The Australian Logistics Council (ALC) and the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) have welcomed today’s confirmation by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) that the draft Registered Industry Code of Practice (Master Code) developed by both organisations though their joint company, Safe Trucking and Supply Chains Ltd, is now open for public consultation.
After more than a year of working with transport industry participants, governments, regulatory bodies and representatives of other industry groups, this period of public consultation is an essential step in the approval and registration of the Master Code by the NHVR.
“The development of the Master Code has included an extensive program of engagement and consultation with industry representatives and other stakeholders, to make sure it is relevant to the needs of operators in their day-to-day business activities,” said ALC Managing Director, Michael Kilgariff.
“This final period of public consultation will help to make certain that the Master Code accurately captures all elements essential to the safe conduct of road transport operations, and can deliver the improved road safety outcomes that are a high priority for all those involved in this industry.”
“The Master Code addresses the requirements of the expanded Chain of Responsibility (CoR) requirements under the amended Heavy Vehicle National Law that will come into effect on 1 October 2018,” said ATA Chair, Geoff Crouch.
“This Master Code has been developed by the industry for the industry, and will allow those with CoR obligations to put into place systems that will assist in the management of risks relating to speed, fatigue, mass, dimension and loading, and vehicle standards requirements under the HVNL.”
The public consultation period on the Master Code runs until 31 July. Once approved and registered by the NHVR, the Master Code will be freely available to all heavy vehicle operators and supply chain parties via the NHVR website.
It is anticipated that the Master Code will be formally launched as part of the 2018 Supply Chain Safety & Compliance Summit, being held in Melbourne from 5-6 September.
