SPECIAL REPORT
By the numbers THE AVERAGE AGE FOR RIGID TRUCKS WAS FOUND TO EXCEED NINE YEARS, WHILE B-DOUBLES, BY COMPARISON, WERE THE NEWEST OF ALL INSPECTED VEHICLE CLASSES AVERAGING 5.5 YEARS. THERE IS MUCH TO GLEAN FROM THE NATIONAL HEAVY VEHICLE REGULATOR’S LATEST NATIONAL ROADWORTHINESS SURVEY RESULTS. The mechanical health of Australia’s heavy
the Australian Capital Territory documented
drive down the age of the fleet, such as
vehicle fleet improved in the lead-up to
the least at 226.
the NHVR’s Vehicle SETUP plan will be vital
last Christmas, according to data compiled
“In the last five years, we have seen the
going forward, as NRS:2021 again shows
by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
rate of non-conformities drop from 48 per
a strong link between vehicle age and
(NHVR), however rigid-bodied vehicles
cent of units inspected to 31 per cent,” said
mechanical safety.”
stood out from all other vehicle classes on
NHVR CEO, Sal Petroccitto.
the grounds of non-conformity.
“Importantly the most serious cases of
Key findings from the NRS:2021 survey
The results of the National Roadworthiness
major non-conformities and groundings
included:
Survey 2021 (NRS:2021) which inspected
has dropped from 12 per cent of inspected
The rate of all non-conformities had dropped
13,325 heavy vehicle units across 8,338
vehicles in 2016 to six per cent in 2021.
from the 48 per cent in 2016 to 31 per cent
heavy vehicle combinations in all Australian
“The continuing maturity of the industry in
in 2021.
states and territories between May and June
adopting better safety practices like whole
• The rate of major non-conformities and
showed significant improvements.
of business safety management systems
grounding halved to six per cent of vehicles
NRS:2021 was successfully conducted from
and daily safety checks have been a key
inspected; brakes remained the highest
5 May to 28 July 2021 without incident and
contributor in driving the downward trend.
non-conforming components – reducing
is reported to be the second survey of its
“While it highlights progress made due to
from 25 per cent in 2016 to 14 per cent
type following the National Roadworthiness
the hard work being undertaken to improve
Baseline Survey conducted in 2016 (which
and monitor the Australian heavy vehicle
inspected 11,066 units).
fleet, I’m determined as an industry that
conforming vehicle type at 38 per cent,
All jurisdictions including Western Australia
we continue to push on and ensure that
which has again reduced from 52 per cent
and Northern Territory participated in
Australia has one of the safest heavy vehicle
in 2016.
NRS:2021. New South Wales recorded the
fleets in the world.
most inspections per state at 3,327 whereas
“In particular programs that continue to
30
Trailer Magazine FEBRUARY 22
in 2021. • Rigid trucks were the highest non-
• The average age of the inspected fleet was 10.2 years, compared to 9.2 years in 2016.
