Free nationwide forums come as PBS faces reform
Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA) will hold a series of free events across Australia next month, to give all industry stakeholders the opportunity to influence future heavy vehicle policy development.
HVIA chief executive Brett Wright says the timing of the meetings is crucial “to ensure industry’s coal-face experience is taken into account during a vital stage of far-reaching reviews to heavy vehicle policy”.
“Right now the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is working through strategies that will dictate how the Performance Based Standards (PBS) scheme works on a national basis,” Wright adds.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make sure the flaws in the existing scheme are eradicated, and improved processes are adopted nationwide.
“There are numerous stakeholders who are affected by the scheme’s inefficiencies, and when it doesn’t work the results are costly and time consuming.
“We are talking about every operator who commissions, or is involved in the design, construction or sale of a new truck or trailer body, and particularly those that are seeking to take advantage of the productivity benefits of the Performance Based Standards scheme.”
The forums will hear from senior NHVR executives about their pending forward work program for the PBS Scheme and the imminent review of the National Automotive Vehicle Examiner (AVE) Scheme for Heavy Vehicle Modifications.
“Meanwhile, the National Transport Commission [NTC] is working through its PBS marketplace review to inform Government at all levels on the effectiveness of the PBS scheme, and opportunities to reduce barriers to the uptake of PBS combinations,” Wright says.
“Industry must take advantage of this opportunity to be a part of the dialogue with the Government’s regulatory and policy development arms, to ensure future policy provides the most productive and safe outcomes for these critical industry schemes.”
The forums are aimed at the likes of: body and trailer manufacturers; truck manufacturers and dealers; vehicle modifiers; repair and service businesses; equipment and component suppliers; consulting engineers, enforcement agencies, regulators and policy makers.
Registration: www.hvia.asn.au/events
The dates are:
- Brisbane – Tuesday, August 1
- Melbourne – Friday, August 3
- Sydney – Thursday, August 10
- Adelaide – Wednesday, August 16
- Perth – Thursday August 17.