What can we learn from the NHVAS?

Australia’s National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme provides heavy vehicle operators in Australia has operated since the mid-1990’s as an alternative compliance mechanism. Participation provides operators with regulatory concessions designed to boost operator and industry productivity. About 20% of Australia’s heavy vehicle industry participates. Following the introduction of Australia’s Heavy Vehicle National Law the scheme has been reviewed and strengthened.

Operators must:

• abide by the NHVAS standards and business rules

• develop and maintain a compliance management system

• document procedures which staff must follow

• provide documents and other evidence that prove compliance

• undergo independent audit

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator is responsible for the management and monitoring all aspects of the scheme.

The formal review of the scheme last year provides a great analysis of this scheme and the important elements of a successful certification scheme for contractors. On 1 October 2018, CoR laws were changed to align more closely with workplace health and safety provisions. These changes mean every party in the heavy vehicle transport supply chain has a duty to ensure the safety of their transport activities. The review aims at ensuring that operators chain use their NHVAS as a means to comply with these new laws. Feedback is invited must be submitted by 14 April 2019 via email to brsreview@nhvr.gov.au. Refer to this site for more details.