NatRoad says more needs to be done to progress the HVNL update around Australia
The National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) says it has made slow but steady progress in the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) reform process.
The change, which aims to improve heavy vehicle productivity, access arrangements and safety regulations in Australia, has resulted in proposed reforms agreed upon by the federal government, NSW, Tasmania, SA, WA, Queensland, Northern Territory and Victoria.
NatRoad says now non-legislative agency leads have been appointed to implement recommendations and drive the process forward.
Currently, NSW is leading a working group for expediting the National Access Framework for heavy vehicles, with data collection underway to identify where access can be improved for the road freight industry.
The National Transport Commission (NTC) is leading this reform, updating the law to clarify roles with access decisions.
Queensland will coordinate the work, with participating jurisdictions responsible for updating documents in their areas, including the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).
NatRoad says the NHVR is the lead agency for future recommendations with the HVNL, working closely with industry stakeholders and road managers to implement changes that enhance productivity while maintaining safety standards.
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The federal government, NSW and Tasmania will then also work with the Austroads freight taskforce to set targets to implement these arrangements within three to five years.
NatRoad says improvements are also being promised to the Performance Based Standards (PBS) scheme, including fatigue detection and distraction technology.
The NHVR will facilitate access approval and accept input from participating jurisdictions, while legislative reform leads will be responsible for overlaps with legislative reforms.
This should improve the safety and productivity of heavy vehicles through modern technologies and updated standards.
“In summary, reform should deliver significant improvements in productivity, access arrangements and safety regulations. NatRoad will keep advocating for practical change grounded in the real-life experience of its members,” NatRoad says.
“After years of delay, we remain concerned about the pace of the process and the possibility of it becoming bogged down, so if you have questions or feedback please speak to a NatRoad Advisor.”