In the media
M5 investigation finds minor issues
An investigation by police and Roads and Maritime Services
after a truck rollover on the M5 Motorway has only revealed minor
defects. A substance found inside the truck is being investigated
for drugs as officers explore drug use, fatigue and speed as
potential factors in the crash (25 July 2019).
More...
Heavy vehicle on-road trial moves into next stage
A partnership between government and the heavy vehicle
industry moves into full swing this month with the first in a
series of on-road trials designed to test potential direct road
user charging options for heavy vehicles (25 July 2019).
More...
NBTA partners with ARTSA for heavy vehicle fires
prevention strategy conference
Australian Road Transport Suppliers Association
(ARTSA) and the National Bulk Tankers Association
(NBTA) have been selected by the National Heavy
Vehicle Regulator to lead an Australian project aimed at reducing
the occurrence of heavy vehicle fires (24 July 2019).
More...
NHVR announces pre-advised PBS combination
extension
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
(NHVR) has expanded performance-based standards
(PBS) pre-advised design approvals to include PBS
combinations carrying dangerous goods (23 July 2019).
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Cargo loading gets safety boost as truck trips forecast
to reach $7M
Funding under the National Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative
program addressing unsafe loading and cargo restraint inside
international shipping containers has been welcomed by key freight
associations (22 July 2019).
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NatRoad condemns 'absurd' fatigue laws in HVNL
review
The National Road Transport Association
(NatRoad) has taken aim at the current fatigue
management approach in its submission to the Heavy Vehicle National
Law review, calling for a reinvention of national fatigue laws.
Clark says current 'dysfunctional' system needs rethink (22
July 2019).
More...
HVNL Review update
The NHVR recently met with a group of industry
associations, government representatives and the Australian Local
Government Association to discuss key issues on the Heavy Vehicle
National Law Review. NHVR Corporate Affairs Executive Director Joe
Fitzgerald said the Review, being conducted by the National
Transport Commission, was an important opportunity to continue to
reform heavy vehicle safety and productivity (19 July 2019). More...
Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative round backs 24
projects
More than $700,000 of heavy vehicle safety funding has
been allocated to supporting truck driver mental health initiatives
through the 2019-20
Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative. Funding for mental health
would be allocated to three organisations under the National Heavy
Vehicle Regulator's $5.4 million safety fund (19 July 2019).
More...
HVIA brings vehicle width and standards Act issues to
talks
Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA)
has issued papers before conducting state committee meetings in
Brisbane and Sydney on truck and trailer width and the Road
Vehicle Standards Act (16 July 2019).
More...
SafeWork NSW issues heavy vehicle incident reports
SafeWork NSW has released a series of incident reports
addressing the transport and maintenance industries after a recent
spate of workplace fatalities (15 July 2019).
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Published – articles, papers, reports
Guidelines for the Provision of Heavy Vehicle Rest Area
Facilities (Ed 1.1)
AP-R591-19: 16 July 2019
To aid road managers in this task, Austroads has produced
Guidelines for the Provision of Heavy Vehicle Rest area facilities.
This document draws on and provides an update to the 2005 National
Transport Commission Guidelines.
More...
NTC on the Road - On the Road - Issue 64, 23 July
2019
On the Road provides important information on the heavy
vehicle industry, including the latest NHVR news and events,
relevant law and policy changes, and resources to help industry
members comply with the HVNL.
More...
In practice and courts
Current Consultations
Performance of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Status: Submissions closed Date Referred: 23 July 2019.
The policy, regulatory, taxation, administrative and funding
priorities for Australian shipping.
Status: Submissions closed. Date Referred: 23 July 2019. Reporting
Date: 05 December 2019.
AMSA: Have your say on managing the risk of
fatigue
AMSA are seeking people working in the domestic commercial
vessel industry to complete our short survey on their experiences
of fatigue for the development of relevant and effective guidance
and encourage safe management practices (18 July 2019). More...
NHVR: What is the different between a pre-approval and
gazettal (for road managers)
A pre-approval is an agreement in place between the NHVR
and a road manager to issue permits without individual written
consent for each application. A heavy vehicle Gazetted Notice is an
exemption, authority or declaration made under the Heavy Vehicle
National Law, or previous State or Territory law. This includes any
additional road manager consents for related roads that may be
required prior to gazettal (19 July 2019).
More...
AIS: Transport and Logistics Industry Reference
Committee Projects
Cross Sector Supply Chain Skills - Development.
More...
AMSA: Consultation - draft Marine Order 31 (SOLAS and
vessel safety certification) 2019
Consultation on Marine Order 31 is open until 4 August
2019. Marine Order 31 provides the requirements for survey,
certification and maintenance of certification of vessels. The
order gives effect to chapters I and VIII of
SOLAS and applies to regulated Australian vessels, government
vessels and foreign vessels.
More...
Heavy Vehicle National Law
Heavy Vehicle National Law Review: Update
The purpose of the Heavy Vehicle National Law Review is to
deliver – from a first principles perspective – a
modern, outcome-focussed law regulating the use of heavy
vehicles.
Effective fatigue management (May) – open for comment until
16 August 2019.
Easy access to suitable routes (June) – open for comment
until 16 August 2019.
More...
NTC Consultation RIS: Developing technology - neutral
road rules for driver distraction
Comments are due 21 August 2019. The purpose of this
project is to find a better way to regulate the safe use of
technology devices as part of the Australian Road Rules.
More...
NTC Issues Paper - Easy access to suitable routes
Comments due 16 August 2019.
More...
NTC Issues Paper - Vehicle standards and safety
Comments are due by 30 August 2019.
More...
NTC: National Heavy Vehicle Law Review Issues Paper
2
The National Transport Commission has begun its review of
the National Heavy Vehicle
Law. The commission is inviting stakeholders to provide their
views on the law until February 2020.
The second issues
paper has now been published, focusing on fatigue management.
Feedback is due by 16 August 2019.
More...
Legislation
Gazetted
Heavy
Vehicle National Law - New South Wales Class 1 All Terrain Mobile
Crane and Dolly Combination Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice
2019 (No.1)
19/07/2019 - The purpose of this Notice is to exempt
stated Class 1 heavy vehicles from the prescribed mass requirements
and prescribed dimension requirements specified in the Notice,
subject to the conditions specified in the Notice and the
accompanying Operator's Guide.
Heavy
Vehicle National Law - New South Wales Class 1 4-Axle & 5-Axle
All Terrain Mobile Crane Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019
(No.1)
19/07/2019 - The purpose of this Notice is to exempt
stated Class 1 heavy vehicles from the prescribed mass requirements
and prescribed dimension requirements specified in the Notice,
subject to the conditions specified in the Notice and the
accompanying Operator's Guide.
This publication does not deal with every important topic or change in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you have found this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact one of the named individuals listed.