HVLP reference group - August 2023 meeting updates
Over the past 18 months the Heavy Vehicle Pilot Licence Reference Group, comprising a variety of experienced stakeholders, has met to provide feedback on key matters affecting the sector to improve the professionalism and standards within the industry. Strong progress has been made on matters including, but not limited to, training and competency assessment, the Heavy Vehicle Pilot Code of Conduct, standards and licensing.
The meeting on 18 August 2023 will be the last for some time while HVS undertakes a review, particularly relating to pilot training standards, based on the feedback from the group. When HVS has finalised this, HVS will re-convene the Group to discuss the outcomes. Beyond this, the group may be retained as an ad hoc assembly for future instances of HVS liaison with the pilot industry.
At the August 2023 meeting the Group discussed the following issues, among related matters:
- Pilot training and experience: There was further dialogue about the need for improvement across all areas of training, with an understanding that not everything needs to be taught by the training organisations as there is too much detailed information to include in the course and it is available online. It was recognised that there is a responsibility on the individual pilot to gain further training, mentoring and experience;
- Pilot fatigue management: WorkSafe advised that it is looking at both the Code of Practice for Fatigue Management for Commercial Vehicle Drivers and the Code of Practice for Working Hours. Of interest are the sleeping arrangements for pilots which impact their sleep quality. The Group discussed that managing fatigue is a requirement under the Work Health and Safety legislation and is a responsibility of businesses, agencies, employers, employees and contractor pilots, including individuals who have a duty of care to themselves.
The Group also considered items such as:
- Bollards at Military Road;
- Issues at Calingiri Truck Bay; and
- Hale Road contraflow.
Further information will be provided by Main Roads in due course.
