Three key truck and road freight organisations are jointly celebrating a victory of sorts over red tape and inefficiency in Victorian heavy vehicle operations.
Three peak heavy vehicle and road freight industry associations including Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA), the Victorian Transport Association (VTA), and NatRoad say they have jointly engaged in productive and positive discussions with the Victorian Government and its relevant agencies on behind-the-scenes work to enable easier pathways for innovative heavy vehicles in Victoria over the past 12 months.
The organisations say that the work has culminated in the announcement of an automated assessment program for Class 1 and 2 heavy vehicles, which they expect to be available from 1 January, 2026.
The system, to be known as the Heavy Vehicle Structural Assessment Permit System, will automate up to 85 per cent of structural assessments according to the organisations, which they say will significantly reduce assessment and response times, and eliminating all fees for industry.
They say that the fees and the policy that underpins them historically have been a contentious issue for industry. and the three say they have long called for their removal, and renewed those calls in recent meetings with the Victorian Government.
The removal of the fees will result in easier access pathways for many heavy vehicle combinations, including innovative B-doubles, A-doubles, Performance Based Standards (PBS) vehicles, quad-axle semi-trailers, and combinations featuring next-generation low- and zero-emissions trucks.
The organisations say those vehicle combinations have been proven over and over to be safer, more efficient and more productive than many conventional heavy vehicle combinations that do not require access permits.
The peak industry bodies jointly celebrated easier access pathways for safer, more productive and more efficient heavy vehicles, and commended the Victorian Government for its actions.
HVIA CEO, Todd Hacking, said the removal of the policy is an absolute win for industry, and also for the wider Victorian community.
Operators will enjoy the benefits of a greater number of safer, more productive and more efficient trucks in the years to come,” said Hacking.
Peter Anderson, the VTA’s CEO said they are celebrating a crucial milestone for Victorian road freight productivity and efficiency as a result of this.
“On behalf of all our members, we wholeheartedly thank the Victorian Government for listening and acting on the real needs of the industry,” Anderson added.
NatRoad CEO, Warren Clark, said it is a great outcome for road transport operators who have been struggling with rising costs.
“We acknowledge the Victorian Government’s commitment to reducing red tape and improving the efficiency and productivity of our industry,” clark concluded.
