Click here to view this email in your browser.

Welcome to the first of the Heavy Vehicle Services Industry Newsletters for 2025.

In this edition, we will share with you the latest news and updates from HVS and Main Roads, including:

• 2024 Retrospective + 2025 Horizon
• HVS statistics: October 2024 to February 2025
• National Roadworthiness Survey
• Camp Quality Convoy for Kids
• Operation Ninja 
• Current HVS Updates 
   

We hope you find this newsletter informative and useful, and we welcome your feedback and suggestions for future editions.  Please feel free to contact us at hvs@mainroads.wa.gov.au or visit our website at www.mainroads.wa.gov.au/heavy-vehicles for more information and resources.

Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to working with you in 2025.

We'd like to use this edition to reflect on the activities, challenges and achievements experienced throughout 2024, and highlight what's on the horizon in 2025. 
 
2024 began with closures of the East/West railway due to flooding, during which we provided Temporary Special Assistance access for 53.5 m and 36.5 m combinations to enable an increased capacity of supplies being transported by road, similar to what we have done in the past.   
 
Recommendations arising from the Heavy Vehicle Pilot Licence Reference Group and the Review of the WAHVA Remote Audits Trial were handed over to HVS to consider. 
 
We again conducted State-wide Industry Information Sessions and Workshops throughout the year, and repeated the Heavy Vehicle Awareness Campaigns called the Road Train Domain and Bigger Than You.  Analysis of the 2024 Industry Information Sessions has been undertaken and planning for 2025 has commenced. 
 
Arising from the feedback we captured during customer interactions such as the Industry Information Sessions, a website ‘health check’ was undertaken by independent consultants and we are now progressing their recommendations which include changes to the format and layout of our website. 
 
Following a recent trial, transport operators of Long Vehicles and Road Trains can choose to either display ‘Long Vehicle’, ‘Road Train’ or the Pictorial Restricted Access Vehicle (RAV) Warning Signage relevant to their combination.  The new signage is intended to assist the public making decisions about overtaking, and it's noted that a number of operators have already adopted it.  

We also provided representation at a range of events State-wide such as regional shows, the Perth Boat Show and the Caravan and Camping Show.  We provided a Traffic Escort vehicle in the annual Camp Quality Convoy For Kids, and also to accompany the Transperth bus as part of the Transport portfolio representation in the recent Pride Parade.
 
The National Roadworthiness Survey commenced in July 2024 and ran for approximately 12 weeks across all jurisdictions including WA.  The Survey provided a comprehensive health check of the mechanical condition of the Australian heavy vehicle fleet, collecting several million data points and providing essential information to support key safety initiatives and compliance activities.  You can read more about that later in this newsletter. 

In February/March 2025 we granted Temporary Special Assistance access for suitably accredited transport operators undertaking interstate transport tasks in response to Cyclone Zelia.  This was for combinations up to 53.5m in length to operate directly between the WA/SA Border and the Kalgoorlie Rail Head or the Coolgardie Road Train Assembly Area.

This year we will be progressing some key projects and initatives.  

The Traffic Escort Services Scheduling Solution (TES SS), which includes a customer portal, is on track for an April/May 2025 ‘go-live’.  Our communications and change management plans are currently being developed to ensure a smooth transition.  Stay tuned for more updates as we approach the launch date.

Work has begun to implement HVS PATH-ways which will replace our core systems RAVS (which administers permits, operator information, WAHVA and Pilot licensing) and MOVES (the HVS customer facing portal).  

We are working to establish a 5-year program of works to place underground some power lines on Great Northern and Great Eastern Highways to support the efficient movement of OSOM loads.  Main Roads is working with Western Power to establish corridors on these two Highways.

We are also working to procure and deploy a series of Heavy Vehicle Monitoring Sites (HVMS) across the State.  The HVMS will be made up of static sites which have the capability to monitor heavy vehicles 24/7 and will include capabilities such as Automatic Number Plate Recognition, fatigue monitoring, speed detection, vehicle classification and mass monitoring.  The fatigue monitoring capability will feed into the National Compliance Information System (NCIS), to monitor and manage heavy vehicle driver fatigue. 

2025 will see us consider the recommendations from the Heavy Vehicle Pilot Licence review and the review of the WAHVA Remote Audits Trial.

Lastly, in 2025 we'll be changing the delivery of our Industry Information Sessions and Workshops, moving to a webinar method of delivery.  We will be releasing our planned series of webinars over the coming weeks and you will be able to register for these online via our News and Information page on our website. 

We'll still be getting out and about across the State in 2025, attending field days, agricultural shows and community events where our focus will be on providing  information and advice to industy and heavy vehicle awareness and education to general road users.  You can find the details on our website under News & Information Events. 

