The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has today released a draft revised Industry Code of Practice, known as the Master Code, for public consultation, inviting input from all stakeholders across the heavy vehicle industry.
The Master Code, originally registered in November 2018, serves as a vital general code for the entire heavy vehicle industry and is an authoritative source of information concerning safety in heavy vehicle transport, with guidance about managing major hazards, focusing on speed, fatigue, vehicle safety, mass, dimension and loading.
To ensure the Master Code remains current and supports a safer heavy vehicle industry, the NHVR has undertaken an extensive review and is now seeking feedback from stakeholders over the coming weeks.
“The Master Code is an essential safety tool for everyone in the Chain of Responsibility, so ensuring it remains current is important,” NHVR Director of Policy Implementation Peter Austin said.
“Industry has significantly matured in its understanding of the primary duty and the skills required to manage safety.
“This review represents a significant opportunity to build on the Master Code’s existing content to produce a revised version that will serve as an even better information resource for parties in the Chain of Responsibility and their executives to manage transport safety.
“This collective effort directly supports the NHVR’s commitment to improving road safety outcomes.”
Key changes in the draft include a transition from a role-based structure to an activity-based approach, focusing on risks associated with transport activities rather than specific job titles. The revised code broadens its scope to encompass a wider range of hazards and risks, moving beyond the original focus areas like speed and fatigue.
“The success of this update depends on broad input from stakeholders across the industry,” Mr Austin said.
“We want to ensure the revised Master Code remains comprehensive, practical, clear and easy to follow, tackling both known and emerging safety challenges.
“This is truly a case of ‘built by industry, for industry’.”
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