Act early on the warning signs of Fatigue this Christmas
The NHVR is reminding drivers to look out for the signs of fatigue and prioritise their health and wellbeing during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said it’s an important reminder because the five key indicators of fatigue can affect drivers at any time.
“As we know, fatigue can impact every individual differently and it’s possible for drivers to be affected even when they are compliant with their work and rest limits.” Sal said.
“We are reminding drivers to be vigilant and aware of the five indicators of fatigue – inattention, irregular body movements, erratic vehicle movements, dull sensory alertness or poor concentration.
“You are the best person to identify if you’re getting fatigued and need a break.
“If you do notice the signs, please act early, stop and rest.”
Mr Petroccitto said physical and mental health can also impact fatigue, so it’s important everyone in the heavy vehicle industry prioritises their health and has an open conversation with their employer about their current state of fitness.
“I encourage all drivers to speak to their employer about reviewing trip schedules regularly, to break up the monotony of driving the same routes, which can contribute to inattention and fatigue.
“By focusing on fatigue this holiday season, we can help keep all road users safe and ensure everyone has a safe journey home to their loved ones.”
For more information on fatigue visit www.nhvr.gov.au/fatigue
Play it safe this Christmas - trucks need space to keep you safe
The NHVR is urging all road users to take care around heavy vehicles ahead of the Christmas and New Year period.
According to the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics (BITRE), tragically there have been 165 fatalities involving heavy vehicles in 2022 so far.
NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said sharing the ‘We Need Space’ message is vital and could help save the life of your family members or friends during Australia’s busiest time of year on roads.
“Never cut in front of an oversize vehicle – they can’t stop suddenly, and they can’t bend. When going round a corner, they can sweep across several lanes, so passing on corners can be extremely dangerous.”
“By following these simple steps, you can help keep Australia’s roads safe for all road users over the Christmas and New Year break.
“A part of our role as the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator is to keep our roads safe and heavy vehicles moving and it’s through a shared understanding across all road users around how to share our roads safely that allows this to happen.”
To read more about the Christmas message to light vehicle drivers, click here.
New combinations added to PBS high productivity notice in Victoria
Four new Performance Based Standards (PBS) combinations are now eligible to operate in Victoria under the National Class 2 Performance Based Standards (High Productivity) Authorisation Notice 2022 (No.3).
These new vehicles include B-triples general freight, B-triples volumetric, AB-triples general freight and AB-triples volumetric.
NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said that, since the notice was introduced in Victoria and New South Wales, it had replaced thousands of Class 2 permits, saving administrative time and cost and improving productivity.
“In Victoria, this notice has streamlined access for most of the 1,500 PBS vehicles that meet the requirements to run on the state’s 8,000 kilometre High Productivity Freight Vehicle Network,” Sal said.
“The release of the NHVR National Map in the new year will continue to support improved efficiencies and get safer and more productive vehicles on the roads sooner, including the ability for road managers to update gazetted networks in real time.
“The new map will remove the need for industry to access multiple state and territory maps when planning their journeys and access requirements, with end-to-end and cross-border networks displayed in one location.”
For more information about the National Class 2 Performance Based Standards (High Productivity) Authorisation Notice 2022 (No.3), read the Operator’s Guide.
Reasonably practicable explained in latest NHVR Regulatory Advice
Reasonably practicable is the cornerstone of the primary duty obligation and underpins Chain of Responsibility (CoR), but what does it actually mean?
The NHVR’s latest Regulatory Advice looks at how reasonably practicable should be interpreted, and what you need to weigh up when deciding whether you’re doing all you can to eliminate, minimise or control the risks within your business.
It comes down to a question of judgement, with the main requirement being that the safety measures you take are proportionate to the overall risk in a situation. The circumstances of each situation must be considered, as each will have different kinds of risk, with different outcomes, and each will have different obstacles and requirements. These will determine the amount of effort, time and expense needed to manage those risks.
To find out more about how to meet this important legal requirement, read Regulatory Advice – Reasonably practicable
Temporary supplementary access notices to facilitate South Australia flood mitigation works
The NHVR has released two temporary supplementary access notices in South Australia so that operators can prepare for the expected flooding in the state and assist with flood recovery efforts.
The National Class 2 Supplementary Access (South Australia Floods) Authorisation Notice 2022 (No.1) authorises the access of Class 2 road trains up to 36.5m in length to specified networks in South Australia at General Mass Limits to enable the transport of goods, equipment, machinery and other materials along specified routes for the purpose of building or maintaining flood mitigation works.
The National Class 3 Supplementary Access (South Australia Floods) Exemption Notice 2022 (No.1) provides access for road trains up to 36.5m long to South Australian specified networks for the same purposes, but also provides exemptions from certain axle mass requirements and conditional mass limits, enabling them to operate at increased mass limits similar to Higher Mass Limits.
Both notices are currently in place until midnight on Monday 12 December 2022.
Queensland transition to Smart On-Board Mass and Telematics Monitoring Application
Queensland’s Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is introducing changes to the use of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), which will apply to the following notices:
- National Class 2 PBS Level 1 & 2a Truck and Dog Trailer Authorisation Notice 2022 (No.1)
- Queensland Class 2 Performance Based Standards A-Double (Toowoomba to Port of Brisbane) Authorisation Notice 2022 (No.1)
- Queensland Higher Mass Limits Declaration 2022 (No.1)
- National Class 3 20m Long 3-axle Truck and 4-axle Dog Trailer Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2022 (No.2)
Class 2 heavy vehicles currently operating under Queensland Interim On-Board Mass (OBM) and Higher Mass Limits in the Intelligent Access Program (IAP), and some specified Class 3 heavy vehicles with telematic requirements, will be required to transition to Smart OBM and Telematics Monitoring Application (TMA) by 1 June 2024.
From 1 December 2022, an operator enrolling in an ITS must enrol in TMA. Operators who enrolled in IAP prior to 1 December 2022 may continue to use IAP until 1 June 2024 must therefore transition to TMA by this date.
TMR says Smart OBM and TMA will deliver a richer dataset, providing TMR with more oversight over how heavy vehicles are used on the road network. This will ensure greater ability to consider access options in the future.
To find out more information about the transition, click here.
Christmas/New Years business hours
From 24 December 2022 to 2 January 2023 inclusive, the NHVR offices will close for the Christmas/New Year break.
From 28 to 30 December 2022 we will continue to process Access and NHVAS applications and provide limited support from 9am-5pm AEDT. We will not be processing any other types of applications (i.e. Fatigue, PBS or Vehicle Standards) during this period.
Our contact centre will be closed on the national public holidays but will be open all other business days from 8am-6pm AEDT.
The Heavy Vehicle Confidential Reporting Line will also be closed from 24 December 2022 to 2 January 2023. If it’s an emergency or there’s a safety risk happening on the road please call 000.
In NSW our Heavy Vehicle Safety Stations will continue to operate during the holiday period. A number of Heavy Vehicle Inspection Scheme (HVIS) stations will be closed on public holidays but open all other business days.
State and territory road transport agencies have advised the closure of their access permitting offices over the holiday period. To view their office closure dates, click here.
Christmas/New Years travel restrictions
Over the Christmas and New Year period, there are travel restrictions in place for certain Class 1 heavy vehicles.
For vehicles operating under a permit, operators should check the permit's conditions to establish whether Christmas or public holiday travel restrictions are listed or are referenced in related notices. All heavy vehicles are subject to conditions of access under their relevant notice or permit.
> Click here for more information about holiday access arrangements