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HVIA, NTI Extend Long Term Partnership

HVIA and NTI are proud to announce an extension of their Principal Partnership until 2029.

The partnership sees NTI remain at the forefront of the heavy vehicle industry’s agenda, with Australia’s leading truck insurance provider continuing as the major partner of the peak industry body, which includes Platinum sponsorship of the acclaimed Brisbane Truck Show and Gold sponsorship of spin-off event TruckShowX.

HVIA CEO Todd Hacking, pictured above with (L-R) NTI Managing Director Tony Clark and CEO Janelle Greene, and HVIA’s Harrison Hunkin, thanked NTI for its continued industry commitment and passion for the heavy vehicle industry.

“NTI is not just a leading insurance provider, they are an important and valued supporter of the entire heavy vehicle industry,” he says.

“Insofar as HVIA is concerned, they have been an incredible partner in all facets of our operations, from event sponsorship to thought leadership, technical guidance, policy formation and most importantly, developing the next generation of apprentices and industry young leaders.

“In the broader industry context, NTI is the long-time publisher of the NTARC Accident report, supports industry-led charities like Healthy Heads in Trucks and Sheds, and has even devised specific safety campaigns like the Spilt Milk Project as well as participating at industry conferences, seminars, events and symposiums,” he adds.

NTI CEO Janelle Greene says the decision to renew the partnership with HVIA was an easy one.

“Our organisational purpose is to make you safer and more sustainable, so it’s imperative we live this though continuing to be an active member within the transport and logistics community,” she says.

“HVIA continues to create so many meaningful touchpoints for industry – from their fantastic awards focused on innovation, safety and community, to the record-breaking numbers at the 2025 Brisbane Truck Show.

“We’re proud to stand alongside them as they continue this important work in the coming years.”

HVIA National Manager For Partnerships – Harrison Hunkin thanked the NTI team for their valued support.

“Our industry performs best when we work together – and thanks to NTI’s partnership, alongside our other amazing partners and members, HVIA has continued to provide leadership, insight and technical and policy solutions for our industry,” he says.

“We look forward to another fantastic four years alongside NTI.”

The judging is now well underway for a record number of entries in the 2025 Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia National Awards.

Twenty-seven esteemed judges are tackling the tough task of assessing 52 nominations across nine categories. Finalists will be announced next month – good luck to all nominees!

Tickets on Sale Now: HVIA 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner
Join us on Thursday, December 4 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre to celebrate the achievements of these outstanding companies and individuals at the HVIA 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner.

This isn’t just an awards night – it’s a celebration of everything we’ve accomplished together in our first decade as a national organisation, and the proud heritage that laid the foundation.

So don’t just save the date – lock it in. Rally your team and make sure you’re in Brisbane for this spectacular event where our industry comes together.

Secure your tickets here.

HVIA welcomes Harrison Hunkin to the team as our new Membership Manager.

Harrison is not exactly a new face, as he has spent most of the last year working closely with HVIA members and other Brisbane Truck Show exhibitors.

“H” as we like to call him, has been the co-producer of the new Brisbane Truck Show Souvenir Preview Magazine, and the immense amount of content that is now being rolled out across the event’s website and digital channels.

Before that Harrison was a journalist with Bauer/ARE media and co-host of the television series Mighty Machines.

He has been putting those skills to good use as host of the new Brisbane Truck Show video series “Truck Chat”, featuring disarmingly friendly and frank interviews with some of our industry’s “big hitters” (as Harrison refers to them).

In his new role, Harrison will be looking to ensure members are getting the maximum value from their membership through our events, committees, communications and other services, as well as onboarding new members.

Harrison, along with partner-in-crime Graham Gardiner are also now in the throes of pulling together our biggest-ever Official BTS Program.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to Harrison and let him know you are out there.

Pictured above: Daimler Truck Australia Managing Director (and HVIA Director) Daniel Whitehead (left) with Harrison Hunkin on set for a Truck Chat interview.

Welcome to the inauguration of ‘The Tech’s Files’, a new monthly series that explores topical technical issues impacting the trucking industry. The tech is out there!

In the first edition, we’re looking at next-generation propulsion – the alternative fuels and engine/motor tech that is likely to transform the industry in 2023 and beyond.

But why is this change even happening? After all, diesel has an incredible track record, successfully powering the trucking industry for the past one hundred years. The answer centres on that incredibly useful but somewhat pesky sixth element in the periodic table – carbon, and its contribution to climate change.

To combat climate change, Australia’s government has enshrined into law an ambitious emissions reduction target – 43% below 2005 levels by 2023, and net zero by 2050. This is an extraordinary goal, and one that the trucking sector will be instrumental in achieving, currently contributing to approximately 5% of Australia’s total emissions[1],[2].

