The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is one step closer after Queensland became the first state to pass the necessary legislation.
The Heavy Vehicle National Law Bill 2012 was voted through Queensland Parliament last week on 23 August, paving the way for the other state and territory jurisdictions to follow suit.
Queensland was picked as the host jurisdiction for the NHVR and the new legislation ensures the regulator will become operational by 1 January 2013.
Uniqco’s Grant Andrews, the co-author of the IPWEA Plant & Vehicle Management Manual, said the ratification was great news from a training perspective because there will now be one set of rules for fleet managers across the country.
“The current variations in rules are very frustrating,” he said.
“With these new laws, people will all be working under the same rules. It will certainly make the education of fleet managers much easier.”
Andrews said fleet managers would now have to learn the changes to their state’s laws and adapt to the new situation.
“A lot of the regulations have been close to a standard form for some time, but there will be minor changes and tweaking all over the country,” he added. “But fleet managers will no longer have to learn the new rules if they move states.”
Queensland’s Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said the new regulator would be a “one-stop shop” to put an end to cross-border confusion and delays.
“This Bill cuts through the red tape and will replace a confusing array of eight separate regulators and nine pieces of state, territory and Commonwealth legislation,” he said. “A national regulator and a single national law will greatly benefit those vehicles travelling from one state to the next.”