In a move aimed at improving safety and efficiency in Queensland’s transport industry, the Sunshine State has welcomed the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) to deliver heavy vehicle regulatory services.
As most would be aware, on April 20, responsibility for the delivery of heavy vehicle safety services shifted from the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), to the NHVR.
The Queensland transition marked a pivotal moment in Australia’s transport landscape, promising a streamlined approach to heavy vehicle regulation.
By centralising regulatory functions under one authority, the NHVR aims to accelerate harmonisation across state borders, facilitating smoother operations for the heavy vehicle industry.
The transition will result in improved safety outcomes for all road users and reduce the regulatory burden for businesses.
With our expertise and resources, there is now enhanced oversight and enforcement capabilities in Queensland, leading to safer roads and ultimately more efficient freight movements.
The integration of Queensland into the NHVR allows for greater consistency and a more unified approach to heavy vehicle regulation, with industry benefiting from a borderless operating model.
There is now a single point of interaction for consistent, reliable information about the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) and issues facing drivers and businesses.
The transition has strengthened Queensland’s on-road presence, with NHVR Safety and Compliance Officers (SCOs) working roadside and at heavy vehicle inspection sites across the state.
Our enthusiastic new team is partly made up of staff who have transferred from TMR and who make a welcome addition to the NHVR.
Our SCOs are authorised to stop heavy vehicles and check drivers are complying with the HVNL as well as some other heavy vehicle related state-based laws.
They will check compliance with mass, dimension, load restraint, vehicle standards, access conditions, driver fatigue and work diaries, as well some state requirements like dangerous goods, licensing and registration.
It is our commitment to provide nationally consistent education and enforcement and undertake more complex Chain of Responsibility and primary duty investigations into duty holders across the supply chain.
The NHVR has always placed priority on educating industry on how to comply with the HVNL, whether it’s via our on-road compliance activities or industry engagement.
However, we have also assumed responsibility for issuing infringements and prosecuting for serious offences inQueensland, in addition to issuing defect notices where heavy vehicles do not comply with safety standards.
At the NHVR, we recognise the importance of utilising our regulatory powers for those who are consistently doing the wrong thing on our roads, and we won’t hesitate to enforce the HVNL where required.
On a final note, we would like to remind industry that the NHVR is now responsible for Programmed Vehicle Inspections (PVI) in Queensland, including at regional and remote PVI locations.
Industry can continue booking a PVI through existing TMR channels, but fleet bookings must be organised through the NHVR Contact Centre.
This final transition will allow the NHVR to establish a safer road network not only in Queensland, but nationwide.
Not only are we simplifying compliance for drivers and operators, but the transition strengthens Australia’s position as a leader in transport, safety and innovation.
For more information on the transition, visit nhvr.gov.au/about-us/national-services-transition.
- Sal Petroccitto is the CEO of the NHVR.