The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), Main Roads Western Australia, and the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport have collaborated to deliver a new fatigue exemption notice.
It’s aim is to enable drivers operating under the National Class 3 Supplementary Access (Western Australia Assistance) Exemption Notice 2023 (No.3) to legally operate under ‘Exemption’ work and rest hours instead of Standard Hours when transiting through South Australia.
NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said that drivers who work for an operator that holds current accreditation through WA Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (WAHVA) can use the new National Heavy Vehicle Western Australia Supplementary Work and Rest Hours Exemption (No.1) when operating under the National Class 3 Supplementary Access (Western Australia Assistance) Exemption Notice.
“In addition to the WAHVA requirement, to use this fatigue exemption, drivers must be delivering goods from southern Western Australia to the flood-affected Kimberley Region, and have had a medical check in the past three years if aged 49 or younger, or in the past year if aged 50 or older,” he said in a statement.
The NHVR has also recently extended the National Class 3 Supplementary Access (Western Australia Assistance) Exemption Notice until 30 June, 2023.
“The extension of this notice is an important step in supporting the ongoing recovery efforts in the flood-affected regions in the north of Western Australia, by authorising the continued access of Class 3 heavy vehicles that are roadtrains up to 53.5m in length to a specified network from Western Australia to South Australia,” said Petroccitto.
“We ask that drivers of these vehicles please remember that the roads on this route are not designed for these longer vehicles, and to exercise particular caution and drive carefully when travelling to and from the affected regions.”
Back in February, the NHVR released a temporary notice to support the movement of essential food items from South Australia to Western Australia during the flooding events that impacted large parts of central Australia.