National industry regulator outlines its action plan for its 2020 vision
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) will focus its attention on safety, productivity, and compliance over the next five years according to its reform blueprint announced at the National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) conference in Cairns today.
Unveiling the five-year industry blueprint, transport and infrastructure minister Darren Chester says the Setting the Agenda – Strategies for a Safer, Productive and more Compliant Heavy Vehicle Industry document will outline the NHVR’s approach till 2020.
“This plan focuses on the three national strategies for Safety, Compliance and Assurance, and Productivity to guide Australia’s regulatory heavy vehicle agenda,” Chester says.
“As a regulator, the NHVR will set the standard in relation to heavy vehicle safety, while taking a balanced approach to cutting red tape and improving industry access to services and products.
“Australia’s reliance on a safe and sustainable road freight industry across urban, rural and remote communities will only grow with a large portion of that growth driven by interstate freight movements.”
To help ensure the strategy outlined in the reform document can be achieved, NHVR says it has created an action plan, which will be reviewed annually, detailing immediate and medium-term initiatives.
The industry regulator says the four key items are:
- Developing a safety risk management framework
- Developing and delivering a national heavy vehicle awareness road safety campaign
- Guidance and education material on Chain of Responsibility
- Implementing new guidelines for the registration of Industry Codes of Practice
The new document follows the NHVR’s Strategic Directions 2016 document launched in May, and according to NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto, further expands on its themes.
“A number of key items are already being delivered including a national health check of Australia’s heavy vehicle fleet, a national inspection manual and national notices to reduce the reliance on permits,” Petroccitto says.
Hoping to ensure a “safe level playing field” for all transporters, Petroccitto says the new document will focus “resources on activities that provide the greatest safety and productivity benefits through addressing unacceptable high-risk behaviours.”
He says he is “excited by the prospect” of the industry envisaged for 2020.
The full document is available here.