Regulator reminds users of rules with emphasis on festive season fatigue
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and Teletrac Navman have marked December 1 as the go-live day for electronic work diaries (EWDs).
And the NHVR couples recognition of the historic day with a Christmas safety message.
“The era of electronic work diaries … will coincide with the NHVR’s increased focus on fatigue in the lead-up to Christmas 2020,” NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto says.
“Step Global’s Smart eDriver and Teletrac Navman’s Sentinel system were both approved having met the strict requirements to provide an alternative to the written work diary.
“In addition to the rollout of EWDs, we will continue our fatigue information campaigns and fatigue will be a focus of our compliance activities in the coming weeks.
“As we head into the busy Christmas period, many operators are reporting an increased freight load, which will be a boost after a difficult year.
“Please take the time to ensure your safety systems are robust and drivers are getting the required rest and take care on the road in the lead-up to Christmas.”
Read about the EWDs go-ahead announcement, here
Teletrac Navman marks the EWD moment with a news event involving Toll and the NHVR.
“We are proud to be one of the first telematics provider to be granted full approval from the regulator to roll out our Electronic Work Diary as an alternative to written work diaries,” Teletrac Navman chief product officer Andrew Rossington says.
“The solution will empower drivers and fleet operators to manage their own compliance, giving managers peace of mind that their drivers are safe.
“The benefits are there for everyone, better supply chain efficiencies, simple planning tools for drivers and transport operators and better road safety outcomes.”
For Toll, the day is a vindication of efforts to get the technology officially accepted and a step along the way to getting a five-driver pilot program starting today to expand to 150 drivers by March.
“The arrival of EWDs is a very exciting moment for the industry and our organisation, and we’re thrilled to be one of the first putting rubber to road,” Toll Group global head of health, safety and environment Richard Turner says.
“As an organisation, we are safety obsessed and this switch is another example of our ongoing focus on improving safety for our people and communities by investing in meaningful innovation.”
On a practical level, the NHVR insists it will ease compliance burden but warns about having the correct technology and systems in place.
“From today, drivers can record their work and rest hours by pressing a button, rather than spending time ruling lines and counting multiple time periods on multiple pieces of papers,” NHVR senior safety and compliance officer Joe Tarzia says.
“EWDs will enable drivers to spend more time focusing on managing their fatigue, rather than managing the book – which is an important step forward in delivering improved fatigue safety outcomes.
“However, it’s important that drivers ensure they are using an approved EWD, have been issued a unique identification number for EWDs and continue to carry their written work diary for the transition period of at least 28 days.”