As we enter the New Year, it’s timely to reflect on the progress we’ve made together and our ongoing goals for the heavy vehicle sector, writes outgoing NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto.

In 2024, we celebrated 10 years since the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) commenced our journey to become Australia’s national regulator. Through collaboration and a commitment to safety, we reached many significant milestones, and while it would be impossible to touch on them all, I’d like to mention some that will have a lasting impact on our customers.

In April, we completed our National Services Transition program by assuming responsibility for heavy vehicle regulatory services in Queensland. As the final participating jurisdiction to transition, this was a huge achievement and a step forward for industry, who now have a single reference for consistent application of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).

The NHVR also welcomed many new Safety and Compliance Officers (SCOs) to our Operations team, who work roadside and at vehicle inspection sites. The transition has allowed us to accelerate regulatory compliance harmonisation across state borders and drive a safer freight network.

Improving safety on Australia’s roads remains a priority and last year we conducted 67 safety operations across our participating jurisdictions to help drivers understand their HVNL obligations. For example, in December the NHVR partnered with police as part of Operation Omega. This collaborative effort saw increased patrols on national, key freight routes and high-risk areas to target driver fatigue ahead of Christmas.

In July we launched the National Roadworthiness Survey (NRS) to improve the mechanical condition of Australia’s heavy vehicle fleet. Our SCOs, police and other authorised officers conducted more than 9,000 visual and mechanical inspections to identify existing and emerging risk trends. The results of the NRS will be compared to previous surveys to determine where we are making improvements in vehicle safety, and where we can focus more attention.

The NHVR continued to improve our data and technology offerings in 2024, with a focus on enhancing the NHVR Portal. The Portal is the NHVR’s digital platform, transforming how we deliver our services to industry. We’re committed to providing all regulatory services through the Portal, and it’s constantly evolving to deliver a more seamless experience for customers. Throughout 2024, the National Network Map continued to evolve with refined data and features, creating a single authoritative location for industry to plan journeys across state and territory borders for their entire fleet.

We were pleased to continue working with safety-focused industry groups through our Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI). With the support of the federal government, we invested $3.9 million in 16 safety projects through Round 9 of the program. The new initiatives will provide tangible improvements for the transport and logistics sector; supporting productivity and making roads safer.

In November, we opened submissions for Round 10 and I’d encourage any group or individual involved in Australia’s heavy vehicle industry or the wider supply chain, that has a project or campaign that will increase compliance and promote safety, to apply.

Since our inception, the NHVR’s focus has always been on ensuring industry, and all road users, remain safe. Despite the challenges of a fast-growing and evolving freight task, our commitment to an inform, educate and enforce approach continues to improve safety, efficiency and productivity for all.

As I announced last year, January marked my final month with the NHVR. After nearly 11 years in this fantastic organisation, I’m so proud of everything we’ve achieved together. I look forward to seeing the NHVR continue making an impact into the future and ensure safer heavy vehicle movements across Australia.

Stay safe.