Four finalists have been named in the Safety Innovation Award category of the 2025 Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia National Awards.
The HVIA Safety Innovation Award recognises HVIA member organisations that have developed, manufactured or supplied a new vehicle, piece of equipment, technology or system that improves safety in the heavy vehicle industry.
The innovation may enhance safety in one or more of the following areas:
> Vehicles, equipment, technology or systems developed, manufactured or supplied by the organisation;
> Workplace practices within the business or its supply chain; and
> Road safety outcomes for drivers, other road users or the broader community.
Cooler: Weight Distribution Modelling
Incorrect axle weight distribution is a major safety risk in heavy vehicle operation, often introduced during quoting and design. Cooler has addressed this by embedding weight distribution modelling into the earliest stages of its sales and engineering process – ensuring every build is structurally sound, legally compliant and safe to operate.
Using advanced software, the team calculates axle loads and mass balance before fabrication begins, allowing for precise placement of components and early risk mitigation.
Customers now receive mass balance reports with every quote, reducing rework, improving handling and boosting driver confidence. This proactive approach sets a new industry benchmark – turning compliance into capability and safety into a design standard.
CMV Truck & Bus: Pit Safety Cover
A technician’s 2.4-metre fall into a service pit at CMV Truck & Bus’s Derrimut dealership sparked a 12-month investigation that has reshaped pit safety across the heavy vehicle industry. The response included powder-coating pit bridges for visibility, installing retractable pit covers and end caps, and introducing knuckle lifts to eliminate fall risks entirely.
These innovations – now considered best practice – have influenced HVIA’s first national Pit Safety Guide, distributed to over 300 members. By turning a critical incident into industry-wide change, CMV Truck & Bus has set a new benchmark for workshop safety, proving that proactive leadership can protect lives and elevate standards.
Volvo Trucks Australia: Auto Speed Limitation & Safety Zones
Volvo Trucks Australia is setting a new benchmark in road safety with its Auto Speed Limitation and Safety Zones system. Using geofencing and telematics, the system enforces speed limits in high-risk areas – automatically braking to match zone limits and preventing cruise control override. Drivers retain control via kick-down, while fleet managers receive real-time alerts through Volvo Connect.
Available across new Euro 6 and electric models – and retrofit-ready from September 2025 – the solution allows up to 300 custom zones per vehicle. As one of the first OEMs to offer geofenced speed enforcement, Volvo is leading the way in scalable, transferable safety innovation that protects drivers, communities and operational integrity.
Volvo Trucks Australia: Dynamic Steering
Sudden front-tyre blowouts are among the most dangerous events a truck driver can face – especially at speed. The latest evolution of Dynamic Steering tackles this risk head-on, introducing real-time puncture detection and automated steering support to help drivers maintain control in critical moments.
The system also reduces steering effort by 75 per cent at low speeds, eases strain on the neck and shoulders, and adapts to road conditions, crosswinds and uneven surfaces. Available across FH, FMX, FM and FH Aero models, this upgrade blends comfort, control and emergency response – setting a new benchmark for safety innovation in heavy vehicles.
The winners of the 2025 Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia National Awards will be announced at the HVIA 10th Anniversary Gala Dinner to be held on Thursday, December 4 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Buy tickets here.
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