NHVR reduces paperwork burden

Drivers of heavy vehicles are no longer required to carry paperwork in relation to mass or maintenance management

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has announced that, effective immediately, drivers of heavy vehicles do not have to carry paperwork that arises from their employer’s enrolment in the mass or maintenance management accreditation schemes.

The NHVR has instructed state and territory authorities to refrain from requesting to see such paperwork and not to issue any sanctions if such paperwork isn’t being carried. By extension, operators will no longer be held accountable if their drivers don’t carry this paperwork.

According to the NHVR, the Transport and Infrastructure Council has requested that the National Transport Commission prepare an amendment to the Heavy Vehicle National Law to remove the requirements for drivers to carry this documentation.

The NHVR had this to say in a media release outlining the changes: “The NHVR is satisfied that there is no safety issue arising from these provisions and there would be no merit in seeking to enforce these requirements until ministers and parliament have had an opportunity to consider the proposed amendment.”

This new approach replaces the NHVR’s previous instructions, which said road authorities would issue warnings for any drivers caught without this paperwork until March 10.

The NHVR has also highlighted that the rules and documentation requirements for basic fatigue management and advanced fatigue management remain unchanged.

For more information visit www.nhvr.gov.au or call 1300 696 487.

NHVR reduces paperwork burden

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