Australian heavy vehicle drivers will now have a choice in how they record their work and rest hours.
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) today approved the rollout of the first Electronic Work Diaries (EWD).
Used to record the work and rest times of a driver as a voluntary alternative to the Written Work Diary, the EWDs will be available from 1 December for voluntary use.
Local Australian companies Step Global and Teletrac Navman were announced as the official technology providers after having met strict requirements for providing an alternative to a Written Work Diary.
Today more than 200,000 Written Work Diaries are used by heavy vehicle drivers each year.
For over 50 years the work diary has been a requirement for fatigue-related heavy vehicles.
Step Global’s Smart eDriver and Teletrac Navman’s Sentinel systems have been listed by the NHVR as approved EWD solutions, following consultation of EWD Policy Framework and Standards that have been developed in association with technology providers, transport operators, police and transport authorities in 2018 and were subject to comprehensive review and consultation.
Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said both companies are technology partners with a number of heavy vehicle operators, which should see a broad rollout across industry.
“This approval gives the providers the green light to work with their partners to use their products as an approved fatigue management system,” he said.
“We know both technology companies have a number of transport and logistics operators ready and eager to adopt the technology and we should see a good uptake across the industry.
“I congratulate Step Global and Teletrac Navman, this is a historic moment for Australia’s heavy vehicle industry and has the potential to make the work environments of our drivers safer and improve productivity for the industry.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack congratulated Teletrac Navman and Step Global and recognised the significance of the initiative for industry.
“This announcement will cut this red tape enabling drivers to record their work and rest hours by simply pressing a button, rather than spending time ruling lines and counting multiple time periods on multiple pieces of paper,” he said.
Teletrac Navman issued a statement regarding the announcement also today.
(Image: L-R: Michael McCormack, Duncan Gay, Scott Buchholz, Sal Petroccitto attend the launch in Canberra).