ATA welcomes NHVIM

The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has welcomed the launch of the new National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual, which has been designed to provide consistent inspection standards across Australia.

ATA Chief Executive Officer Christopher Melham said the manual provided trucking operators and inspectors alike with clarity on truck inspection requirements.

"I welcome this new edition of the National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual, and congratulate the NHVR on its development," Mr Melham said.

"With a single set of uniform standards to work from, trucking operators can avoid the frustration of enforcement officers applying different standards in different states and territories.

"The ATA consulted extensively with the NHVR during the development of this manual to ensure it meets the requirements of the trucking industry.

"We also ran a National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual program stream at the 2015 PACCAR & Dealer TMC in Melbourne in October, which was designed to help operators prepare for the rollout of this document."

Mr Melham said the manual must continue to be supported by the NHVR as it rolls out across jurisdictions.

"The National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual is only as good as the commitment by all states and territories to adopt a nationally consistent approach to its use with heavy vehicle inspections," he said.

"The NHVR must now support the uniform use of this manual by also rolling out an education and awareness program targeting heavy vehicle inspectors.

"It's essential that the NHVR is the one to provide this training in order to ensure inspectors interpret and apply the standards in a uniform and nationally consistent manner."