National Heavy Vehicle Regulator takes over the running of the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme.
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has assumed total control of the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS) and has started reforming aspects of its operation.
The changes centre on the auditing provisions of the NHVAS standards and business rules, which have been changed to enable more effective oversight of safety requirements by standardising the way audits are conducted and strengthening the quality of audits.
“The NHVR is now the only body responsible for the management, monitoring and registration of NHVAS auditors,” the regulator says.
It adds that the changes have also provided the NHVR “with the opportunity to consolidate some of the forms and processes for NHVAS accreditation”.
A third party can no longer act on behalf of an operator on accreditation applications but are allowed to when it comes to completing, collating and submitting accreditation forms.
However, all communication from the NHVR will only be to the operator.
Current NHVAS auditors have until July 1, 2016 to register under the new requirements with the NHVR, but until then they can continue auditing under their existing certification.
A full list of NHVAS auditors and their contact details can now be found here.
The regulator note that, under certain circumstances, it may reject the auditor nominated on the compliance audit notification (CAN) form and can request the operator choose a different auditor.
As part of the audit timeframe changes, an audit will remain valid for nine months and the earliest an application to maintain accreditation can be lodged is six months prior to expiry of the accreditation.
Furthermore, the latest an application to maintain accreditation can be lodged is one month prior to the expiry of the accreditation.
The earliest an initial compliance audit can be lodged is six months after the effective date of the accreditation.
The latest an initial compliance audit can be lodged is seven months after the effective date of the accreditation.