Strong lobbying for a three-month delay to the launch of the new version of VSB6 – the national standard for the most common modifications made to heavy vehicles – has been successful.
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), which had originally extended the deadline to February 1, announced this week that the new date for implementation would be July 1, 2024.
Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA), one of the peak bodies pushing for more time, said the new date allows authorised examiners and signatories to certify tipper bodies under the old VSB6 v3.1 Section J requirements until then.
This means that industry will not have to comply with the requirements of VSB6 v3.2 until after that date. The extension allows final changes and revisions to be completed before full adoption is required.
The NHVR advises that businesses that applied for the previous J4 extension do not need to reapply as this further extension will automatically apply.
However, those wishing to apply for the first time should email vehiclestandards@nhvr.gov.au with their request, including their name, business name and estimated number of tipper body certifications over this period, said HVIA.
“That information assists the NHVR in understanding the industry better as well as providing the AVE with an NHVR approval to retain with their AVE certification documentation.”
The Commercial Vehicle Industry Association of Australia (CVIAA), the heavy vehicle division within the Motor Trades Association of Australia (MTAA), has also called for the regulator to urgently provide direct advice to industry regarding how it will implement the J4 tipper code.
“CVIAA was the first to inform NHVR of the industry’s concerns related to the tipper stability calculations – considered overly complex and difficult to meet the prescribed standards,” MTAA CEO Geoff Gwilym said.
“It has been CVIAA’s long-standing position that the NHVR should move the J4 tipper body design code stability calculations into a Vehicle Standard Guide (VSG) and that it should not be a part of VSB 6. It is worth noting that the stability calculations only affect modified heavy vehicles (not OEM tippers, prime movers, semi-trailers or dog trailers).
“Direct advice from the NHVR will ease uncertainty and help our industry partners get safer heavy vehicles back on the road.”