PBS Delays Hurting Industry

HVIA has today issued an urgent and passionate plea to the National Heavy Vehicle Industry Regulator (NHVR) to solve the Performance Based Standards (PBS) approvals crisis.

HVIA Chief Executive Todd Hacking said the demand follows six months of private and cooperative negotiations by phone, email and face-to-face meetings to try and assist the NHVR overcome these operational issues.

“The situation is now dire,” Mr Hacking said. “HVIA has been trying to help the NHVR behind the scenes but the time has come to make our concerns public.

“Vehicle standards related functions like PBS are under-resourced across all levels of Government but the PBS situation is out of control. 

“Applications go missing, consultation is limited, response timeframes are not being met and when our members try and find out what is going on, they are lucky to get a reply.

“Personally, I am grateful to the NHVR for the ongoing service I have received, but sadly this is not the reality for HVIA members.

“Whether they are trailer manufacturers, Assessors or Certifiers, their pleas are all too often ignored, or given the run-around; the lack of empathy and communication is beyond frustrating.”

Mr Hacking said the chain reaction is creating tension with HVIA members’ own customers.

“Everyone is hurting; operators tell me the cost is about $50,000 a month,” he said.

“Some trailer manufacturers are not getting paid, so they are withholding payments to their service providers – it hurts the entire PBS supply chain.

“Had the NHVR acted and applied additional resources when we told them last November, we would not be in this disastrous situation now.

“The industry is busy – blind Freddy could tell you that – we all want PBS to work; we are invested in the system, but this will quickly kill off the scheme if a solution is not found now, and implemented tomorrow – six to twelve months time is simply unacceptable.

Mr Hacking said the NHVR needs to respond better to industry.

“Our members need accurate, detailed, empathetic communication on when they will get their Vehicle Approval and any issues that need to be resolved,” he said.

“This would help manage expectations, but this needs to start today!”