Blueprint released to boost heavy vehicle productivity

Australian freight and haulage companies would have been heartened today with the release of a productivity blueprint by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.

As it looks to further improve freight efficiencies, the NHVR has been pushing to expand networks while reducing the reliance on access permits.

The Heavy Vehicle Productivity Plan 2020-25, according to South Australian Infrastructure and Transport Minister Corey Wingard, is an important document to ensure governments and road managers were taking steps to meet Australia’s future freight growth.

“The Plan outlines important objectives, including partnering with local governments to build capability and promoting more productive heavy vehicles that are better for the environment and communities, as well as providing certainty and consistency with access,” he said in a statement.

In South Australia the benefits were already being seen under the state's Load Carrying Vehicle Operator's Guide according to Wingard.

In July it was updated following the release of the National Class 2 Road Train Notice in June.

“Both updates have allowed increased height, width and mass on dedicated heavy vehicle networks across South Australia, which allows more goods to be delivered safely and reduces the number of vehicles on the road,” said Wingard.

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the Heavy Vehicle Productivity Plan 2020-25 would assist Australia’s 425 road managers to coordinate their approach to addressing Australia’s growing road freight task.

“The response to the pandemic has again shown the importance and resilience of Australia’s heavy vehicle industry,” he said.

“Importantly this Plan includes a series of short, medium and long-term actions driven by data and information of freight movements across Australia,” said Petroccitto.

The NHVR confirmed it would use the pathway to provide information to road managers to remove key pinch points across the national heavy vehicle network.

The NHVR conducted consultation on the Draft Heavy Vehicle Productivity Plan last year, engaging more than 50 groups across government and industry.

The Heavy Vehicle Productivity Plan 2020-25 and Action Plan is available at www.nhvr.gov.au/hvpp

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