TCA highlights last review round before green light next year
Transport Certification Australia (TCA) has released the final draft version of the On-Board Mass (OBM) Functional and Technical Specification.
The latest document will inform the last round of review from industry stakeholders, before finalisation early next year.
“The OBM Functional and Technical Specification forms part of the National Telematics Framework, which provides a nationally agreed framework for the use of telematics and related intelligent technologies,” TCA CEO Chris Koniditsiotis says.
“The National Telematics Frameworkhouses the Intelligent Access Program (IAP), Intelligent Speed Compliance (ISC), the Certified Telematics Service (CTS), and a suite of commercial telematics applications, as well as OBM systems.”
Consistent with the principles of the National Telematics Framework, the availability of the specification will minimise cost to industry, removing barriers and red tape, by achieving greater harmonisation and consistency through performance based open standards – while promoting innovation.
The specification details the functional and technical requirements necessary for stakeholders to obtain assurance in the use of OBM systems – be it for commercial or regulatory use – with requirements extending to accuracy, security, installation, calibration and maintenance, TCA says.
Commonly known as weigh scales or mass systems, OBM units typically utilise load cell or air-pressure technologies to measure the axle group mass and gross vehicle mass of heavy vehicle combinations.
The final draft Specification has been developed with the active engagement of the Telematics Industry Group (TIG) – including suppliers of OBM systems – and the operational learnings from transport operators’ use of OBM systems linked to the IAP in Queensland and New South Wales.
The specification builds upon the road transport industry’s move to adopt hardware which can support both commercial and regulatory telematics applications.
The availability of the OBM Functional and Technical Specification, together with the introduction of the type-approval of OBM Systems, provides transport operators with assurance in performance, accuracy and quality of the OBM system now, and into the future.
Feedback is sought on the final draft specification by January 20.
The final specification will enable TCA to accept applications for type-approval of OBM systems start the first quarter of 2017.