Message from the CEO
Happy New Year to On the Road readers.
Despite the many exciting innovations and programs rolling out in 2020 for heavy vehicle safety and productivity, it’s hard to look past the tragic events that have recently unfolded in many parts of Australia.
Thank you to the hundreds of heavy vehicle operators who have safely supported the emergency response and initial phases of the bushfire recovery.
Their efforts have been supported by authorised officers from the NHVR, RMS, police and other agencies. NHVR staff have been out across eastern Victoria and South Australia over the past week escorting drivers.
There have been convoys of fodder moving along narrow or damaged roads often under poor visibility and missing signage. Operators supporting the recovery are arriving from far and wide and need assistance navigating local roads for the first time.
This will be a long recovery and the NHVR will be working with industry and recovery agencies to support where required.
Sal
Body worn cameras to be rolled out to NHVR officers
Body worn cameras (BWCs) have been issued to all NHVR Safety and Compliance Officers (SCOs) following a recent trial in South Australia and Tasmania.
The BWC is a portable camera worn by NHVR officers to capture audio and video recordings of interactions between officers and those involved in heavy vehicle transport activities.
It also provides a number of important safety benefits by encouraging safe and mutually respectful interactions.
NHVR Chief Operations Officer Paul Salvati said that the cameras would be worn during intercepts and evidence gathering activities by all NHVR officers in South Australia, Victoria, the ACT and Tasmania.
Female truck drivers say enough is enough to road toll
Fed up with the number of preventable crashes on Australian roads, including 1,188 road fatalities in 2019, female truck drivers are speaking out in a new campaign which aims to reduce risky behaviour.
NHVR Director Southern Region Paul Simionato said that Women in Trucking Australia Ltd (WiTA) – established by female heavy vehicle drivers to encourage and support more women into driving careers – was one of 24 organisations that received funding through the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI), supported by the Federal Government.
“The HVSI supports groups across the country to deliver programs that deliver tangible improvements to safety in the heavy vehicle industry,” Paul said.
“This new campaign is a powerful reminder that trucks need space to keep you safe and I commend WiTA on the work they are doing to make sure all road users get home safe.”
NHVR Portal Bytes – accreditation and vehicle standards update
Operators can now manage their National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme services and Vehicle Standards applications through the NHVR Portal.
NHVR Business Improvement Program Director David Carlisle said a recent upgrade was now available to more than 7000 accreditation customers.
“Operators are now able to manage tasks including submitting an application, managing account information, reviewing application status, reviewing accreditation status, reviewing driver and vehicle lists, paying for applications and viewing payment history,” David said.
“If you have not yet taken the step to submit an application via the NHVR Portal, make 2020 the time to do it.
“The NHVR Portal is also a great way to track your applications and retain information for auditing.”
For more information on the latest release visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=KczK9OhrNgQ
To manage an Accreditation or Vehicle Standards account visit www.service.nhvr.gov.au
Truck Driver Info Days kick off for 2020
A new year brings new opportunities to engage with the NHVR and one of the best ways to do this is through our regular Truck Driver Info Days.
Upcoming dates include:
Wednesday 5 February, BP Beresfield (near Newcastle), 2pm until late
Thursday 20 February, Caltex Port of Brisbane, 6am until 2pm
In 2019 the NHVR stakeholder team rolled out more than 30 information sessions as part of its roadside information program. This included four truck information sessions across four states on a single day in September.
John Gilbert, NHVR’s Manager of Stakeholder Engagement and Customer Experience said the national day of engagement was a success as it allowed operators to talk to the team in a more relaxed environment.
“Some of this engagement has already led to changes and better wording of policy documents the NHVR has produced,” he said.
> Read more about the work of our Stakeholder Engagement team in this issue of Prime Mover Magazine
Stop and think about road safety
The South Australian Government’s Think! Road Safety webpage is a great resource that is helping drivers, motorcyclists and pedestrians think about their behaviours and actions when on the road.
The webpage features a wide range of resources and campaigns that remind all South Australians that road incidents can be avoided when everyone thinks about road safety.
The new resource provides a central location for Think! branded road safety information and campaigns, which have been developed by SAPOL and DPTI.
Visit Think! Road Safety here – thinkroadsafety.sa.gov.au
