WA Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (WAHVA) Scheme Review: Implementing Recommendations

The December SRG meeting agenda items included an update from the SRG industry members of their November out-of-session meeting to design an industry led vehicle testing day and, an update from Main Roads about the progress of the OSOM awareness campaign.

It was also agreed to meet in February 2021, to finalise the Groups inputs to Recommendation # 2 - including defining, as a group, vehicle defect categories, risk ratings for vehicles and templates to assist transport operators meeting roadworthy reporting requirements. Options for seasonal vehicles were also discussed and the group requested Main Roads to provide roadworthy statistics for seasonal vehicles.

Main Roads representatives discussed with the group, the planned approach for WAHVA Auditor Certification and implementation timeframes. A WAHVA Auditors Conference is scheduled for March 2021 in which the WAHVA Auditor Certification process, requirements and tension will be discussed.

The October SRG meeting was held on November 2 to allow feedback, from the Ministerial Heavy Vehicle Adisory Panel October Meeting, to be provided to the group.

The meeting also included discussions around an industry led 'testing day', in which transport operators could have thier vehicle's tested on break-testing machines as well as other vehicle roadworthy checks. The SRG Group determined to meet out of session to plan out how the 'intdustry testing day' would be delivered and agreed to report back at the December SRG Meeting.

Other items discussed were the planned Heavy Vehicle Community Awareness Campagin, consideration of a Heavy Vehicle Inspection Mannual, Certification course availability.

The next SRG meeting is planned for December 2020.

The September 2020, meeting focussed on project updates and as such, was a shorter meeting of which SRG members attended in person, virtually and via phone.

An additional agenda item for discussion, was an overview of Road Transport Compliance outcomes over the last twelve months was provided for consideration. The overview led to a discussion around the development of an industry led roadworthy testing day which would initially focus on ‘break testing’.

SRG members are keen to provide this opportunity to the wider transport industry and a number of group have committed to progressing this initiative further and will report back to the SRG as to the progress.

The next SRG meeting is planned for October 2020.

The August SRG meeting agenda items included Recommendation #1 :Consolidate modules, rules and guides and Recommendation #21:Optimise Quality Standards for auditors.

In addressing Recommendation # 1, the project team have developed the WAHVA Management System Standards (WMSS) which is one module to be made up of:

• Common Standards (those which currently appear across all accreditation modules eg: Responsibilities, Records and Documentation, Internal Review & Training and Education),
• Fatigue Management Standards,
• Maintenance Management Standards, and
• Dimension & Loading Standards.

An optional Standard - Mass Management Standard would need to be completed if a transport operator elects to participate in the Accredited Mass Management Scheme (AMMS).

Whilst generally supportive of the proposed approach, the SRG provided some feedback during the meeting which the project team is investigating and will revise the WMSS if needed.

The discussion then turned to Recommendation #21 which includes transitioning WAHVA auditor certification to Main Roads Heavy Vehicle Services (HVS) to administer. The SRG were provided a high-level plan of how this would be managed by Main Roads HVS, planned implantation timelines and the WAHVA auditor certification process.

The SRG were supportive of Main Roads HVS taking on the administration of the WAHVA auditor certification process. Some members of the SRG sought clarification on specific steps within the proposed process which were addressed during the meeting.

Once the certification process if finalised, Main Roads HVS will commence a communications campaign with WAHVA Certified Auditors. This will also be discussed at the March 2021 WAHVA Auditor Conference.

The project team provided the group with updates about the progress of other recommendations and updates on complimentary projects underway at Main Roads HVS.

The next SRG meeting is planned for September 2020

The July 2020 Meeting was again held virtually. An update was provided to the SRG as to the progress of a number of recommendations including Recommendation #2: Review the Roadworthiness form and process and Recommendation #21 Optimise Quality Standards for Auditors.

The Project Team provided an update on Main Roads project to deliver a new website and discussed the make up of the group due to a SRG member rescinding their membership.

The next SRG meeting is planned for August 2020.

May 2020 saw the third meeting of the SRG being held virtually due to travel restrictions and social distancing measures in place. Discussions focused around a draft discussion paper, being developed, which will identify four options to address Recommendation #2 - Updating the Roadworthiness Process and Form.

Addressing Roadworthiness generated robust discussions amongst the SRG, and the group have tasked the Review Recommendation Implementation project team with researching a number of treatments which were not identified in the draft discussion paper, which include investigating the relationship between a restricted access vehicles (RAV) age, distance travelled (KMS) and the 'roadworthiness' of a RAV.

The next meeting of the SRG is planned for June 2020.

March 2020 saw the second meeting of the SRG occur, with discussions focusing on recommendation # 2- 'Review the roadworthiness form and process'. The Group discussed potential options to address roadworthiness which included frequency of inspections, the relaitonship between vehicle age and risk, current roadworthy approaches both nationally and internationally and the development of a inspection manual.

Other agenda topics included recommendation #4 - Develop and implement metrics that will evelauate the effecitvies of the WAHVA Scheme and recommendation #23 - Optimise and automate audit report.

The next meeting of the SRG has been scheduled for late April 2020 and the minutes from the March meeting will be available 3 April 2020.