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OSOM notices replace annual permits in four states

NHVR’s new access management scheme cuts 25,000 annual permits across eastern states

 

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has replaced existing permit-based schemes with a new oversize and over mass (OSOM) notice scheme across Victoria, NSW, South Australia and Queensland, effective yesterday.

The removal of close to 25,000 annual permits means OSOM vehicle operators will no longer have to wait for their permit applications to be passed before getting on the road.

The new access management scheme follows a two-week industry consultation phase during which the regulator sought feedback on its proposed notice scheme for Class 1 load carrying vehicles.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto says OSOM notices will reduce red tape and improve freight transport productivity across the four states.

“This time off the road is costly for freight businesses, especially small transport operators who work within smaller margins, and whatever we can do to make their lives easier while still ensuring a high-level of safety is paramount,” Petroccitto says.

“The notices are a crucial step forward towards national harmonisation.

“They will cover almost one-third of the number of permits issued in 2015.

“It is a deliberate move to improve transparency and certainty of access, reduce red tape and allow the NHVR and road managers to better understand the existing differences across borders.

Petroccitto says while most operating conditions remain the same within each state, there have been certain productivity improvements across South Australia and NSW, including increasing allowable vehicle length to 30 metres in SA and increasing allowable mass to 100 tonnes in NSW.

The NHVR is also planning to further reduce red tape in Queensland by removing the need for a Letter of No Objection (LONO) for oversize loads.

A separate OSOM notice scheme for Tasmania has already been in place since November last year.

The NHVR will evaluate the performance of the new scheme before proposing a national rollout during the next phase of OSOM harmonisation.

For further details visit the NHVR website.

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