Innovative vehicle design can be an important contributor to lowering transport costs, continuing safety improvements, accelerating uptake of new technologies and meeting the projected increase in demand for freight.
The Performance-Based Standards is a major national productivity reform aiming to improve the efficiency and safety of freight vehicles. PBS encourages vehicle design innovations, resulting in improved productivity for a given freight task, safer performance and minimal impact on roads and bridges. PBS focuses on how well the vehicle behaves on the road rather than how big it is or how much it can carry.
PBS operates concurrently with and as a voluntary alternative to the existing prescriptive mass and dimension limits.
This comprises of :
- Accreditation and audit of individuals conducting technical assessment of vehicle proposals;
- Technical assessment of the proposed vehicle design against a set of standards;
- Operation of a national PBS Review Panel to consider applications for vehicles that have been assessed;
- Certification of vehicles against an approved design;
- Determination of national operating conditions; and
- Classification of road networks for the operation of approved vehicles*.
There are 11 safety standards and 4 infrastructure protection standards, ensuring that PBS vehicles are generally safer and will not cause any more road wear or damage than vehicles designed under the prescriptive regulatory system. VicRoads is working with the National Transport Commission (NTC) and the other States and Territories to progress this world first project.
Innovative vehicles are already being considered and in some cases permitted to operate in Victoria.
An application form, the list of the performance standards, and the process for considering such applications, are detailed on the NTC's website: www.ntc.gov.au
Enquiries about proposals for vehicles in Victoria should be directed to the Manager - Vehicle Safety and Policy by telephone: (03) 9854 2642 or email: ross.mcarthur@roads.vic.gov.au.
* The assessment of routes and decisions relating to classification of routes is undertaken by VicRoads. These decisions are made within the context of broader government policy settings.
PBS assessments for next generation High Productivity Freight Vehicle Trial
VicRoads has been in discussion with PBS assessors to minimise the costs associated with meeting PBS requirements for HPFV operators who want to participate in the HPFV Trial - for further information please contact Ian Mond on (03) 9854 1830.