Road managers
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Safety and Compliance Officers
Safety and Compliance Officers (SCOs) are employed directly by the NHVR and perform heavy vehicle on-road compliance and enforcement activities under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL). SCO services are currently provided by the NHVR in:
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
SCO services will also be provided by the NHVR in Queensland in 2024.
Who else carries out safety and compliance services?
- State and territory police
- Enforcement officers employed by state and territory road transport authorities
- Local government inspectors, including Weight of Loads Groups (WOLG).
These authorised on-road compliance officers wear their own agency-issued uniforms while monitoring heavy vehicle activities and performing HVNL functions on behalf of the NHVR.
Police officers have additional enforcement powers and responsibilities (such as enforcing road rules).
Matters relating to heavy vehicle registration, inspections, driver licensing and carriage of dangerous goods remain with the relevant state or territory road transport authority.
To exercise powers under the HVNL, enforcement officers must be:
- nominated by participating state and territory road transport authorities
- appointed by the NHVR
- issued with a unique identification number
- carry and produce an approved identity card.
Note: This does not apply to police officers as they are automatically authorised under the HVNL.
Compliance and enforcement activities
Under the HVNL, on-road compliance and enforcement covers a broad range of activities including:
- inspecting prescribed work, rest, driver fatigue and work diary requirements
- enforcing standards heavy vehicles must meet when using roads
- checking maximum mass and dimensions of heavy vehicles
- checking loading and restraining of loads on heavy vehicles.
Is there a consistent enforcement approach across the states?
No matter who conducts a heavy vehicle inspection, or in which state or territory it is conducted, drivers and operators should experience consistent and transparent outcomes from on-road compliance and enforcement activities.
Here’s how we employ a consistent approach to compliance and enforcement activities:
- defective heavy vehicles – we use tiered defect notice categories (self-clearing, minor and major) and are promoting more standardised defect notices
- driver fatigue and the National Driver Work Diary – we adopt a consistent interpretation and application of driver fatigue and work diary requirements
- load restraint – we adopt a consistent application of the National Transport Commission’s Load Restraint Guide
- mass and dimensions - we focus on applying measurement adjustments for all on-road inspections delivering consistent weighing and measuring assessments
- restricted access vehicles – we undertake uniform, national processes for on-road inspections of Class 1, 2 and 3 vehicles operating under mass or dimensions exemptions (notices or permits).