The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) will be introducing changes to the Performance Based Standards (PBS) scheme Vehicle Approval (VA) document.
NHVR CEO, Sal Petroccitto, said the changes would remove some of the unnecessary complexity in getting a PBS vehicle approved.
“The PBS scheme allows heavy vehicle operators to use innovative and optimised vehicle designs – allowing freight to be moved in a safe way with fewer truck movements,” he said.
“The new changes will simplify and accelerate the approval of PBS combinations by removing the transfer of PBS vehicle applications when a vehicle is sold and removing duplication, which will reduce the size of a vehicle application by 30 per cent.
“These changes are just the latest improvements in a suite of initiatives we will be delivering over the next year to reform and modernise the PBS scheme.”
The first change includes removing the operator’s name from the PBS VA. This means that the VA will become an authorisation to the vehicles listed on the VA, regardless of who owns or operates them – eliminating the need for a VA transfer when vehicles are sold.
Also, subcontractors will be able to use the VA without having to transfer it into their name.
In the second change, the NHVR will be replacing the specification tables with a simpler table.
The new table will only contain key vehicle information, such as Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINS), vehicle make and model – eliminating duplicated information and reducing the workload for PBS certifiers.
Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA) CEO, Todd Hacking, has welcomed the changes.
“HVIA welcomes this red-tape reduction initiative of the NHVR, and, on behalf of our members, we look forward to simpler, quicker PBS assessments as a result,” he said.
“The more efficient the PBS administrative process is, the quicker the vehicle can be on-road improving the productivity and safety performance for the operator, which is the primary objective of the industry.
“HVIA looks forward to representing our members in the continuous improvement of the PBS scheme, as we work with the NHVR to make the PBS scheme as efficient, enticing and influential as practicable.”
The changes to PBS VAs will be introduced from 14 November 2022. For more information about these changes, click here.
In other news, NHVR has released its National Class 3 20m Long 3-axle Truck and 4-axle Dog Trailer Mass and Dimension Notice 2022 (No.1).
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