Heavy vehicle safety a step closer

A nationally consistent approach to heavy vehicle safety moved one step closer with the launch of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NHVR) revised inspection manual.

Released yesterday by South Australia’s Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Stephen Mullighan, in Adelaide, the National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual is expected to be the foundation towards improvement in safety across the heavy vehicle industry.

“The importance of this manual can’t be overstated — it will provide a single roadworthiness reference for both authorised officers as well as heavy vehicle operators,” he said.

The Minister added the revised publication is the first stage in developing a single national approach to heavy vehicle roadworthiness, which applies to all vehicles with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) or aggregate trailer mass (ATM) greater than 4.5 tonnes.

The document provides transparency about how heavy vehicles will be inspected nationally. It is easier to navigate, visually engaging and contains professional technical photographs and detailed diagrams to aid understanding.

NHVR Chief Executive Officer Sal Petroccitto said the manual is the first project to be delivered by the National Heavy Vehicle Roadworthiness Program, which is aimed at implementing consistent standards for inspections, the skills of inspectors, the criteria for which components or subsystems are inspected, and the management and clearance of defects.

It details practical information about wear, damage or change to important components and systems for in-service inspections by owners, operators and administrators in each state and territory. Heavy vehicle transport operators can now begin using the document in routine maintenance programs to improve vehicle standards compliance and help reduce vehicle downtime.

All states and territories have agreed to implement the manual into their inspection regimes by 1 July 2016.

The National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual can be downloaded from www.nhvr.gov.au/nhvim.