Exemption excludes truck drivers from keeping a work diary in certain circumstances.
South Australia has become the latest jurisdiction to adopt a work diary exemption for truck drivers, but Victoria is not ready to play ball yet.
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) today announced the exemption currently in place in Queensland and New South Wales is now in effect in SA.
It means SA drivers in the primary production sector who work under 160km from their base will no longer need to fill out a diary.
“Industry has asked us for consistent work diary practices and less paperwork and we’re delivering,” NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto says.
“From today, heavy vehicle drivers in South Australia who carry out primary production journeys will no longer have to carry and record information in a national driver work diary if travelling or working under 160km from their base.”
Petroccitto says the exemption eases the paperwork burden on drivers and allows them to focus on their job.
The exemption is in place in the Australian Capital Territory even though it has not yet began operating under the fatigue management provisions in the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).
“The exemption will also apply in Tasmania from March 30, 2015, when the fatigue provisions of the Heavy Vehicle National Law will come into effect,” Petroccitto says.
However, there is no word on whether Victoria will adopt the measure, which means the industry is again grappling with inconsistent cross-border trucking regulations.
Discussions between the regulator and the Victorian roads authority, VicRoads, are ongoing.
“With this national approach in mind, the NHVR and VicRoads will continue to work together to consider the implications of a 160km primary producer exemption in Victoria,” Petroccitto says.
SA transport minister Stephen Mullighan says the State Government worked closely with the NHVR to balance safety considerations with the need to reduce red tape for SA’s rural sector.
“This move has been strongly supported by the Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of South Australia and will be a significant benefit for South Australian primary producers,” he says.
The exemption does not change the hours a driver can work or must rest.
The NHVR says record keepers for drivers carrying out primary production work must still keep records of work and rest time, as well as a copy of payment records relating to the driver, including time sheet records if the driver is paid according to time at work. The records must be kept for three years.
The NHVR says all other heavy vehicle drivers are still required to keep and record a work diary for work outside the standard 100km radius, as set out in the HVNL.