The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is set to relaunch ‘Operation Melbourne Market’ after two prior editions of the operation.
It first ran in December 2022, and then again at the start of 2024, with more than 70 per cent of heavy vehicle drivers intercepted during both operations found to be non-compliant.
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NHVR Chief Operations Officer Paul Salvati says that this non-compliance poses a major risk for all road users around the Market.
“The number of drivers and operators found to be doing the wrong thing in some capacity during the previous operations conducted at the Melbourne Market is a major cause of concern,” Salvati says.
“The NHVR is taking swift action after discovering these high levels of non-compliance, by launching Operation Melbourne Market for a third time.
“The aim of this crucial operation is to reinforce safety and regulatory adherence for industry who are coming and going from the Market, and to prevent potential serious incidents from occurring.
“We are finding many operators who attend the Market don’t realise that they are part of the Chain of Responsibility (CoR) and aren’t aware they need to comply with the Heavy Vehicle National Law.”
In last year’s NHVR officers issued 32 infringements and 28 defect notices over the course of two days, mainly in relation to load and mass offences.
Out of the 46 intercepts that resulted in loading checks during the operation last year, NHVR officers found a 49.2 per cent rate of loading non-compliance.
“These serious violations present significant risk – and by failing to comply with regulatory requirements, drivers and operators are not only compromising their own safety but are threatening the safety of all those working at the Market,” Salvati says.
“We are urging all operators – small or large – to review their practices and ensure they are fully aware of, and compliant with, all safety obligations under the HVNL.
“With around 2,750 businesses located at the Market and more than 2,000 individual fruit and vegetable buyers, it’s imperative operators maintain the highest safety standards to ensure everyone is kept safe.”
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