In the media

M5 investigation finds minor issues
An investigation by police and Roads and Maritime Services after a truck rollover on the M5 Motorway has only revealed minor defects. A substance found inside the truck is being investigated for drugs as officers explore drug use, fatigue and speed as potential factors in the crash (25 July 2019). More...

Heavy vehicle on-road trial moves into next stage
A partnership between government and the heavy vehicle industry moves into full swing this month with the first in a series of on-road trials designed to test potential direct road user charging options for heavy vehicles (25 July 2019). More...

NBTA partners with ARTSA for heavy vehicle fires prevention strategy conference
Australian Road Transport Suppliers Association (ARTSA) and the National Bulk Tankers Association (NBTA) have been selected by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator to lead an Australian project aimed at reducing the occurrence of heavy vehicle fires (24 July 2019). More...

NHVR announces pre-advised PBS combination extension
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has expanded performance-based standards (PBS) pre-advised design approvals to include PBS combinations carrying dangerous goods (23 July 2019). More...

Cargo loading gets safety boost as truck trips forecast to reach $7M
Funding under the National Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative program addressing unsafe loading and cargo restraint inside international shipping containers has been welcomed by key freight associations (22 July 2019). More...

NatRoad condemns 'absurd' fatigue laws in HVNL review
The National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) has taken aim at the current fatigue management approach in its submission to the Heavy Vehicle National Law review, calling for a reinvention of national fatigue laws. Clark says current 'dysfunctional' system needs rethink (22 July 2019). More...

HVNL Review update
The NHVR recently met with a group of industry associations, government representatives and the Australian Local Government Association to discuss key issues on the Heavy Vehicle National Law Review. NHVR Corporate Affairs Executive Director Joe Fitzgerald said the Review, being conducted by the National Transport Commission, was an important opportunity to continue to reform heavy vehicle safety and productivity (19 July 2019). More...

Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative round backs 24 projects
More than $700,000 of heavy vehicle safety funding has been allocated to supporting truck driver mental health initiatives through the 2019-20 Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative. Funding for mental health would be allocated to three organisations under the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator's $5.4 million safety fund (19 July 2019). More...

HVIA brings vehicle width and standards Act issues to talks
Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA) has issued papers before conducting state committee meetings in Brisbane and Sydney on truck and trailer width and the Road Vehicle Standards Act (16 July 2019). More...

SafeWork NSW issues heavy vehicle incident reports
SafeWork NSW has released a series of incident reports addressing the transport and maintenance industries after a recent spate of workplace fatalities (15 July 2019). More...

Published – articles, papers, reports

Guidelines for the Provision of Heavy Vehicle Rest Area Facilities (Ed 1.1)
AP-R591-19: 16 July 2019
To aid road managers in this task, Austroads has produced Guidelines for the Provision of Heavy Vehicle Rest area facilities. This document draws on and provides an update to the 2005 National Transport Commission Guidelines. More...

NTC on the Road - On the Road - Issue 64, 23 July 2019
On the Road provides important information on the heavy vehicle industry, including the latest NHVR news and events, relevant law and policy changes, and resources to help industry members comply with the HVNL. More...

In practice and courts

Current Consultations
Performance of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority
Status: Submissions closed Date Referred: 23 July 2019.
The policy, regulatory, taxation, administrative and funding priorities for Australian shipping.
Status: Submissions closed. Date Referred: 23 July 2019. Reporting Date: 05 December 2019.

AMSA: Have your say on managing the risk of fatigue
AMSA are seeking people working in the domestic commercial vessel industry to complete our short survey on their experiences of fatigue for the development of relevant and effective guidance and encourage safe management practices (18 July 2019). More...

NHVR: What is the different between a pre-approval and gazettal (for road managers)
A pre-approval is an agreement in place between the NHVR and a road manager to issue permits without individual written consent for each application. A heavy vehicle Gazetted Notice is an exemption, authority or declaration made under the Heavy Vehicle National Law, or previous State or Territory law. This includes any additional road manager consents for related roads that may be required prior to gazettal (19 July 2019). More...

AIS: Transport and Logistics Industry Reference Committee Projects
Cross Sector Supply Chain Skills - Development. More...

AMSA: Consultation - draft Marine Order 31 (SOLAS and vessel safety certification) 2019
Consultation on Marine Order 31 is open until 4 August 2019. Marine Order 31 provides the requirements for survey, certification and maintenance of certification of vessels. The order gives effect to chapters I and VIII of SOLAS and applies to regulated Australian vessels, government vessels and foreign vessels. More...

Heavy Vehicle National Law

Heavy Vehicle National Law Review: Update
The purpose of the Heavy Vehicle National Law Review is to deliver – from a first principles perspective – a modern, outcome-focussed law regulating the use of heavy vehicles.
Effective fatigue management (May) – open for comment until 16 August 2019.
Easy access to suitable routes (June) – open for comment until 16 August 2019. More...

NTC Consultation RIS: Developing technology - neutral road rules for driver distraction
Comments are due 21 August 2019. The purpose of this project is to find a better way to regulate the safe use of technology devices as part of the Australian Road Rules. More...

NTC Issues Paper - Easy access to suitable routes
Comments due 16 August 2019. More...

NTC Issues Paper - Vehicle standards and safety
Comments are due by 30 August 2019. More...

NTC: National Heavy Vehicle Law Review Issues Paper 2
The National Transport Commission has begun its review of the National Heavy Vehicle Law. The commission is inviting stakeholders to provide their views on the law until February 2020.
The second issues paper has now been published, focusing on fatigue management. Feedback is due by 16 August 2019. More...

Legislation

Gazetted

Heavy Vehicle National Law - New South Wales Class 1 All Terrain Mobile Crane and Dolly Combination Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1)
19/07/2019 - The purpose of this Notice is to exempt stated Class 1 heavy vehicles from the prescribed mass requirements and prescribed dimension requirements specified in the Notice, subject to the conditions specified in the Notice and the accompanying Operator's Guide.

Heavy Vehicle National Law - New South Wales Class 1 4-Axle & 5-Axle All Terrain Mobile Crane Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1)
19/07/2019 - The purpose of this Notice is to exempt stated Class 1 heavy vehicles from the prescribed mass requirements and prescribed dimension requirements specified in the Notice, subject to the conditions specified in the Notice and the accompanying Operator's Guide.

This publication does not deal with every important topic or change in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you have found this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact one of the named individuals listed.