In the media
Road authority targets hip pocket nerve in compliance
strategy
VicRoads says it's going after income by grounding
trucks, in an effort to ramp up compliance after discovering
companies are factoring infringements into their budgets (19
October 2018).
More...
NHVR: Independent expert to lead review of PBS
tyres
The NHVR has appointed independent road safety expert Dr
John de Pont to lead a review of PBS tyre standards and operations.
The review will also look at the effects of tyre characteristics on
safety performance, key tyre performance parameters, the
performance of truck tyres currently available in Australia and the
effects of tyre designs (18 October 2018).
More...
NTC holds firm on transport reforms
The National Transport Commission (NTC)
has pointed to Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL)
review and automated vehicle regulation as two important areas of
land transport reform, in its annual report (16 October 2018).
More...
Key freight corridors targeted in Roads of Strategic
Importance initiative
Increased productivity and regional economic growth are
two key goals of the government's Roads of Strategic Importance
(ROSI) initiative, which is set to invest $3.5
billion over 10 years towards key freight routes in Australia (15
October 2018).
More...
NatRoad criticises right-hand lane closure for
trucks
National Road Transport Association
(NatRoad) members have questioned the recently
announced permanent closure to trucks of the right-hand lane on
major highways (14 October 2018).
More...
NHVR: Draft Safety Policy aligns with NHVR's
expanding operational role
The NHVR has released a draft Safety Policy, to align with
its expanding operational role in heavy vehicle safety. NHVR
Productivity and Safety Executive Director Geoff Casey said the
Safety Policy was open for comment (12 October 2018).
More...
New notice helps A-double drivers
The Queensland Government, NHVR and Queensland Trucking
Association (QTA) have collaborated to develop a
notice for Performance Based Standard (PBS)
A-doubles between Toowoomba and the Port of Brisbane. Transport and
Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the notice would eliminate the
need for permits for PBS A-doubles operating at masses up to 79.5
tonnes (General Mass Limits) or up to 81.5 tonnes
(Concessional Mass Limits) (09 October 2018).
More...
ATSB: Large ships + little vessels = big trouble
Collisions at sea can endanger the lives of those on board
and can cause significant structural damage to the vessels
involved. The ATSB Executive Director Transport Safety, Mr Nat Nagy
said that over the past 28 years the ATSB had investigated 38
collisions between large ships and small vessels. A proper and
effective lookout by all is available as defined by the
international collision regulations (COLREGs) (10
October 2018).
More...
Freight planning must factor in population policy
The Australian Logistics Council (ALC)
has welcomed the speech by the Minister for Cities, Urban
Infrastructure and Population, Hon. Alan Tudge MP, which highlights
the need for Commonwealth leadership in driving better planning
outcomes and reducing road congestion as Australia's population
grows (09 October 2018).
More...
Queensland puts restricted heavy vehicles on
notice
Short cuts taken by Queensland drivers of trucks weighing
more than 4.5 tonnes will be monitored under a new trial announced
by the Queensland Government (09 October 2018).
More...
New South Wales releases Newcastle region transport
plan
The New South Wales Government has identified three
pivotal projects for freight in its newly released Greater
Newcastle Future Transport Plan (08 October 2018).
More...
Published – articles, papers, reports
Motor accident
injury insurance and automated vehicles: discussion
paper
National Transport Commission: 17 October 2018
This paper identifies elements within existing motor accident
injury insurance schemes that may act as barriers to accessing
compensation for personal injuries or death caused by an automated
driving system.
On the Road - Issue 45, 9 October 2018 - NHVR
newsletter
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.
In practice and courts
NTC Discussion Paper: Tackling privacy challenges of
government access to data from automated vehicles
The NTC's
discussion paper identifies three categories of new privacy
challenges, and outlines options to address these as they relate to
automated vehicle and C-ITS technology. The paper does not examine
private sector access to data. Submissions can be made online via
the NTC website.
Submissions close on 22 November 2018, with recommendations due to
Australian transport ministers in May 2019.
NHVR Consultation: draft Safety
Policy
The Safety Policy is intended to promote an
environment of continuous improvement that embraces safety,
including the evaluation of our activities and initiatives to
ensure that they are delivering the intended safety outcomes. The
Safety Policy will be available on the NHVR website for comment
until November 5 (12 October 2018). More...
NHVR: Drought heavy vehicle access - National Class 3 Drought Assistance Dimension Exemption Notice 2018
National Class 3 Drought Assistance Dimension Exemption Notice 2018 (No.1) - This notice exempts eligible vehicles from complying with certain dimension requirements when transporting specified commodities for consumption by livestock in declared drought affected areas.
National Class 3 Drought Relief Dimension Exemption Operators Guide Updated 11 October 2018 - This guide operates in conjunction with the national drought notice and includes important information such as network references and commodity types. Under the national drought notice, an eligible vehicle carrying baled or rolled hay or straw may operate up to 2.83m in width and 4.6m in height.
IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, 60th edition
60th Edition of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations and
associated products are now available for pre-order. Expected
delivery is mid-late October 2018. There are a large number of
changes in the new edition of the IATA DGR Manual so make sure you
order your new copy to reflect these changes.
Click here to view the list of the significant changes and
amendments to the 60th Edition.
New Standards
AS 22915.12:2018
Industrial trucks - Verification of stability - Industrial
variable-reach trucks handling freight containers of 6 m (20 ft)
length and longer (ISO 22915-12:2015, MOD) Standards Australia.
AS 22915.20:2018
Industrial trucks - Verification of stability - Additional
stability test for trucks operating in the special condition of
offset load, offset by utilization (ISO 22915-20:2008, MOD)
Standards Australia.
AS 22915.9:2018
Industrial trucks - Verification of stability - Counterbalanced
trucks with mast handling freight containers of 6 m (20 ft) length
and longer (ISO 22915-9:2014, MOD) Standards Australia.
Legislation
Gazetted
National
Heavy Vehicle Regulator Prescribed Fees for 2018/19 Financial
Year
15/10/2018 - Pursuant to s740A(4) of the Heavy Vehicle
National Law, prescribed fees set by the National Heavy Vehicle
Regulator for the 2018/19 financial year are hereby set out in
Schedule 1 of this Notice. The fees in this Schedule take effect on
15 October 2018.
Heavy
Vehicle National Law - South Australia Class 3 Long Prime Mover
Combination Exemption Notice 2018 (No.1)
15/10/2018 – The purpose of this Notice is to
provide a length exemption for combinations consisting of a long
prime mover and a compliant semi-trailer up to 20m in length.
Participating jurisdiction means South Australia.
Heavy
Vehicle National Law - National Class 2 Heavy Vehicle Road Train
Authorisation (Notice) 2015 Amendment Notice 2018 (No.
1)
15/10/2018 - The purpose of this Notice is to amend
certain conditions in the Queensland Schedule of the National Class
2 Heavy Vehicle Road Train Authorisation (Notice) 2015 Amendment
Notice 2018 (No. 1) to remove invalid speed conditions. The primary
notice is amended as follows:— In Schedule 2 Queensland, omit
section 16.
Heavy
Vehicle National Law - Queensland Class 2 Performance Based
Standards A-Double (Toowoomba to Port of Brisbane) Authorisation
Notice 2018 (No.1)
09/10/2018 - The purpose of this Notice is to authorise
Performance Based Standards (PBS) A-doubles to
access a special PBS network running from Toowoomba to Port of
Brisbane up to a Gross Combination Mass of 85 tonnes.
New South Wales
Bills introduced Government – 19 October
2018
Road Transport Amendment (National Facial Biometric Matching
Capability) Bill 2018
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.