Fatigue provision renewed and extended from 100km to 160km radius
A work diary exemption for primary produce carriers has been extended, to the endorsement of the Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association.
The National Primary Production Work Diary Exemption (Notice) 2021 (No.1) was renewed for three years to October 4, 2024.
The notice extends the 100km radius Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) exclusion to 160km for drivers of fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles who are carrying primary produce.
Therefore, those driving a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle, transporting primary produce between a primary production facility and a point of sale, processing or distribution, and are working within a 160km radius of their base, are not required to keep and record information in a National Driver Work Diary, but are still required to keep their own records.
The exemption also covers the direct return journey after the primary produce has been offloaded.
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ALRTA national president Scott McDonald said the continuation was significant for rural carriers.
“The 160km work diary exemption reduces the unnecessary red tape burden on low-risk rural carriers and allows them focus on the job at hand,” McDonald said.
“It is recognised that drivers who take a break every two hours are at low risk of fatigue.
“More frequent breaks also mean more frequent record keeping requirements so it makes sense to provide relief from the unnecessary red tape burden for low-risk drivers.
“The general 100km radius exemption is a good approximation of up to two hours driving time in urban environments.
“However, in rural areas with lower traffic congestion and higher speed limits a 160km radius is more appropriate.
ALRTA worked with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) to establish the 160km exemption back in 2015.
“I am pleased to see the exemption renewed for a second time as it ensures regulatory equivalency for urban and rural road transporters,” McDonald said.
More information can be found here.