NTC supports development of a Brake Balance Code of Practice for heavy vehicles under a single set of guidelines
The National Transport Commission (NTC) is supporting the development of a Brake Balance Code of Practice for heavy vehicles, co-funding the project to create a single set of guidelines for operators covering heavy vehicle brake performance.
The strategy will be developed by engineer Dr Peter Hart, who has already completed a review of the issue, and will look at areas such as compatibility of trucks and trailers with different brake systems, and creating minimum standards for new equipment.
Hart chaired a session at the 2008 ARTSA Technical and Maintenance Conference, explaining the difficulties facing operators with a mixed fleet of new and old equipment, which can mean running ABS, EBS and ‘dumb’ trucks and trailers in a single combination.
Nick Dimopoulos, NTC chief executive, says the NTC supports Hart’s recommendations including the call for mandatory ABS on new equipment.
“This will ensure Australia keeps pace with international standards in braking performance and technology,” Dimopoulos says.
At the same time, the NTC is also pursuing an Advanced Heavy Vehicle Braking Strategy to encourage the uptake of emerging advanced safety technology such as Advanced Emergency Braking Systems.
The full report is available on the NTC’s website.