The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has provided OwnerDriver with an exclusive into what its Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) review submission touches on for the trucking industry.
With many other associations having provided their submissions to the National Transport Commission’s (NTC) review of HVNL penalty rates, the NHVR has been working with the industry to identify the right changes that should be made to the law.
In October, the NTC unveiled 71 proposed HVNL rate changes to penalties as part of its review, with NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto OAM saying three main areas have remained a focus for the regulator.
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“The NHVR has been an active participant in the review process, providing unique insights to the reform of the law, based on our direct, long-term and daily engagement with the heavy vehicle industry and the supply chain,” Petroccitto told OwnerDriver.
“The NHVR’s submission outlines our concerns that the review needed to go further to achieve national reform in critical policy areas.”
The three areas of most concern for the NHVR includes safety standards, support risk-based fatigue management delivery and ensuring the regulator can make and approve standards for industry innovation.
Petroccitto says the NHVR wants the HVNL to ensure safety standards are lifted through the availability of alternative compliance accreditation options for the NHVR to work with industry to implement.
When it comes to supporting the delivery of risk-based fatigue management, the regulator is calling for the delivery to be based on risk controls and offsets rather than encouraging working up to set work and rest limits.
Thirdly, Petroccitto says that he wants the HVNL to allow the NHVR to make and approve standards and other instruments to ensure that it can be responsive and facilitate greater industry innovation.
“The NHVR remains committed to pursuing a safer, more productive and more efficient industry, supported by an HVNL that embraces modernisation, flexibility and learnings,” Petroccitto says.
“The NHVR welcomes further discussions to ensure the legislation does not restrict the NHVR from working with its customers in a transparent and agile approach and we can better reflect and meet the fast-evolving nature of the industry we serve.”
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