The NHVR is seeking consultation for its draft Heavy Vehicle Productivity Plan (HVPP) for 2024-2029, as it seeks to help increase freight efficiency on Australian roads.

NHVR Chief Safety and Productivity Officer David Hourigan says that the new plan will be focused on what the trucking industry needs to overcome before the end of the decade.

“We are open to feedback on what we see as contemporary challenges for Australia’s heavy vehicle industry,” he says.

“This includes issues like growth in the freight task, ongoing road fatalities, environmental and health impacts, the shift from asset management to optimisation, and finally, the increased frequency of unplanned supply chain disruptions.

“As the heavy vehicle sector evolves and the freight task changes, we too are evolving and changing by continually seeking new ways to refine our approach.

“Our goal is to be a modern regulator that has a deeper understanding of the issues, priorities and needs of our industry and government customers so we can create the most effective regulatory environment.”

The NHVR released its first HVPP in 2020 after similarly receiving significant feedback from industry and government on the issues facing the transport industry at that time.

Since then, the regulator says it has progressed a number of targets including:

Easing the permit burden by delivering 49 national notices and 50 state and territory notices
Launching the National Network Map, marking Australia’s first harmonised mapping system for heavy vehicles, improving route planning and operational efficiency for the industry
Opening up network opportunities through assessment of more than 770 structures across 106 local councils through the Commonwealth-funded Strategic Local Government Asset Assessment Project
Establishing permanent electric vehicle networks in New South Wales and Victoria, with trial networks in Queensland and South Australia, supporting industry decarbonisation.

“Productivity is not a trade-off with safety, sustainability and infrastructure,” David says.

“From our perspective, productivity also has the potential to save lives, reduce carbon emissions and prolong the life of our roads and structures.

“We are consulting on this new plan so that all those who play a part in the heavy vehicle industry, such as drivers, operators and road managers, can help shape our direction and achieve meaningful and tangible outcomes.

“We want to know we are implementing the right initiatives to support industry and keep Australia moving.”