Is the industry ready for this change? You bet. More than ready. In a strong display of commitment, one hundred industry companies and organisations recently united in support of the Electric Vehicle Council’s push for action and policies[3], with the goal of 1 million battery electric vehicles on Australian roads by 2027.

Right now, engineers and technical staff both in Australia and abroad are refining and developing the new technologies that will achieve this goal. So let’s dive into the world of battery electric vehicles, hydrogen burning engines, and hydrogen fuel cells.

Battery electric vehicles (BEV)

Battery electric vehicles ‘evolved’ from the diesel-electric hybrids that arrived on the scene in the mid-2000s. While bridging the gap between the old world and the new, hybrids didn’t transform the industry, and they cannot deliver emissions reductions of the scale necessitated by the government’s target.  

BEVs go one step further by ditching the diesel engine altogether and relying on larger electric motors and batteries that are primarily charged by plugging into the grid, or when on the move using regeneration.

Unlike hybrids, there have been some big developments in the BEV space recently. Major local logistics player Team Global Express recently announced plans to deploy a fleet of 60 electric trucks in Queensland, comprising 24 Fuso eCanters and 36 Volvo eFLs. It is set to be Australia’s largest electric freight vehicle fleet, and the orders placed with Daimler and Volvo are the largest orders received for those vehicles anywhere in the world, to date.

The Fuso eCanter has a GVM of up to 7.5 tonnes in 4×2 configuration. The Volvo eFL is larger, having a GCM of up to 16 tonnes, again in 4×2 configuration. Range is claimed to be 100 km for the eCanter, and up to 300 km for the eFL, depending on duty cycle.

This technology can deliver the transformative change that both the industry and the government is aiming for, provided they are powered by low or zero carbon energy. In the case of Team Global Express, the vehicles will be charged on-site in Bungarribee using an industrial-scale solar power and battery storage system.

Range between re-charging sessions remains the most topical drawback. The reason is energy density, which refers to the amount of energy stored in a single, defined ‘unit’ of something, and is usually expressed in terms of volume or mass. As an example, diesel fuel has an energy density of about 45 Megajoules per kilogram. In contrast, the lithium-Ion batteries that are used in most battery electric vehicles boast only one-hundredth that figure. This explains why a few hundred litres of diesel is equivalent to several tonnes of batteries in terms of travel distance.  

Hydrogen (as a combustible fuel)

Can the range problem be solved by hydrogen? Maybe. Using hydrogen as a combustible fuel is a cool solution as it has one foot in the past, and one in the future. The futuristic aspect is the fuel, which releases almost no carbon dioxide when combusted. The historical aspect is the engines, which are technologically similar to natural gas engines, yet function in almost the same way as a conventional diesel engine, including performance, reliability and longevity.

Several major truck OEMs are currently developing this technology, including DAF[4] and MAN[5]. Cummins revealed a medium-duty internal combustion engine truck at the IAA truck expo in Hannover in late 2022. The concept used a Mercedes-Benz Atego 4×2 truck, offered a GVM up to 26 tonnes, and potential operating range of up to 500 km.

On the flip side, hydrogen combustion engines suffer the same inefficiencies as diesel engines, but can partially fix the range issue. The limiting factor is the thermodynamic properties of hydrogen itself. As a gas, it occupies a relatively large volume even when compressed in a tank under pressure. This means that large tanks of hydrogen gas are required where range is a concern, which may eat into a truck’s usable loadspace. Liquifying hydrogen does not solve that issue either, as it does not liquify unless cooled to a bone-chilling minus 235 degrees Celsius – requiring highly-insulated cryogenic tanks for storage and transport.  

Additionally, hydrogen also introduces a new problem – the infrastructure network required to supply hydrogen fuel to vehicles does not presently exist, and would require billions of investment and many years to become a reality. In addition, the production of hydrogen itself is energy intensive, so unless low or zero carbon energy is used in its production, any exhaust pipe emissions would be negated.

Hydrogen (to power a fuel cell)

The second option for hydrogen is to be used in a fuel cell to create electricity, which is then used to power an electric motor. Fuel cells are electrochemical energy conversion devices – in simple terms, they extract some of the chemical energy of hydrogen, convert it into usable electricity, and then combine it with oxygen in the air to produce water vapor at the ‘exhaust’.

This solution is the most complex of the transformative truck propulsion technologies, yet is charging forward at a rapid rate, with several truck recent major OEMs announcements:

  • Hyundai developed ‘XCIENT’ the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell heavy-duty truck in 2020[6], currently under trial in Switzerland
  • Volvo and Daimler announced a hydrogen fuel-cell joint venture in 2021, called ‘Cellcentric’[7]
  • Hyzon motors are planning to supply five 140-tonne rated triple road train hydrogen fuel cell trucks to Ark Energy to transport Zinc between Sun Metals Townsville mine and the Port of Townsville in mid-late 2023[8]

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are impacted by the same transport and storage issues as hydrogen-burning vehicles, but have one distinct advantage – efficiency. Like diesel engines, hydrogen engines can only achieve thermal efficiencies of 30-35% (meaning that most of the energy available is lost as waste heat), but a hydrogen fuel cell can be up to twice as efficient, achieving an efficiency of around 60%[9], meaning far less hydrogen is required to travel the same distance.

