Heavy vehicle health check complete

The NHVR's National Roadworthiness Baseline Survey reveals solid approach to maintenance, with some room for improvement

The results are in for the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator's National Roadworthiness Baseline Survey, which has attempted to gain a clearer picture of the roadworthiness of Australia's national heavy-duty vehicle fleet.

As a part of the survey over 7000 heavy vehicles were inspected late last year, with the results to help better inform the development of policy regarding heavy vehicle maintenance and the enforcement of NHVR regulations.

Of particular concern to truck drivers and operators is the seeming inconsistencies in roadside checks, and how they are carried and regulations applied out from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

The NHVR says the survey has highlighted a number of issues.

Younger vehicles were five times less likely to have a major non-conformity than vehicles 10 years and older, and 11 times less likely to have a major non-conformity than 13-year-old vehicles, says the body.

Meanwhile 11 per cent of hauling units and about 14 per cent of trailers recorded a major non-conformity. A total of 147 vehicle units were grounded, making up 1.3 per cent of the vehicles units inspected.

Brakes had the highest rate of major non-conformity, followed by steering and suspension, lights and reflectors, engines, drivelines and exhausts.

However, while welcoming the NHVR survey and its data, the Heavy Vehicle Industry Association has questioned the framework behind the survey's brake roller testing.

"HVIA and other industry groups are concerned that the current methodology for roller brake testing has overstated the non-conformances, particularly for lightly laden trailers fitted with advanced braking technologies that incorporate a load sensing function," said the HVIA's Chief Executive, Brett Wright.

"We urge the Regulator to continue discussing the roller brake testing methodology with industry to resolve these issues."

The Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Darren Chester, said the survey's finding would ultimately help improve the mechanical condition of Australia's heavy vehicle fleet.

"The survey covered 7130 heavy vehicles between August and October last year," he said.

"As a baseline of the fleet's condition, the survey's results will help the NHVR develop a national risk-based inspection approach to address high-risk components, systems, vehicles and operators. It will also help develop a consistent inspection approach.

"We're working in partnership with the NHVR, state governments, various state organisations and with the heavy vehicle industry to reduce road trauma. These survey results are a great tool for the NHVR to use to improve safety and efficiency in the heavy vehicle sector, which of course improves safety for all motorists."

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the survey results would allow operators to update programs to ensure they addressed high-risk components and systems that are regularly found to be an issue during on-road inspections.

"The NHVR wanted to understand the rate of major non-conformity," he said.

"Where Authorised Officers found major non-conformities the majority were assessed as safe enough to continue their journey but required repair within a specified period of time.

"The rate of major non-conformities in the Australian fleet compared well to the UK, which had a 35 per cent major non-conformity rate, and to the US, where about one-fifth of vehicles inspected are grounded.

"However, with the average age of the fleet at nine years, reducing the rate of major non-conformity in older vehicles will be an area of focus."

Click here to view the NHVR's findings from the National Roadworthiness Baseline Survey.

Heavy vehicle health check complete

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