The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has laid out its direction for the next three years, with a strong focus on safety, productivity, sustainability and regulatory capability under its new Corporate Plan 2025–2028.
Prepared under the Heavy Vehicle National Law and the NHVR’s Statement of Expectations, the plan sets targets and deliverables to guide the regulator through to June 2028.
NHVR Chair Duncan Gay and Interim Chief Executive Officer Janelle van de Velde said the regulator aimed to deliver “safe, productive, and sustainable heavy vehicle movements that enhance community liveability, while driving Australia’s economy.”
They said the NHVR was becoming “a customer-centric, risk-based, data-driven regulator, with the aim to simplify, harmonise and modernise our data and technology solutions.”
Key measures include reducing heavy vehicle road trauma, increasing the uptake of PBS vehicles, and expanding networks for low and zero-emission trucks.
The regulator has committed to lifting the number of statutory pre-approvals for access from 3400 in 2025–26 to at least 3700 by 2027–28, and raising the share of freight carried by PBS vehicles by five per cent each year.
The plan said it also aims to process at least 80 per cent access permits within 14 days for the next three years and aims for at least 75 per cent “customer satisfaction” with the NHVR over the same period.
It also plans to increase gazetted networks for low and no-emission vehicles from 88,000 kilometres to more than 97,000 over the same period.
Safety programs will focus on intelligence-led operations, a revised use of camera enforcement and telematics, and an enhanced Operator Regulatory Performance Program.
Productivity initiatives include digitising the PBS scheme, developing new access templates, and implementing reforms under the Heavy Vehicle Productivity Plan 2025–2030.
The NHVR acknowledges risks including regulatory failure, challenges in harmonising state and territory agendas, and the impact of natural disasters on road access certainty.
It also highlights the importance of building the skills and resilience of its workforce, which now totals more than 1030 employees across six jurisdictions.
Financially, the regulator expects rising regulatory income, from $202.4 million in 2025–26 to $231.7 million in 2027–28, but also forecasts operating deficits across two of the next three years, with a combined shortfall of more than $6.8 million due to increased operating costs.
Project and capital investment will total $49.5 million across the three years, with additional support from Commonwealth grants linked to initiatives such as the Strategic Local Government Asset Assessment Project and Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiatives.
Gay and van de Velde said the regulator’s “inform, educate and enforce” approach would continue to underpin reforms.
“Our 2025–2028 Corporate Plan reflects our commitment to delivering new and better ways of addressing the most critical needs of industry and our customers, now and in the future,” they said.
The NHVR expects the reguulatory income to increase by almost 30 million dollars ina year does that mean LOOKOUT THEY ARE COMING, they will find something to fine us for.
The industry is going broke just trying to supply a service that Australia needs.