The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and South Australian state and local government have collaborated to deliver key heavy vehicle productivity initiatives.
As of today, January 23, the NHVR is introducing three Oversize Overmass (OSOM) trial notices which will replace the need for operators and drivers to apply for permits on key freight routes.
“Streamlining heavy vehicle access by transitioning permits to notices will allow operators to travel more efficiently, and I thank the NHVR for their enthusiastic response to improve access to routes subject to multiple heavy vehicle access permits,” says state transport minister Tom Koutsantonis said.
“Today’s announcement is part one of a multi-stage plan to drastically reduce the need for thousands of heavy vehicle permits in South Australia.
“These outcomes show how the NHVR and state and local government are listening to industry about what needs to be done to continue to achieve improved heavy vehicle safety and productivity outcomes.”
Outgoing NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto says this will give greater access across the state for load carrying vehicles with greater mass and dimension limits.
“What this will mean is a more streamlined process for operators, with larger and heavier movements of indivisible loads now either requiring no permit, or consent from less road managers than before,” Sal says.
“I’d like to thank Minister Koutsantonis for his continued support of the heavy vehicle industry, and his recognition of the important contribution it makes to the South Australian economy and the communities.”
Over the next 12 months the NHVR, the South Australian Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) and other participating road managers will assess how effective the trial notices have been in supporting heavy vehicle productivity and safety.
Future stages of the multi-stage plan will focus on reviewing South Australia’s Performance-Based Standards (PBS) combinations, livestock transport mass exemptions, and tri-drive prime mover access arrangements. The review will also address special-purpose combinations, ensuring alignment with evolving industry needs.
You can find more information on the new initiatives here.
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