The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) will be undertaking random mechanical inspections of thousands of trucks, buses, and other special purpose vehicles over a period of around 12 weeks.
Undertaken as part of the regulator’s 2024 National Roadworthiness Survey (NRS), roadside and fixed inspection sites and depots will begin popping up across the country from July.
The NHVR says the inspections take an average of 45 minutes to complete, and will include a detailed visual inspection and mechanical component testing via vehicle inspection equipment that is based on the National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual.
The inspection of buses, coaches and SPVs will predominantly be scheduled at depots.
“The survey will provide a point-in-time snapshot of the mechanical condition of Australia’s heavy vehicle fleet so that we can identify current issues and help us create a nationally consistent inspection policy,” the NHVR says.
“The vehicles will be selected for inspection on a random basis using a method recommended by a statistician and inspections will be performed in a consistent manner nationally.
“Specific operators, industries or drivers are not being targeted.”
While the NHVR is only active in NSW, ACT, QLD, SA, TAS and VIC, all Australian state and territories are involved in NRS 2024, including Western Australia and Northern Territory.
“We have tried to minimise disruption to industry in the way we designed the survey, but drivers must still comply with fatigue laws and all other HVNL requirements,” the NHVR says.
A report outlining the key findings of the survey will be published in early 2025.
“We want the data to be as representative as possible of the condition of the Australian heavy vehicle fleet,” the NHVR says.
“The data collected will be used to inform policy and develop projects to reduce the social, environmental and economic harm from unroadworthy heavy vehicles.”