The Safety, Productivity & Environment Construction Transport Scheme (SPECTS) has been introduced by the New South Wales Government on the back of the Government's objective of delivering more construction activity than Victoria, ACT, SA and Queensland combined.

The voluntary scheme will commence on 1 July 2016 and is primarily aimed at increasing efficiency for heavy vehicles carrying construction materials across the greater Sydney area by up to 20 per cent by allowing enrolled trucks to carry more materials in return for meeting higher environmental and safety standards. Further, in return for increased mass limits, enrolled heavy vehicles will need to comply with additional monitoring and compliance obligations, as discussed below.

It is estimated that transport operators may achieve productivity benefits, primarily in the form of costs savings, of between $80,000 - $100,000 per truck, per year as a result of the Scheme. These savings will be particularly significant for transport operators who operate a fleet of vehicles that could all fall within the Scheme and also for construction project principals who may engage road transport contractors.

Thresholds

There are various thresholds that transport operators will need to meet in order to be able to access the intended productivity benefits of the Scheme. These include:

  1. vehicles must be Performance-Based Standards (PBS) approved to perform their task as productively, safely and sustainably as possible. Similar to the objective of SPECTS, PBS requires transport operators to create innovative and optimised vehicle designs in order to achieve higher productivity and safety;
  2. all vehicles must also have an Intelligent Access Program in-vehicle unit to allow for satellite based tracking. The satellite tracking will ensure that enrolled vehicles comply with the road access conditions granted as part of the Scheme; and
  3. vehicles must be fitted with On Board Mass measurement devices to allow authorities to monitor how much is being carried on the road. These systems will provide readings to the Intelligent Access Program system. On Board Mass measurement units record axle and combination weights and communicate directly with the Intelligent Access Program.

Eligible Vehicles and Mass limits

The Scheme will allow heavy vehicles including truck and dog (6 & 7-axle), semi-trailers (up to 20 metres) with quad axle group and concrete agitators to enrol and take advantage of the increased savings on offer, subject to having Performance Based Standards (PBS) vehicle approval. There are currently no concrete agitators approved by PBS but this may change in the near future.

In terms of mass limits, truck and dog (six-axle) vehicles have been approved to carry up to 49.5-tonnes, truck and dog (seven-axle) vehicles will be able to carry up to 57.5-tonnes with semi-trailers able to carry up to 50.5-tonnes.

Further Compliance Requirements

Similar to other government schemes that offer benefits by way of increased savings, SPECTS will require transport operators to implement the following further safety features:

  1. Euro 5 diesel engine which will lower emissions on the road;
  2. Electronic Stability Control and roll-over control systems on trailers. These mechanisms will be fitted in conjunction with one another;
  3. reversing lights on both truck and trailer;
  4. enhanced visibility systems, such as blind spot mirrors; and
  5. a SPECTS label must be clearly displayed on all enrolled vehicles.

Parties in the supply chain, including drivers and operators, are advised to download, complete and submit a SPECTS Scheme application through the Roads and Maritime Services website from 1 July 2016.

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.