Impending alterations will affect the state's primary producers
Changes to fatigue management requirements in South Australia will be introduced next month to bring the state into line with other jurisdictions.
Transitional fatigue management exemptions for the primary production sector, the Road Traffic (Heavy Vehicle Driver Fatigue) (Transport of Fruit, Vegetables and Grain) Notice and the Road Traffic (Heavy Vehicle Driver Fatigue) (Transport of Bees) Notice are due to end on March 14.
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) says the notices exclude the relevant drivers and operators from complying with work and rest hour requirement when transporting live bees within a 200km radius, or transporting fruit, vegetables or grain between a farm and receiving point within 100km. The notices are exempted operators and drivers from using work diaries and keeping records.
“The cancellation of these two notices means that drivers for primary producers must adhere to work and rest hours and give records to their record keeper. Record keepers will have to collect and manage driver’s daily sheets or alternative records,” the NHVR says.
”Drivers will also have to complete a national driver work diary, unless they are undertaking journeys within 160km of their home base under the national primary production work diary exemption.”
The NHVR says the notices came into force before the Heavy Vehicle National Law was enacted and are now redundant or inconsistent with the current National Primary Production Work Diary Exemption Notice, which covers the transport of primary produce and fatigue management requirements under the national law.