NHVR

Better Maintenance Means Better Results

better maintenance means better results

A new report from National Transport Insurance and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has demonstrated what smart operators in the trucking industry have known for a long time, that better maintenance means better results. Hopefully, the publication of this report will lead to something the industry has been calling for, over many years, increased compliance attention on those who maintain trucks poorly.

The NHVR and NTI have shared de-identified critical road crash data, combining their research with data from NTI’s NTARC Major Accident Investigation Report and the NHVR’s National Roadworthiness Baseline Survey used to create a new report which looks at the relationship between vehicle standards and safety performance. 

In the past there has been very little evidence, which governmental bodies would accept as evidence, which proves a link between vehicle maintenance and major incidents. This was due to a separation between organisations which hold data on vehicle condition and those who have access to crash data. This initiative between NHVR and NTI is an important step forward in sharing insights. 

Ten key areas were examined in the report, including brakes, couplings, steering and suspension, wheels and tyres, structure, seats, lights, mirrors, windscreens, and engine and driveline to determine there was a correlation between poor maintenance and increased claims frequency and cost. 

better maintenance means better results
Adam Gibson, NTI’s Transport and Logistics Risk Engineer

“There was a 29 per cent increase in frequency and a 22 per cent increase in the cost of claims for transport companies with poorly maintained couplings,” said Adam Gibson, NTI’s Transport and Logistics Risk Engineer. “For wheel and tyre defects, the frequency was 32 per cent higher than the baseline while cost was 26 per cent higher.

“It’s important to note this does not show crashes were caused by defects in those systems, but that operators with trucks in which couplings, wheels and tyres were not well maintained, were involved in a greater number of claims. The link is correlative, not causative.

“There was only a three per cent higher frequency and four per cent higher cost compared to the baseline for operators who had vehicles with defects in their braking system. This is due to the way braking systems were tested back in 2016, and that process has now undergone a significant overhaul.” 

NHVR Director Vehicle Safety and Performance Peter Austin said this report highlighted the importance of regular and effective maintenance regimes across the heavy vehicle fleet. 

“Well maintained vehicles operating on our road network are essential to the safety of all road users,” said Peter. “The NHVR has a long-standing commitment to evidence-based enforcement, which is why we take a national, risk-based approach to checking whether heavy vehicles in the fleet are maintained.

“If we see a history of non-compliance, we intervene early and investigate further to prevent a potential accident from occurring. The report marks an important step forward, with the expertise and insights shared across the regulator and insurer providing opportunities to reduce fatalities on our roads.”

Read the full report here. 

better maintenance means better results

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