The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator’s (NVHR) new technical forum is a key step to delivering safety and productivity improvements for the trucking industry, the Chief Executive of the Australian Trucking Association, Christopher Melham, said today.

Mr Melham was welcoming today’s announcement by the NVHR of a new technical working group to assist in the accelerated deployment of safety technologies, systems and partnerships for the trucking industry.

“The ATA is a vocal supporter of practical measures to improve road safety and using technology to deliver safety and productivity improvements for the trucking industry,” Mr Melham said.

“We’re looking forward to the opportunity the new technical working group will provide to contribute to technical issues that impact on industry, such as the outcomes of the National Roadworthiness Survey and the National Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual.

“The ATA has a long standing involvement in technical issues, and these can now be channelled to the NHVR through our participation in the new working group.”

The announcement of the new NVHR technical forum, following last week’s release of NVHR’s five-year industry blueprint, reinforces the unique opportunities to be found at the upcoming PACCAR & Dealer Technical and Maintenance Conference (TMC), presented by the ATA and ARTSA.

Mr Melham said that with five of the most senior NHVR staff on stage during the three days of TMC, it was an unprecedented opportunity to engage with the regulator on issues vital to the future productivity and safety of the industry.

“You can’t normally get this level of access to people who are critical to the future of our industry,” Mr Melham said.

“It’s a once a year opportunity to come and learn, exchange views and influence the future of trucking.”

The TMC will be held at the Automotive Centre of Excellence in the Melbourne Docklands from 24 to 26 October. More information about the TMC 2016 program including registration details is available at www.truck.net.au/tmc