New South Wales trucking operators are being urged to plan up to three months in advance to ensure they are
New South Wales trucking operators are being urged to plan up to three months in advance to ensure they are ready to comply with the Intelligent Access Program (IAP).
The Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) expects a high number of businesses will be seeking enrolment in the monitoring scheme as the June 30 deadline approaches.
In a letter to operators, General Manager of Compliance and Freight Strategy Paul Duigan says the industry needs to begin the enrolment process by mid April.
“Due to the volume of vehicles transitioning to full enrolment, transport operators are encouraged to allow plenty of time for this process,” Duigan says.
He writes that businesses should seek an Intelligent Access Condition (IAC) form from the RTA by the middle of next month.
Duigan recommends operators sign a contract with one of two IAP service providers by mid May or be forced to revert back to general mass limits.
“Operators who have not fully enrolled by this date will no longer be able to operate at HML,” Duigan writes.
He says all IAP equipment must be installed and working by June 30. Once the RTA certifies this, it will issue a permit to allow trucks access to the HML network.
Duigan’s comments echo those made last month by Minister for Roads Michael Daley, who told operators they risk losing access to 14,000 kilometres of the NSW road network if they did not enrol in IAP.
Under IAP, trucks are granted HML access in return for being monitored via a GPS system. The scheme is premised on ensuring drivers do not stray onto routes incapable of supporting heavy vehicles.
Although Transtech Driven and Minorplanet Asia Pacific are currently the only IAP service providers, Transport Certification Australia (TCA) says there are up to 10 potential applicants awaiting approval.
The Queensland government recently announced a transition phase to IAP to give the trucking industry more time to comply with the monitoring tool.