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Second Melbourne operator has prohibition notice lifted

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The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has today lifted the prohibition notice issued to Melbourne-based Sidhu Investments, trading as Auswide Linehaul Services.

NHVR Executive Director Statutory Compliance Ray Hassall said the company had taken actions since the prohibition notice was issued on November 13.

“The NHVR believes as a result of the corrective actions taken since the issue of the prohibition notice that the immediate or imminent serious risk to the health or safety described in the notice no longer exists,” Hassall said.

Since the issue of the notice Sidhu has:

  • Engaged with a third-party provider to provide driver training and conduct skill-based assessments;
  • Introduced controls for fatigue management and training, fitness for duty, non-conformance management, incident management, vehicle safety and due diligence;
  • Managed and conducted the inspection of 65 prime movers and heavy trailers in four different states to ensure the fleet is free of defects;
  • Engaged an external Safety Consultant to assist with the implementation of procedures and ongoing training to all staff including drivers; and
  • Continued the installation of real-time monitoring of driver fatigue software throughout their fleet.

Work Health and Safety consultants, Serene Workplace Safety, also issued its own statement today informing industry that Auswide Linehaul Services had engaged its services for an audit of company documents, procedures, policies and the management of working with the NHVR.

After reviewing documentation from Auswide, Serene Workplace Safety identified that all requirements of the prohibition notice had been met.

Serene Workplace Safety said all trucks and trailers have now been inspected and deemed roadworthy and is confident that the company also meets all requirements and legislation required by the NHVR and other governing bodies.

It also noted that Auswide had invested over $350,000 in the past two years into safety systems, including the installation of the Seeing Machines’ Guardian technology, EWDs and real-time tracking into all company vehicles.

Auswide Linehaul Services will also be undergoing a name change in coming weeks, to avoid confusion with any other companies with a similar name, added the statement.

Melbourne-based Auswide Transport Solutions also received a prohibition notice three days after Auswide Linehaul Services, only to have it repealed yesterday.

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