Australia’s transport ministers have formally agreed to the National Transport Commission’s (NTC) recommendations to increase truck length and mass after their meeting on Friday, June 7.
The meeting communiqué details the transport ministers’ response at length, observing the changes recommended to the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).
“Ministers agreed to recommendations providing access for heavy vehicles that are slightly longer and heavier, subject to adequate safety assurances,” the communiqué says.
“Ministers also requested the NTC undertake a review of the adequacy of licensing and accreditation arrangements for heavy vehicle drivers, and report back to the next meeting of ITMM.”
The NTC’s second consultation on changes to the HVNL included options to:
- increase general mass limits by up to five per cent, effectively replacing concessional mass limits
- increase the length of 19 metre vehicles to 20 metres.
Ministers also touched on the progress of the Infrastructure Decarbonisation Working Group and Decarbonisation of Transport Working Group, agreeing to adding active transport to their work plan.
They also provided in-principle support for the use of a nationally consistent set of carbon values in the assessment of business cases for transport infrastructure projects over $100 million, with an aspirational commencement date of January 1, 2025.
Ministers expressed concern at the increasing road toll and how to create change across a number of key issues. They referenced the outcomes of the National Road Safety Conference 2024 and agreed they should be made a priority.
You can read the Australian Trucking Association’s full statement here.