2014 TMC: NTC/NHVR update

The NTC and NHVR have told TMC delegates that greater consistency and better data collection are crucial to the overhaul of heavy vehicle roadworthiness standards

Delegates at the 2014 PACCAR & Dealer Technical & Maintenance Conference (TMC) in Melbourne have been updated by the National Transport Commission and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator on the two bodies' on-going review of heavy vehicle maintenance, inspection standards, and the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS).

Introduced by ATA Chief Executive Stuart St Clair, the two bodies' CEOs – Paul Retter (pictured, white shirt) for the NTC and Sal Petroccitto (pictured, blue shirt) for the NHVR – addressed the conference at Melbourne's Kangan Automotive Centre of Excellence on the morning of Wednesday, October 29, giving the audience an overview of their progress with their review of heavy vehicle roadworthiness in this country.

Mr Retter said the review, which was triggered by a number of high-profile heavy vehicle accidents in recent years, will contribute to achieving the ultimate goal of uniform national consistency in roadworthiness standards and the inspection regimes which uphold those standards.

"There are eight different systems out there operating at the moment," he said.

"This is a function of the states being responsible for their own roadworthiness systems and, as a result, over time we've got different interpretations of standards, we've got different procedures in terms of inspections … and the end result is we're getting different outcomes and inconsistencies across the industry."

Mr Retter also highlighted the need for better quality data to inform its approach to heavy vehicle roadworthiness.

"We also have differences in how we collect data on the condition of our fleet," he said.

"The reality is that if we had excellent intelligence – if we knew a lot about all of our fleet operators and the condition of their fleets – we could be far more targeted and cost effective in what we do. If you're a good operator with good maintenance systems, and the regulator knew that, we could be far more selective about who we pull over and what we do.

"At the moment we've got different approaches to what we collect and who holds it, and it certainly isn't shared as much as it should be. As a result we take more of a 'blunt instrument' approach to whom we pull over, as opposed to a more refined and targeted approach. We need to be focussed on those who are doing the wrong thing, and not those who are doing the right thing."

Mr Retter said the NTC needs to address four broad areas: the review of the NHVAS; the development of a variety of roadworthiness measures with national consistency; the development of a national inspection regime; and the review of the Chain of Responsibility legislation, and how it can be extended to encompass roadworthiness and maintenance issues.

Mr Petroccitto said that in reviewing the NHVAS it was essential not to lose sight of the bigger picture, and that industry consultation was crucial to the review's success.

"We need to look at this as a complete system," he said.

"We can't consider accreditation as just one aspect; we need to look at this holistically and how it relates to everything in that supply chain. I think the expertise that sits within the industry and the way you [the operators] understand your business needs to be capitalised on while not compromising the safety aspects of what we're trying to achieve.

"The consultation that needs to occur with industry will be critical to us ensuring we get this right; we can't just push through without having that robust engagement with those who are experts in this space."

Mr Petroccitto said the fundamentals of the current NHVAS were solid.

"From my perspective the view is that the standards are largely okay; it's the way the standards are being interpreted and applied [that need addressing], so that from an operational design perspective we can do things better."

Mr Petroccitto said the proposed changes to the auditing system were all about providing greater clarity and rigour, but stressed it was going to take time to bring about change.

"We understand that we do need to allow time and some provisions to transition from the existing processes to the new processes; we can't just flick a switch," he said.

The NTC and NHVR are currently looking at Phase Three of the roadworthiness review, with a brief to transport ministers slated for November 7 to be followed by the finalising of a Regulatory Impact Statement in December. The RIS will be released publicly in mid-January, with a two-month period of stakeholder consultation to follow.

2014 TMC: NTC/NHVR update

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