Transport Agency Freight Portfolio Director Harry Wilson says that for the vast majority of operators in New Zealand the operator safety check will have no effect on their permit being issued, or how long it takes for their application to be processed. The cost of a permit also has not changed.
“Making our roads as safe as possible is at the forefront of everything we do,” Harry says.
“We know that most HPMV operators are safety conscious; we are introducing these checks as a way to identify the tiny minority who pose a risk to themselves and other road users.”
The operator safety check had been discussed with various industry interest groups for some months prior to its introduction. The safety check is seen as a way to ensure both the Transport Agency and road controlling authorities are confident that access and use of their roads is being appropriately managed.
The operator safety check will look at the Operator Rating System (ORS) score for the previous two years, together with any traffic offences, permit and weight breaches recorded over the previous 12 months. The size of the operator’s fleet will also be taken into account in establishing whether there is a safety risk in granting a permit.
Where we have safety concerns, all available information will be considered before a decision on issuing a permit is made. A limited 12 month permit with conditions may be issued, or if the safety concerns are deemed serious enough the application may be declined.
“If an operator is declined or issued with a limited permit, our commercial transport team will work with them to improve the safety of their business,” Harry says.
Any operator who is declined a permit is able to request a review of the decision by writing to the Transport Agency’s Operations Manager, Customer Access.
The NZ Transport Agency is focussed on making New Zealand’s freight system safer and more efficient. New Zealand’s freight task is forecast to grow from 236 to 373 million tonnes by 2042 and our priority is to improve safety and efficiency to move more freight with fewer truck trips using HPMVs.
For a set of frequently asked questions about the checks see our website.