NHVR releases PBS stats

Earlier this month the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) released new figures on growth of the Performance Based Standards (PBS) Scheme.

The statistics speak volumes on how PBS is fast becoming the preferred framework under which new Australian heavy vehicles operate. In 2017, 20-25 per cent of all new heavy vehicles were PBS approved. In the truck and dog tipper segment, over 90 per cent of all combinations are PBS approved.

This has brought the total number of PBS combinations to over 6,000. This is only the start of what can be expected; NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto announced that the year on year volume growth of PBS combinations continues to exceed 30 per cent.

This growth has been a boon for both public safety and the environment. PBS combinations displace other less productive vehicle combinations with safer alternatives. In addition, the NHVR’s internal modelling shows that through this displacement, from 2014-2017, over 320 million truck kilometres have been saved. Fewer trucks on the road means less emissions and less chance for crashes.

Even with 2017 being a clear success for the scheme, challenges still lie ahead. The National Transport Commission’s recent PBS Marketplace project identified several areas for improvements to the scheme. You can find Advantia’s summary of the PBS Marketplace Review here.

Nevertheless, Advantia continues to work closely with both the NHVR and the Australian heavy vehicle industry to keep PBS on the current road to success.