The results of the National Roadworthiness Baseline Survey – A Health Check of Australia’s Heavy Vehicle Condition, revealed a number of important things about the national heavy vehicle fleet.

The inspection programs examined the mechanical condition of the heavy vehicle fleet, examining 7130 vehicles. As a result of the survey 147 vehicles were grounded.

Darren Chester, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport spoke about the survey which was conducted between August and October, saying the results would assist the NHVR to develop a national risk based inspection approach to address high risk components, systems, vehicles and operators.

These survey results are a great tool for the NHVR to use to improve safety and efficiency in the heavy vehicle sector, which of course improves safety for all motorists,” Mr Chester said.

Source: http://www.psnews.com.au/aps/555/news/trucks-hauled-in-for-major-health-check

Chief Executive of the NHVR, Sal Petroccitto said the survey results would allow operators to update programs to ensure they addressed high-risk components and systems that were regularly found to be an issue during on-road inspections.

“The NHVR wanted to understand the rate of major non-conformity,” Mr Petroccitto said.

“Where authorised officers found major non-conformities, the majority were assessed as safe enough to continue their journey but required repair within a specified period of time.”

Source: http://www.psnews.com.au/aps/555/news/trucks-hauled-in-for-major-health-check

The survey revealed that improvements need to be made to improve road safety.

The inspections showed that

• Younger vehicles are 5 times less likely to have a major non-conformity than vehicles 10 years and older.
• Younger vehicles were 11 times less likely to have a major non-conformity than vehicles 13 years and older.
• Eleven per cent of hauling units and fourteen per cent of trailers recorded a major non-conformity
• As a result of the inspection 1.3 per cent of the vehicles inspected were grounded.
• Brakes had the highest rate of major non-conformity.
• Steering and suspension systems had the second highest rate of major non-conformity.

Read more at http://www.psnews.com.au/aps/555/news/trucks-hauled-in-for-major-health-check