HVS statistics 

On an ad-hoc basis we receive requests to provide statistics relating to our business activities.  We’ve put together the table below which provides readers with the October 2024 to February 2025 figures. 

Know someone who'd love this newsletter? Forward this edition to them,

or invite them to subscribe through Heavy Vehicle Subscriptions on the Main Roads website: Main Roads Subscriptions.

National Roadworthiness Baseline Survey - 2024 

Main Roads WA took part in the 2024 National Roadworthiness Survey which was run between July and September 2024. 

From a WA perspective the initial 2024 survey results, compared to those from 2021, indicate overall improvements in brakes, engine drivelines, and exhaust systems. 

However, the 2024 survey results also highlighted an increase in structural issues and an increase in defects for Articulated (Semi) combinations. 

Camp Quality Convoy for Kids 2024

The second annual Perth Camp Quality Convoy for Kids was held in late 2024, raising money and awareness for children with cancer with help from Main Roads WA.

On the morning of 13 October, the convoy departed Perth Hockey Stadium at Curtin University and travelled 53 kilometres around Perth on a set route encompassing Leach, Tonkin and Reid Highways, the Mitchell Freeway to Manning Road, before returning to Perth Hockey Stadium for more fun and activities for all.

In 2023 the organisers raised an impressive total of $191,239 with 135 trucks travelling in the convoy.  That was surpassed in 2024 with over $410,000 raised and 180 vehicles participating.

Main Roads was once again honoured to support and participate in the convoy.  HVS Senior Traffic Escort Wardens Matt Harston and Damian Grant escorted the trucks safely through Perth, whilst our Road Network Operations Centre (RNOC) played a pivotal role in determining the travel route and traffic management event requirements.  On the day, RNOC managed the traffic control signals, and the Senior Traffic Escort Wardens led the convoy ensuring a smooth and safe passage for the participants.

Congratulations to the organisers and supporters of the event on achieving a terrific outcome!

Operation Ninja - Main Roads & WA Police - February 2025

Cue, Mount Magnet, and Meekatharra 

A joint operation was recently conducted in Regional WA, bringing together Compliance staff from Main Roads Heavy Vehicle Services (HVS) and WA Police officers from Cue, Mount Magnet, and Meekatharra Police Stations. 

During 17 to 21 February our compliance operations included:  
•    Unmarked vehicle compliance patrols for Perth to Meekatharra;
•    Rolling roadblocks at Mount Magnet; and
•    24-hour enforcement coverage in the township of Cue.  

All roadblocks were jointly conducted with the WA Police Force, with Main Roads Transport Inspectors working closely alongside officers at each location. Throughout the operation, Transport Inspectors provided valuable training and insights to local police officers on HVS permits and compliance matters, strengthening collaboration and enhancing ongoing compliance efforts in the region.

During this operation, HVS stopped over 100 heavy vehicle combinations, while WA Police stopped 200 light vehicles.  

The key statistics were:  
•    100 Random Breath Tests conducted by WA Police 
•    18 drug tests performed, resulting in three truck drivers testing positive for being under the influence  
•    3 unlicensed heavy vehicles detected
•    4 unlicensed truck drivers identified
•    27 vehicle defect cautions
•    10 vehicle defect work orders
•    10 dimension offences
•    9 overload offences
•    9 permit breaches
•    2 load restraint offences
•    2 heavy vehicle pilot offences
•    1 Dangerous Goods offence
•    1 Container Weight Declaration offence
•    1 Licensing offence
•    8 Directions to Rectify.  

Providing WA Police officers with the training and tools to support heavy vehicle enforcement in regional areas enables improved road safety and compliance outcomes across the network.  The outcomes of this operation demonstrate the benefits of working with partner agencies, and we will be planning more throughout the year to support local communities and councils in managing road safety into 2025.

HVS Updates 

The list below reflects HVS Updates that remain on the website as at the time this newsletter was published.

HVS Update 7-2022

Removal of Restrictions at Non-operational Tier 3 Rail Crossings.

HVS Update 11-2023  

Afterhours OSOM permit amendments requiring bridge assessments.

HVS Update 47A-2023  

Shire of Harvey - Bridge 3716 on Forestry Road - Now open for light vehicles and General Access heavy vehicles only.

HVS Update 33-2024

Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup - Closure of Bridge 3616 over Preston River on Irishtown Road.

Main Roads Heavy Vehicle Services,

525 Great Eastern Highway, Redcliffe, WA, 6104

Click here to update your subscription preferences, or unsubscribe from all future communications.