The regulator was confronted by a number of issues including IT faults and inadequate support structures
A report card on the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s handling of its permit processing failures is due to be released in June.
The Queensland Audit Office (QAO) is currently examining the effectiveness of the NHVR’s response to the permit problems it suffered upon launching in early 2014.
A host of issues, including a faulty IT system and inadequate support structures, hindered the regulator’s ability to process permits and caused significantly delays for trucking companies trying to obtain access approvals.
“The objective of the audit is to examine whether the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has addressed the cause of the access management function failure in February 2014, and is now on track to deliver its access management responsibilities,” the QAO says.
The audit will also examine the regulator’s effectiveness more broadly, including its ability to promote industry productivity and safety, manage the impact of heavy vehicles on the environment and improve the efficiency of trucking operators and government.
“The audit will examine NHVR performance in achieving these objectives,” the QAO says.
The NHVR has taken steps to improve the efficiency and transparency of the permit approval process, including implementing a real-time tracking tool to provide information on the progress of a permit approval.
It recently released heat maps to detail the average permit approval times of each jurisdiction.
However, the NHVR’s latest annual report says many trucking operators are still having to wait more than 23 days to receive their permits.