Concerning rates of non-compliance among heavy vehicles at Melbourne Market prompt NHVR safety initiative

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Concerning rates of non-compliance among heavy vehicles at Melbourne Market have prompted the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) to launch a targeted safety initiative this month. Operation Melbourne Market will focus on loading, mass, and mechanical violations that have been noted over the previous two years, with a strong emphasis on chain of responsibility management across the supply network.

Why NHVR Is Targeting Melbourne Market

Paul Salvati, Chief Operations Officer of NHVR, stated that Operation Melbourne Market was initially conducted in December 2022 and subsequently repeated at the beginning of 2024. Over 70% of truckies intercepted heavy vehicle drivers during both instances were deemed non-compliant, a non-compliance rate that has raised serious concern within the sector.

“The number of drivers and operators found to be doing the wrong thing in some capacity during the previous operations conducted at the Melbourne Market is a major cause of concern,” Mr Salvati emphasised.

“The NHVR is taking swift action after discovering these high levels of non-compliance, by launching Operation Melbourne Market for a third time.

“The aim of this crucial operation is to reinforce safety and regulatory adherence for industry participants who are coming and going from the Market, and to prevent potential serious incidents from occurring.

“We are finding many operators who attend the Market don’t realise that they are part of the Chain of Responsibility (CoR) and aren’t aware they need to comply with the Heavy Vehicle National Law.”

What Loading Non-Compliance Means for the Transport Industry

Loading non-compliance remains one of the most frequently cited issues found by NHVR officers during targeted operations. When mass and loading requirements aren't met, transport businesses expose themselves and their supply networks to significant legal and safety risk.

Effective mass management practices help transport operators avoid overloading, uneven weight distribution, and other mechanical failures that can put drivers and other road users at risk. Poor management of loading procedures has consistently been flagged as a leading contributor to non-compliance detected across national operations like this one.

For businesses seeking practical guidance, resources such as a fatigue management policy for heavy vehicles can support broader safety obligations that intersect with CoR responsibilities, even where fatigue itself falls outside this operation's specific focus.

Chain of Responsibility: A Shared Obligation

Many operators attending the Melbourne Market remain unaware that they sit within the Chain of Responsibility, a legal framework that extends accountability beyond the driver to include schedulers, loaders, and consignors. Understanding this shared responsibility is essential for any transport business operating within Australia's heavy vehicle sector.

Businesses across the transport industry are encouraged to review their internal management systems to confirm compliance with relevant national heavy vehicle laws. Strong management practices reduce the likelihood of detection during NHVR operations and, more importantly, reduce genuine safety risk.

NHVR's Broader Compliance Efforts

Operation Melbourne Market forms part of a wider push by NHVR to strengthen compliance monitoring across the transport industry. Similar initiatives, such as the rollout of mobile ANPR camera technology and the deployment of mobile cameras in NSW, demonstrate the regulator's commitment to improving heavy vehicle safety management nationwide.

NHVR has also expanded compliance efforts beyond metropolitan markets, including its cross-border initiative addressing heavy vehicle safety on the Eyre Highway. These efforts collectively highlight a national trend toward stricter enforcement and improved management of transport industry obligations.

Practical Steps for Transport Operators

Transport businesses can reduce their non-compliance rate and strengthen safety management by taking the following steps:

• Review loading and mass management procedures regularly against current national standards.
• Confirm that all parties involved understand their position within the chain of responsibility.
• Maintain mechanical health checks for heavy vehicles, including tyres and service maintenance, using resources such as tyre changing heavy vehicle SWMS and heavy vehicle service maintenance SWMS.
• Implement digital tools, such as those found in safety software solutions, to track compliance obligations across the business.

Operators seeking further guidance on documentation or management templates can access dedicated support services to help align internal processes with NHVR expectations.

Looking Ahead

With Operation Melbourne Market launching for a third time, NHVR is sending a clear message to industry: compliance management cannot be an afterthought. Given that both previous operations found non-compliance rates exceeding 70%, transport businesses attending the Market should treat this as a timely reminder to review their safety and mass management systems before enforcement activity begins.

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