New National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) CEO, Sal Petroccitto, said the NHVR has listened to operators and increased the NHVAS audit reminder period from one month to three months ahead of the due date.
According to Petroccitto, all operators accredited under the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS) will now benefit from three months advanced notice of when audits are due. “Many accredited operators told us that a one-month advance reminder just wasn’t long enough,” he said. “The NHVR has increased this to help operators meet their requirements. The earlier reminder will help operators to book and complete their audits on time.”
Operators can submit the compliance audit and existing accreditation holders application to the NHVR as early as six months before their accreditation expires. Operators must lodge at least one month before their expiry date.
“Not all operators were sent reminders prior to the NHVR’s administration of the scheme— now everyone receives a reminder,” Petroccitto said. “We recommend that operators contact their auditors well ahead of the deadline, because NHVAS is growing strongly.”
According to Petroccitto, membership of the NHVAS is currently growing at a rate of 10.2 per cent, with more than 7,200 transport businesses currently accredited under the NHVAS and with a combined fleet of more than 90,000 heavy vehicles.
However, he says an NHVAS auditor cannot conduct more than two consecutive audits on each of the NHVAS modules for mass, maintenance, or fatigue. “To be sure of meeting this rule, operators are encouraged to complete the Compliance Audit Notification (CAN) form. Operators should submit this form 28 days before an audit to ensure there won’t be a problem,” Petroccitto said.