DRIVE Lite – HVCBA – August

Welcome to the August edition of DRIVE Lite – Heavy Vehicle Competency Based Assessment (HVCBA). In this edition. In this edition, we provide an update on Final Competency Assessments (FCA) and the requirements on making changes to FCA/Competency Test (CT) bookings.
Grab a cup of tea and make some time to watch two great videos – a helpful training video about how to avoid over height vehicle incidents, as well as the “We All Need Space campaign” music video with James Blundell.

Final Competency Assessments
Last financial year 25,234 Final Competency Assessments (FCAs) were conducted. With 2,276 FCAs done in July 2023 alone it looks like 2023/24 will continue to be equally busy. Upgrade to a Heavy Rigid licence class accounted for 58 per cent of these assessments.

Making changes in HVCORS to FCA/CT bookings
It is important that RTOs and Transport for NSW have visibility of Final Competency Assessment (FCA) and Competency Test (CT) bookings.
A FCA/CT booking must be entered into HVCORS at least 24 hours in advance. This includes bookings for both new and rescheduled FCA/CTs. Cancellation of a FCA/CT must be made at least one hour before the assessment start time.
Administrators can self-amend a current booking to a later time if the change is made at least one hour before the scheduled start time.
You can find more information by viewing the HVCBA Service Charter (nsw.gov.au), HVCBA Operating Procedures or by contacting Transport for NSW via email to HVTraining@transport.nsw.gov.au.

Over height vehicles
Since January 2023, more than 80 over height vehicle incidents have been recorded in NSW and Transport for NSW (Transport) has issued five notices to interstate registered operators to revoke visiting rights.

Over height vehicle incidents create serious safety issues when vehicles collide with tunnel or bridge infrastructure. They also seriously inconvenience other road users and can cause significant economic losses and community impacts.

Transport is working with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, NSW Police and industry representatives to address this issue. We’re doing this by enforcing NSW Road Rules and the HVNL and educating drivers to know the height of their vehicle and the approved route for travel.
This video offers practical tips to ensure drivers know how to be certain they meet the requirements for the height of their vehicle.

We ALL Need Space with James Blundell
Australian country music star James Blundell has collaborated with the NHVR and become one of the faces of their “We All Need Space campaign”, to remind all motorists how to safely drive on roads with heavy vehicles.

“Whether you’re a truckie, car driver or a touring artist like me, we all share the road and we all set out to get to our destination safely,” said Blundell.

The campaign educates drivers about a truck’s blind spots, and how to safely overtake heavy vehicles. It also highlights road rules for heavy vehicles that general road users may not have been aware of, such as the right for some heavy vehicles to take up two lanes when turning at corners, intersections and roundabouts.

You can check out all the campaign videos here.

We would really appreciate your support in sharing our campaign to your networks and on social media. Please see here the media release, videos and social sharables.

We’d love to hear about what’s working well and where we can improve. Your feedback will help us shape future editions of DRIVE Lite and bring you topics and information that’s important to you.

Transport for NSW