Where does this leave us for 2023 and beyond? Which technology has the highest likelihood of replacing diesel and fuelling road freight for the next century? The major players have likely already placed their bets. BEVs are the ‘short’ game, being available now, and chargeable using current infrastructure. Hydrogen is the ‘long’ game, requiring relatively greater investment, but fixing the main disadvantage. In both cases low or zero carbon energy must be used, else the environmental impacts are the same.

Major technological developments on either side could be incredibly disruptive. A new type of battery that delivers a ten-fold improvement in energy density? New ways of storing hydrogen in solid states by combining it with other materials? There are a lot of possibilities, but no matter which way the industry goes, it’s an incredible transition to participate in.   

[1] https://www.climatechangeauthority.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-03/2021Fact%20sheet%20-%20Transport.pdf

[2] https://www.csiro.au/en/research/environmental-impacts/climate-change/climate-change-qa/sources-of-ghg-gases

[3] https://electricvehiclecouncil.com.au/media-releases/one-hundred-companies-lead-the-charge-for-one-million-evs-by-2027/

[4] https://www.daf.com/en/about-daf/sustainability/alternative-fuels-and-drivelines/hydrogen

[5] https://www.h2haul.eu/man-truck-bus-to-focus-on-hydrogen-powered-trucks/

[6] https://hyundaitrucks.com.au/news?view=article&id=50:world-s-first-fuel-cell-heavy-duty-truck-hyundai-xcient-fuel-cell-heads-to-europe-for-commercial-use&catid=8

[7] https://www.volvogroup.com/en/news-and-media/news/2021/apr/news-3960135.html

[8] https://hydrogen-central.com/australia-goes-green-hydrogen-leee/

[9] https://www.whichcar.com.au/opinion/can-burning-hydrogen-save-the-ice-engine

For those exhibitors who participated in the BTS23 Souvenir Preview Magazine, the added bonus has been the publication of all their stories across our full suite of digital channels – the Brisbane Truck Show website, fortnightly email newsletters, Facebook and LinkedIn.

In December we announced our Diamond partnership with the carsales.com.au group – with fabulous coverage across its market-leading B2B websites trucksales.com.au and partner sites, constructionsales.com.au and farmmachinerysales.com.au, in the lead-up to the show.

The added bonus is again for exhibitors who took part in the preview magazine, and soon for those submitting content for the BTS23 Official Program.

Here is an example where participating trailer brands are showcased to their huge readership. Nice!

The moral of this story – the Official Show Program; are you signed up? If not, follow the link below.

BTS23 Official Program info

Late last year, the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) announced the harmonisation of its telematics rules applicable to a range of heavy vehicle combinations.

The changes apply to vehicles currently enrolled in the Intelligent Access Program (IAP), and using an On-Board Mass (OBM) monitoring device, in the following categories:

  • Class 2 Performance-Based Standards (PBS) A-Doubles
  • Class 2 vehicles operating at Higher Mass Limits (HML)
  • Class 2 PBS Level 1 & 2A Truck and Dog Trailers operating at HML
  • Class 3 20-metre long 3-axle trucks towing 4-axle dog trailers

The harmonisation aligns Queensland’s rules with those of other jurisdictions for various types of restricted access vehicles heavy vehicles, principally HML vehicles in New South Wales.

The specific changes made under the transition are:

  • Intelligent Access Program (IAP) transitions to the Telematics Monitoring Application (TMA); and
  • Interim On-Board Mass (OBM) transitions to Smart On-Board Mass (Smart OBM).

For Queensland operators, the transition commenced on 1 December 2022, with an 18-month transition period. Operators may transition whenever they choose before the transition period ends on 1 June 2024.

Transport Certification Australia (TCA), Australia’s national organisation for assurance related to transport technologies and data, are providing a public webinar on 23 February to explain the changes. [TCA Webinar Registration]

TCA also has a useful fact-sheet which explains the differences between IAP and TMA. [PDF]

Earlier today HVIA held its second member Webinar seeking feedback on the PBS 2.0 discussion paper published by the NHVR late last year.

HVIA’s National Manager Policy and Government Relations Greg Forbes said the level of member engagement shows how important PBS is to the heavy vehicle industry.

“I am very happy with the response we’ve had with approximately thirty attendees joining discussions in the webinar series, including specialist assessors and certifiers last week, and HVIA members today,” Mr Forbes said.

