Last week HVIA reported on the NHVR’s recent rebrand of the Load Restraint Guide for heavy vehicles, and is now advising members of the regulator’s consultation program to undertake a comprehensive review of the guide itself.
The consultation is open now and will run until COB Friday, September 12, 2025. The NHVR is seeking feedback from all parties with an interest in the safe loading of heavy vehicles, which naturally includes many HVIA members. Specific areas of interest include:
> How loading requirements are explained in the guide;
> How performance standards are used and referenced;
> Ways to improve structure, layout and readability;
> Ways to promote consistency between jurisdictions; and
> Topics that need further information or clarification.
Further information on the review is available at the NHVR’s review webpage.
HVIA will prepare a submission on behalf of members and will share a draft via this newsletter toward the end of August.
Members wishing to provide feedback should contact Greg Forbes, HVIA’s Transport Policy and Legislation Adviser, at g.forbes@hvia.asn.au. Members are also welcome to submit their own feedback directly to the NHVR, which can be done via the link above.
“In its discussion paper on the review, the NHVR has outlined a total of nine ‘key matters for consideration’, all of which delve into detailed and highly-specific subject matter,” explains Greg.
“I’m looking forward to testing some of the NHVR’s proposed positions on those matters with members,” he adds.
While it is undoubtedly an incredibly useful resource, industry stakeholders have previously raised the length and complexity of the Load Restraint Guide as an issue. The updated 2025 guide spans almost 300 pages, which can be daunting for persons new to the transport industry, and those without prior knowledge of load restraint topics and practices.
That issue was the main driver for HVIA’s development of its ‘Load Restraint Fundamentals’ online training course, which sits alongside HVIA’s other courses on its special training website.
The course presents the content of the 2018 version of the Load Restraint Guide, which the NHVR advises remains current, despite the recent re-brand. It does so via five practical and instructional modules, improving the accessibility of the guide’s valuable material. Enrolment is open to all industry stakeholders, not just HVIA members.
All persons seeking information on HVIA training courses are encouraged to contact HVIA’s National Manager for Skills, Training and Workforce Development, Michael Rose, at m.rose@hvia.asn.au.