Transfer of towing industry regulation from the Victorian Taxi and Tow Truck Directorate to VicRoads

Regulation and oversight of the towing industry was transferred from the Victorian Taxi and Tow Truck Directorate (VTTD) to VicRoads from the 3^rd of September 2007.

From Monday 3 September, you can obtain updated information from our website or by calling 13 11 71. You will also be able to visit the Frankston or Broadmeadows Customer Service Centres from that date.

• Frankston office, 71 Hartnett Drive, Seaford
• Broadmeadows office, Cnr Pearcedale Parade and Johnstone Street, Broadmeadows

The transition ensures that the industry is closely aligned with the responsibilities of the Roads and Ports portfolio. The creation of the Accident Towing Services Act 2007 will enable this transition. The Act was recently passed in Parliament and it is expected to be proclaimed between now and January 2009. Proclamation will not be for some months.

Prior to proclamation of the Act, tow trucks will continue to be regulated, in the same way as they are now under the Transport Act 1983 and the current tow truck regulations. Besides the transfer of responsibility for regulation to VicRoads, nothing else will change for a number of months. This website will be updated with future developments, including those outlined below, giving you enough time to make any required changes.

The new legislation

The Accident Towing Services Act replaces the current tow truck provisions in the Transport Act 1983 and makes some changes to the regulation of the towing industry, which will have positive effects for the industry and the public.

The majority of the tow truck provisions found in the Transport Act 1983 remain substantially unchanged in the new legislation. The Bill contains modern provisions for safe and responsive accident towing in Victoria. The objectives of the Act are to:

• promote the safe, efficient and timely provision of accident towing services and other related services; and
  
• ensure that people who are providing accident towing services -
  • are of appropriate character;
    
  • are technically competent to provide the services; and
    
  • when providing the services, act with integrity and in a manner that is safe, timely, efficient and law abiding, and with regard for vulnerable people.
    

Two of the most significant changes to be introduced by the new legislation are a new accreditation scheme and the deregulation of trade towing.

New accreditation provisions

Accreditation will introduce modern, performance based regulation to the industry.

Current licence conditions relating to personal and probity matters (eg. “fit and proper” person) will be clarified and moved across to the accreditation scheme in the new legislation.

Accreditation will introduce new service standards for accident towing operators, depot managers and drivers in order to assist in improved service to accident victims. The service standards will require accredited persons to implement a complaints handling system and to provide complaints information to VicRoads.

Existing operators will have 12 months from the date the Act commences to obtain accreditation.

Deregulation of trade towing

Trade towing will remain regulated in its current form until the new legislation comes into effect. When the Accident Towing Services Act 2007 commences, this sector will be deregulated and current trade towing provisions under the Transport Act 1983 and the Transport (Tow Truck) Regulations 2005 will no longer apply.

Deregulation of trade towing will remove unnecessary costs on business and is consistent with the position in other major States. This change also reflects the outcomes of industry consultation held during 2005 and 2006.

The following table provides a summary of the upcoming changes:

	3rd September 2007 - 31 December 2008 (unless Act is proclaimed earlier)	1 January 2009 and after (unless Act is proclaimed earlier)
Licensing authority	VicRoads	VicRoads
Trade towing	Must have : Licence TT plates Authority to tow	Do not require : Licence TT plates Authority to tow
Accident towing	Must have : Licence TOW plates Accident Towing Driver to tow Authority to tow	Must have : Licence TOW plates Accident Towing Driver to tow Authority to tow
Legisliation	Transport Act 1983 and Transport (Tow Truck) Regulations 2005	Accident Towing Services Act 2007