Improvements in heavy vehicle driver training and licensing systems across Australia, plus nationally improved young truck driver competency for the future is in prospect after an announcement by Austroads this week. A consortium has been appointed to deliver the final stage of the National Heavy Vehicle Driver Competency Framework review and revision.
The consortium, appointed by Austroads, will be led by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Australia (CILT-A), in collaboration with the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC), the National Road Safety Partnerships Program and the National Truck Accident Research Centre.
The project team will be led by Dr Kim Hassall, National Chair of CILT-A and Professor Sharon Newnham, Associate Director of the Systems Safety Team at MUARC.
“It is encouraging that Austroads has appointed these experts to guide necessary reform to heavy vehicle licensing,” said Warren Clark, NatRoad Chief Executive Officer. “Reform is urgent and unfortunately the project report isn’t due until mid-2022. Change is needed now to improve productivity, safety and longevity of our drivers.”
This project builds on the work undertaken during Stages 1 and 2 of the Review of the National Heavy Vehicle Driver Competency Framework. Stage 1 provided a comprehensive review of heavy vehicle licensing in Australia while Stage 2 investigated best practice overseas experience and available research.
This third stage focusses on strengthening national heavy vehicle licence training and assessment standards to ensure drivers are equipped with the knowledge, skills, competence and experience to safely drive in a range of conditions.
The project objective is to deliver a harmonised Australian licence training and assessment framework, that produces safe and competent heavy vehicle drivers, as well as reflecting the current and future needs of heavy vehicles operators and the future freight task.
In addition to developing robust heavy vehicle driver training and assessment standards and an associated curriculum framework, this project will also examine related areas such as licence class progression arrangements.
This work reflects the continued collaboration of all states and territories to achieve improvements to heavy vehicle licensing and ensure safe and competent drivers on Australian roads.
The project is due to be completed by mid-2022.
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