Mr Forbes pointed to lively discussions on several issues including:

  • modification of the PBS standards framework to incorporate new technologies and foster innovation,
  • the NHVRs proposed assurance framework and
  • the problems with the PBS access framework.

PBS 2.0 Discussion Paper | NHVR

“The next step for HVIA is preparing our draft response to the discussion paper which we aim to circulate to members by the end of this month,” he added.

“If anyone missed the webinars and wants input into the draft, I would encourage them to reach out to Adam or myself as soon as possible.

“We will then be happy to take feedback on the draft response up until 14 February, before submissions on the discussion paper close on 17 February.”

Contact:

VIP passes are exclusively* for Brisbane Truck Show exhibitors to “gift” to their clients and prospects; but the general public can’t buy them – and it would devalue them if they could.

We have often referred to them as being like Willy Wonka’s gold ticket. That’s because when an exhibitor offers a couple of them to a valued client, inevitably they use one or two to reward the dedication and loyalty of their best team members.

It’s the gift that keeps on giving.

But the general public can’t buy them – and it would devalue them if they could.

So we asked ourselves how we can give those superfans the opportunity to enjoy some of that same kind of exclusivity.

Just 100 members

There are just 100 ClubBTS 2023 memberships and already at the time of writing, all but 18 are sold.

We’ve created some special ClubBTS merchandise including a t-shirt, cap, lanyard and stubby holder, plus a limited-edition satchel(/gift bag) made from recycled BTS21 street banners.

A variety of exhibitors and show partners are also adding something special with vouchers in each ClubBTS satchel to be redeemed on their respective stands.

In one case it’s a photo with our ambassador Ben from The Drone Way, another with a Supercar driver, another is offering a souvenir merchandise item.

It will mean the world for the truck show’s most avid attendees to be warmly received when they call into BTS23 exhibitors’ stands.

*HVIA members will be able to purchase VIP passes via a special link to be launched shortly.

by Adam Ritzinger, HVIA Chief Technical Officer

The NHVR has responded to HVIA member feedback with practical improvements to resources accompanying its Class 3 Truck and Dog notice.

In late 2022, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator released a new Class 3 Truck and Dog notice. The notice enabled 20-metre-long 3-axle truck and 4-axle dog trailer combinations to gain mass and dimension exemptions that were previously only available under Performance Based Standards.

When the notice was first published there was confusion from industry on how the notice would work and concerns over the complexity of the guidance material provided by the NHVR.

HVIA immediately developed a webinar to allow members to talk directly to the NHVR about their concerns and suggest improvements to the guidance materials.

The forum was well attended with more than thirty industry participants and key NHVR staff involved in the development of the notice.

Members voiced specific concerns about the NHVR’s excel-based ‘check sheet’ for determining the mass limits applying to existing truck and dog trailer sets; they said it was complex, unintuitive and difficult to use.

During the webinar, the NHVR undertook to work on improvements to the guidance materials.

This week the NHVR has released an updated version of the ‘check sheet’, amended specifically to enhance useability and now featuring practical graphics, definitions of acronyms used, and more intuitive results tables.

The updated version of the check sheet is available here – https://www.nhvr.gov.au/media/107/download

Detailed information regarding the Class 3 Truck and Dog notice is available here on the NHVR’s website – https://www.nhvr.gov.au/C2022G01207

Thanks to the many members who engaged proactively and constructively on this issue.

HVIA will continue to work with the NHVR and other regulatory bodies to deliver improvements for its members.  

To discuss any aspect of the notice, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Greg Forbes or Adam Ritzinger.

HVIA is leading the charge in response to the NHVR’s recently released the ”PBS 2.0” – a discussion paper on the future of the Performance Based Standards (PBS) scheme.

Adam Ritzinger, HVIA’s new Chief Technical Officer, describes Australia’s PBS scheme as a world-leading set of regulations that bring safer and more productive heavy vehicle combinations onto our roads.

“The scheme allows our industry to be the best in the world in terms of innovation, engineering, and manufacture,” Adam said.

“While it has achieved a lot, it is not without its challenges, and there is certainly huge scope for further improvement.  

“We are holding two webinars where we will explain the NHVR proposal, what we believe the key issues are, and seek our members’ important feedback.”

The details:

  • PBS assessors and certifiers – Friday 13th Jan 1:00 pm AEDT
  • Truck and trailer manufacturers, importers, and equipment suppliers – Wednesday 18th Jan 1:00 pm AEDT

“Webinar attendance is certainly not a prerequisite to providing feedback,” Adam added.

“We are happy to receive feedback in any other form, however I think it will provide a great opportunity to achieve consensus on the main issues,”.

“And that will inform our coordinated response to the NHVR on behalf of all HVIA members.”

To register, or to discuss any aspect of PBS 2.0, contact: