THE National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s Strategic Directions 2021-2026 document emphasises delivering truly borderless operations and increasing flexibility for safe operators.
NHVR chair Duncan Gay said the release of the organisation’s long-term strategy (first released in 2016) came at a critical time for industry, as the regulator pursues ambitious and relevant industry reform to the Heavy Vehicle National Law, currently under the spotlight.
“We know the majority of industry want to do the right thing – our job is to leverage this through data sharing and tailored regulatory approaches to lift safety standards right along the supply chain,” Mr Gay said.
“We have learnt a lot over the last five years, for example, the importance of driver physical and mental wellbeing and its impacts on road safety, and we have increased our capability to share safety insights with industry to collectively pursue better outcomes.
“We are also going back to basics to develop a national understanding of freight infrastructure, ensuring consistent assessments that open up productive networks which are critical to the success of our road transport task.”
A key priority for the NHVR is completing the transition of regulatory services from the final HVNL participating jurisdictions.
“Transitioning operations from New South Wales and Queensland will provide consistent regulation right across the eastern part of the country, ensuring industry experience and the same on-road interactions regardless of where people are working,” Mr Gay said.
Mr Gay was recently reappointed chair of the NHVR Board and welcomed the reappointment of current board members Ken Lay and Robin Stewart-Crompton for a further three years.
“The reappointment of Ken and Robin at this critical time for our industry will enable continuity in pursuing the opportunities ahead of us,” Mr Gay said.
“They join board members Julie Russell and Catherine Scott, who both bring a wealth of practical industry experience to the table.”
The NHVR’s Strategic Directions will be reviewed in another five years, following the completion of transition of services.
