All Victorian concrete trucks and cranes applying will be forced to enrol in the IAP
All concrete trucks and cranes applying for a permit for the first time will be forced to enrol in the Intelligent Access Program (IAP) throughout Victoria, the State Government revealed last week.
Heavy mobile cranes and concrete pump trucks already operating under a permit have until April 30 next year to comply.
But trucks operating under higher mass limits in Victoria will not have to enrol in the program, unlike those in NSW and Queensland.
IAP, which uses satellite navigation technology to monitor which roads vehicles travel on, will be used by VicRoads to check if vehicles are off-route or operating at a prohibited time, as well monitoring any tampering with the in-vehicle units.
The Australian Trucking Association’s (ATA) National Policy Manager David Coonan welcomes Victoria’s approach to rolling out IAP so far.
He says that IAP’s ultimate test will be in the next few months as operators assess the promised benefits against the cost of using IAP.
In a statement released last Friday, Coonan warned the ATA is worried IAP technology may be used unethically.
“The ATA is also concerned about suggestions by some agencies that IAP could be used to monitor modular combinations made up from standard unit freight vehicles operating on restricted access notice systems, because it would stifle the operational flexibility of modular combinations,” he says.
“We understand that Victoria is considering other uses for IAP, and the ATA and its member organisations are looking forward to having a productive dialogue with VicRoads about future IAP applications.”
But Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas says VicRoads’ six-month transition period from November 2008 to April 2009, will “ensure operators can adapt to the new system when it suits their business”.
Pallas says Victoria is taking the lead in introducing IAP, which uses leading edge innovation and technology to deliver productivity gains for the construction industry.