Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA) is finalising a submission to the Productivity Commission’s study on the impacts of heavy vehicle reform, using the process to push for meaningful reductions in regulatory burden across the sector.
The study, initiated by the Australian Government, is examining a proposed heavy vehicle productivity reform package to lift transport efficiency and support the uptake of zero-emissions trucks. Submissions close on Friday, December 19, 2025, with an interim report due in March 2026 and a final report by June 2026.
HVIA says the review comes at a critical moment for the industry, with manufacturers and operators facing cost pressures, workforce shortages and increasingly complex compliance requirements.
The Productivity Commission has been asked to analyse reforms across five key areas, including expanded heavy vehicle road access, faster implementation of a National Automated Access System, accelerated rollout of the National Heavy Vehicle Driver Competency Framework, removal of regulatory barriers to zero-emission charging infrastructure and potential reductions to curfews for zero-emission heavy vehicles.
HVIA will support the intent of these reforms but argues that incremental change will not be enough to deliver real productivity gains.
The association plans to highlight the cumulative impact of fragmented regulation, permit delays and inconsistent access decisions, which it says continue to constrain vehicle innovation, slow freight movements, and undermine investment certainty.
In its submission, HVIA will advocate for faster national adoption of automated access decision-making, drawing on proven systems such as Tasmania’s Heavy Vehicle Access Management System, which the Commission notes could reduce permit requirements by up to 90 per cent.
HVIA will also argue that regulatory reform must keep pace with vehicle technology, particularly as heavier zero-emission trucks enter the market and face access constraints unrelated to safety or infrastructure performance.
The association says reducing red tape is not only a productivity issue but a survival issue for many businesses operating under tight margins and rising costs.
The Productivity Commission has indicated that it is seeking data, modelling, and industry evidence to assess economic impacts, infrastructure costs, and implementation pathways. HVIA says this provides a rare opportunity for industry voices to shape reforms that are practical, nationally consistent and deliverable on the ground.