I love grabbing a hot cuppa and checking out the Big Rigs social media pages to see what readers are saying about the articles. My August piece on the National Roadworthiness Survey certainly stirred up some cranky comments!
The main takeaway was:
This issue is no longer hiding in the background; it’s front and centre.
Even the Victorian Farmers Federation is now loudly complaining about what truck drivers have been saying for years: roads need to be suitable for trucks.
It must be frustrating for an operator trying to run a safe and reliable transport business. How can you predict when the next trip will damage your vehicle, costing thousands in repairs, along with the time your truck is off the road and not earning? And that’s assuming you can find someone willing to endure the rough ride!
While I agree with the frustration, most of the social media comments seem focused on the NHVR.
We all know that the NHVR doesn’t build or manage roads, so we should be directing our complaints to local, state, and federal governments, as they’re responsible for the roads.
We can make our voices heard during elections, but isn’t there something the NHVR could do to address these concerns?
Yes, there is! I’m so glad you asked.
Instead of just slapping defects on trucks and shaking heads at their condition, why not come up with a solution that recognises the efforts operators are making to address these challenges?
Professional truck operators and drivers complete a pre-start check at the beginning of each shift or after a long rest.
They note what’s right or wrong, and whether something might need fixing soon. The pre-start check is an obvious tool (along with the visual inspection) the NHVR can use to see if an issue is new or if it’s been around for a while.
The improvement notice shouldn’t be used when a truck needs to be taken off the road. Image: NHVRHere’s a solution – are you ready?
Let’s use improvement notices. Not defects, not fines, just simple improvement notices.
Improvement notices could be used for issues like:
• A new issue that’s just happened, but the truck is still safe to drive.
• An issue that’s getting worse, but the truck is still safe to drive.
• An issue outside the driver’s ability to inspect, but the truck is still safe to drive.
In all cases, the truck is safe to drive. The improvement notice shouldn’t be used when a truck needs to be taken off the road.
Once the issue is fixed, the notice no longer applies and you can drive the truck again, just like you can with a minor or self-clearing defect notice.
But unlike a minor defect notice, the truck doesn’t need to be inspected by someone else to confirm the repair. And unlike any defect notice, you don’t need to get it cleared.
You just keep a record of the fix – repair notes, invoices, or photos. If the regulator wants to check, they can stop the truck and look.
Someone might ask, “How will anyone know the notice no longer applies?” Simple – just look at the date on the improvement notice. If the issue is still there after the due date on the notice, then act. But let’s not settle for red tape processes that don’t improve road safety.
This solution acknowledges the professional processes in place without punishing operators for something that could be caused by bad roads.
Now, some of you might think it could be easy to cheat the system, and maybe it could, but surely, it’s a start.
The NHVR already uses improvement notices for off-road issues, so why not for this?
Running a trucking business is hard enough without worrying that your processes won’t be recognised by enforcement officers.
What’s the point of having a process if it’s ignored by those enforcing the laws?
It’s ridiculous to comply with the law on one hand and be told you’re not on the other, especially when you’re doing everything ‘reasonably practicable’ as required by that law.
Come on, NHVR, do better.
What’s the point of winning customer service awards if your customers on the road are suffering due to outdated processes that punish them for things beyond their control?
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The post Big issue out in the open – ‘Roads need to be suitable for trucks’ appeared first on Big Rigs.