Calls for heavy vehicle national operator standard

A NATIONAL operator standard should be considered for heavy vehicles operators as part of a review of the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

The call is part of a submission by the Australian Logistics Council to the National Transport Commission.

The ALC has proposed the creation of a national standard in which every heavy vehicle operator would:

• provide the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator with a list of heavy vehicles it operates and garaging information about the vehicle;
• ensure that each heavy vehicle has installed, and uses equipment meeting international standards that records information regarding driving hours and location
• maintain a safety management system that meets standards established in the HVNL; and
• require a registered operator that would have capital available to ensure efficient operation of heavy vehicles.

Chief executive Kirk Coningham said the most important proposal was for vehicle movements to be recorded.

Mr Coningham said that data was the “new oil” for the freight transport industry, something noted by the Productivity Commission.

“It will be an opportunity lost if the national operating standard concept is not tested in a holistic way as governments considers responses to the regulatory impact statement,” Mr Coningham said.