NHVR set to swoop on truck faults

Around 9000 truck inspections set to begin on August 1 as part of the NHVR's National Roadworthiness Baseline Survey

Heavy vehicle roadworthiness will be in the spotlight from next month, with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) set to embark on a massive program of random vehicle inspections.

The regulator says it will conduct around 9000 inspections of Australia's 520,000-strong fleet of heavy vehicles, the checks spanning rigid and articulated trucks, B-doubles, buses, and plant and equipment.

The program is a part of the NHVR's National Roadworthiness Baseline Survey (NRBS), which will endeavour to help formulate a more uniform and nationally consistent approach to heavy vehicle standards and their regulation.

The checks will be carried out by authorised officers at roadside checks and depots across Australia, where visual inspections will be made in accordance to the regulations spelled out in the updated National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual.

Checks will take around 45 minutes on average, says the NVHR, depending on the size and state of the vehicle concerned. The NHVR says that while the inspection will largely serve as a 'mechanical health check', it "will enforce applicable laws if the vehicle is defective and even conduct other checks if warranted for mass and fatigue".

The results of the checks will be used to gain a clearer picture of the national state of heavy vehicle roadworthiness, and will serve as a first step towards raising that overall standard.

"We understand the importance of the supply chain and where possible will ensure minimal disruption occurs," said Sal Petroccitto, CEO of the NHVR, at the launch of the NRBS at the recent ComVec conference in Melbourne.

"All heavy vehicle inspections will rely on the consistent National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual to create a more harmonised national network."

The NHVR says one of its aims in carrying out the survey is to "ensure that heavy vehicle operators no longer face the frustration of enforcement officers applying different standards in different states and territories".

NHVR set to swoop on truck faults

Tags