heavy vehicles which includes operators, loaders, manufacturers and engineers.

Order the new guide or find our more information on the discussion paper at www.nhvr.gov.au/load-restraint-guide