Report shows one in five new heavy vehicles PBS approved
One in five relevant new heavy vehicles manufactured in Australia are now Performance Based Standards (PBS) approved, according to a report released today.
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) CEO Sal Petroccitto says the joint report by the Australian Road Transport Suppliers Association (ARTSA) and the NHVR demonstrated the success of Australia’s world-leading PBS scheme.
“In 2017, 17 per cent of relevant new heavy vehicles were PBS approved, in 2018 we saw that increase to 20 per cent of relevant new heavy vehicles,” Petroccitto says.
“PBS vehicles deliver significant benefits to productivity and have been shown to be involved in 46 per cent fewer crashes than conventional vehicles.
“The success of the scheme over the past decade is a clear statement of the industry’s desire to be safer, smarter and more innovative.”
The report shows:
- One in five relevant new heavy vehicles manufactured in 2018 were PBS approved, up from one in six in 2017
- 1,900 new approvals for new PBS combinations in 2018, an increase from around 1,400 in 2017
- In the last five years total new PBS combination approvals have doubled, while the heavy vehicle market has only grown by 20 per cent over the same period
- More than 55 per cent of PBS approvals are for truck and dog combinations
- PBS approved prime mover and trailer combinations have doubled in the last five years
Read Baxter Transport’s PBS innovation call, here
ARTSA Chair Martin Toomey says the PBS scheme was encouraging heavy vehicle renewal nationwide.
“One of the key benefits of the PBS scheme has been to accelerate the renewal of the heavy vehicle fleet nationwide. The median age of PBS vehicles is four years compared to 12 years for the entire heavy vehicle fleet,” Toomey says.
“New equipment has the benefit of more modern safety systems, including better braking and improved stability. By encouraging the uptake of PBS vehicles we can make our roads safer for everyone.”
For more information on the PBS scheme or to view the report visit www.nhvr.gov.au/pbs