Talk to operators trying to run higher productivity vehicles just about anywhere in Australia and you will be told that they are looking for clarity over access and are unsure what can and cannot be done.
One of the issues which has dogged the task of trucking operators looking to improve productivity has been the issue of monitoring trucks, their loads and their routes. Schemes like the Performance Based Standards scheme may specify the Intelligent Access Program (IAP). In fact, for many road managers specifying some form of monitoring of trucks has become a go-to condition of a number of permits and productivity schemes.
The fact that the IAP has proved so expensive to run meant only those making very substantial productivity gains could justify the expense. There was a need to make it easier for operators to demonstrate their compliance with whatever requirement were set on particular combinations and specific routes.
The gains possible in each state still vary considerably, but operators have been able to utilise a Telematics Monitoring Application instead of the the IAP and this has proved to be a useful, lower cost and more flexible option for many operators. This has been widely picked up by operators involved in the High Priority Freight Vehicles (HPFV) in Victoria.
HPFV and some other state jurisdictions will also accept the use of what is called Smart OnBoard Mass (Smart OBM). This utilises the latest development of OBM units in the past few years. The OBM uses sensors mounted on the truck and trailer to ascertain the gross mass of the the combination and the masses on individual axles. These systems can utilise the air suspension, the electronic braking system (EBS) or calculate mass using other mass sensors.
When these OBM generate digital mass data, this can be used by telematics systems to distribute the data remotely. Only OBM systems approved by Transport Certification Australia (TCA) so far five OBM systems have been approved for use as Smart OBMs. Airtec Corporation, Loadman, Right Weigh, e-max and Tramanco.
Of course, there’s more, the Smart OBM needs to be paired with a certified service provider. The definition of this can be quite broad.
From the operator’s point of view one of the advantages of the Smart OBM scheme is the strict control on access to the data generated by the OBMs. Data from the Smart OBM is sent to the TCA and only certain aspects of the data will then be released to the jurisdiction involved.
Most of the time the data will be aggregated and anonymised. The authorities will know there were 75 A-doubles at 85 tonnes which travelled along a particular road this week, but they won’t know whose they were.
