B-double spray gear dropped

The ATA has applauded the Government's decision to remove the red tape surrounding spray suppression gear for interstate-registered B-doubles

The Australian Trucking Association says the trucking industry will save $8.3 million annually as a result of the Federal Government's decision to ditch a requirement for interstate-registered B-doubles to be fitted with spray suppression equipment.

The introduction of the Heavy Vehicle National Law in February 2014 saw the removal of the requirement at a state level, bringing the affected states into line with Western Australia and the Northern Territory. However, the requirement remained in place at a federal level, meaning operators of interstate-registered B-doubles still needed to fit the gear.

The equipment – which comprises extra guards, flaps and sometimes bristles around a rig's wheelarches – is costly to purchase and maintain, while leading experts have found that no evidence that the measures actually work.

The Chief Executive of the ATA, Stuart St Clair, said the removal of the federal requirement was a win for common sense.

"Western Australia and the Northern Territory have never required B-doubles to be fitted with spray suppression equipment," he said.

"The requirement was removed in the other states when the Heavy Vehicle National Law started earlier this year, but until now the federal regulations have still required interstate-registered B-doubles to be fitted with the equipment.

"Removing the requirement will save interstate trucking operators about $5800 on a typical new B-double set and a further $1640 per set per year in maintenance costs.

"The decision will not affect safety. Extensive independent research, including by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has shown that there is no evidence that fitting extra spray suppression equipment results in visibility improvements for drivers travelling near trucks. It’s one of those technologies that works in the laboratory but doesn’t appear to translate into the real world."

Mr St Clair said the ATA brought the issue to the attention of Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss as a part of the advocacy body's TruckWeek 2014 parliamentary delegation program.

"I’m very pleased that the Deputy Prime Minister listened so closely to the evidence," said Mr St Clair.

"The decision will reduce red tape and costs for trucking businesses."

The change in spray suppression requirements is effective immediately.

B-double spray gear dropped

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