Heavy vehicle licensing is paramount to ensuring the people who operate heavy vehicles on our roads are competent and safe.

The Northern Territory government adopted the National Heavy Vehicle Framework after a review and decision to adopt the National Heavy Vehicle Law in 2014. This framework provides nationally consistent competency assessment standards for heavy vehicle licencing.

Austroads is a member-based association comprised of all the State and Territory government transport departments. It supports the delivery of efficient, reliable and safe road transport in Australia and New Zealand. They are responsible for the implementation of the National Heavy Vehicle Driver Competency Framework (NHVDCF).

Starting in May 2018, Austroads initiated the NHVDCF at the behest of the Transport Department Ministers. This framework aims to provide a uniform national standard of heavy vehicle driver competence, training and assessment, improve road safety outcomes, improve public perception of the safety of heavy vehicle operations, and meet heavy vehicle industry needs for well-trained safe heavy vehicle drivers.

Its stated aim is to harmonise all the Australian States and Territories heavy vehicle licensing processes under the NHVDCF that produces competent heavy vehicle operators as well as reflecting the future needs of the industry.

At this stage of the process, Austroads has released a regulatory impact statement on the effects of the proposed key areas of reform. Based on prior feedback from earlier stages in the consultation on the NHVDCF, Austroads has proposed four areas of reform. These are:

• Managing individual driver risk ensuring eligibility only for drivers without serious driving offences.
• Strengthening skill and knowledge making competency requirements specific to each licence class, setting minimum course length, and recognising the extra skill needed to drive the most complex vehicles.
• Embedding behind-the-wheel experience requiring minimum behind-the-wheel time pre-licence and supervised driving sessions post-licence.
• Introducing experience-based progression options enabling those drivers who can demonstrate driving and work experience to progress to higher licence classes more rapidly.

From these four key areas of reform, Austroads has developed seven proposed changes to the National Heavy Vehicle Driver Competency Framework (NHVCDF). The first is to develop a well-trained and capable workforce. They propose to do this through managing individual driver risk, strengthening skills and knowledge of specific licence requirements, embedded “behind the wheel” experience, and introducing experienced based progression options with demonstrated work experience.

These changes are expected to impact operators in the heavy vehicle industry that train people to attain a heavy vehicle licence, those applying for their first licence, upgrading to a higher class of heavy vehicle licence (e.g. from HR to HC, or HC to MC), or holding or upgrading an MC licence.

Specifically, Austroads is proposing drivers will need a full licence with a low-risk driving history (no hoon, drink or drug driving convictions) to get an MR or HR licence. Those on a provisional licence can still obtain an LR licence. This is in addition to proposing three methods to progress to higher classes of licence, either through a one year tenure of licence, supervised driving, or driving experience.

In terms of training, they are proposing to introduce minimum mandated course lengths which include behind-the-wheel time. This is in addition to post-licence supervision where a driver will need to be supervised for between 4 to 8 hours in a 3 month period after obtaining their licence.

To support these changes and to allow for the additional training and supervision required, Austroads is proposing to streamline the approval process for businesses to accredit staff for the purposes of supervising and assessing drivers. Austroads will also develop best practice standards and training material to support businesses to assess driver’s competency.

Austroads are consulting on these proposed reforms to heavy vehicle licensing this month and are keen to hear the industry's views by the end of October. The MTA will be responding to the consultation and welcome member input on the proposed reforms. Members can contact Dayne Eckermann, Policy Officer, via deckermann@mtasant.com.au or 8291 2000.