Changes to the process for heavy vehicle permits are being made. On 18 December 2018 the process for considering standard permit applications (those operators who apply for permits and have no compliance issues) will extend to 10 days from five. Complex permit applications where there are non-compliance issues to consider will take longer.
The reason for these changes is to ensure that all permit holders are operating under the criteria for which they have been issued a permit, for the safety of all road users.
There are two changes that operators need to be aware of:
Safety and compliance are minimum requirements for heavy vehicle permit holders. Currently, when an operator first applies for a heavy vehicle permit an ‘operator check’ is undertaken to consider the applicant’s compliance.
This operator check is to be significantly strengthened (see ORS update information above) and will provide a comprehensive understanding of compliance. This includes investigating whether there have been any driver fatigue/distraction issues, road user charges (RUC) evasion and speeding offences. All factors will be considered when allowing entry to the permits’ system.
This change may increase the permit assessment timeframes depending on the review required for each operator. The Transport Agency will take longer to consider cases where there is non-compliance found, and importantly the application will be at risk of being declined in these cases.
Permits will not be issued if non-compliance is considered a safety risk.
We expect heavy vehicle permit holders to always comply with safety and legal requirements.
Operators will be closely monitored for any critical permit breaches. Enforcement actions for critical permit breaches may include revoking permits subject to assessment by the Transport Agency.
Operators can expect wider non-compliance factors to be included in future monitoring.
It is our priority in the New Year to engage with industry about a graduated penalty regime for non-compliance by operators who hold heavy vehicle permits. Permit revocations or enforcement actions will be proportionate and will reflect the severity of non-compliance.
The reason for these changes is to ensure that all permit holders are operating safely under the conditions for which they have been issued a permit. This is for the safety of all road users. Permits are issued in accordance with strict guidelines to limit the risk of accidents, such as rollovers, related to overweight or over-dimension loads.
CloseWider non-compliance factors that will be included in active monitoring include but are not limited to road user charges (RUC) evasion, speeding infringements, and poor roadside inspection data (RID).
CloseYes.
This is like the driver de-merit system, which sees accumulative infringements resulting in the loss of a licence for a period of time.
The sustainability of the permit is in the hands of the operator. If the permit conditions and legal requirements, particularly in respect of safety are adhered to, there will be no risk to the permit.
CloseYes. This is about ensuring operator safety and compliance on any of New Zealand’s roads travelled.
CloseStand down periods are to be advised in early 2019.
CloseIn the interim, the Transport Agency will monitor heavy vehicle permit compliance as it does currently including during weigh bridge checks at commercial vehicle safety centres (formerly weigh stations) checks. Moving forward, it will also monitor compliance via other tools including by using the vehicle screening technology (in road weight screening) as the Weigh Right Programme is rolled out.
CloseYes.
CloseAs the Transport Agency takes a tougher approach on enforcement and as detection of non-compliant activity increases through initiatives like the Weigh Right Programme and on-going Commercial Vehicle Safety Team (CVST) monitoring, the operators that don’t have a permit and are operating illegally, we will seek to remove from the industry.
CloseIt is the operator’s responsibility as the permit holder to ensure the permits conditions are followed.
CloseThe regulatory compliance review is looking at the Transport Agency’s full regulatory function to ensure compliance monitoring is effective and will ensure public safety.
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