THE VICTORIAN Government claims to be cutting costs and time for the state’s road freight sector with the introduction of technology for faster and cheaper infrastructure assessment.
The new Heavy Vehicle Structural Assessment Permit System (HVSAPS) is eliminating the need for most manual bridge and culvert assessments.
The technology is dramatically reducing wait times — cutting approval times from up to six months to days, the government says. It is also slashing costs that can reach up to $30,000 for manual assessments.
More than 60% of assessments are now completed within 30 minutes at no cost to operators.
Before the system was introduced, engineers would manually undertake around 1,000 bridge and culvert assessments every year.
Already, the HVSAPS has processed more than 4,000 assessments — boosting efficiencies by 300%. Where some manual assessments are required, cases are returned within five business days — compared to up to three months before the new technology was introduced.
It is expected that 95% of assessments will be fully automated by September.
The HVSAPS is an initiative of the Government’s Business Acceleration Fund, with Mister for Ports and Freight Melissa Horne saying the new technology is cutting time and slashing costs for freight operators.
“We are making investments in new technology to keep goods moving across Victoria as efficiently as possible.”
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator CEO Nicole Rosie said, “We are continuing to work with government to support Victoria’s heavy vehicle industry, and we’re pleased to already see the benefits of this new system and permit application process within NHVR Go.”