Several local governments in Victoria have banded together to push for the inclusion of the Performance Based Standards Route Assessment Tool (PBS RAT) in the national heavy vehicle regulatory system.

The tool was designed in collaboration between the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) and the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) in an effort to better inform council engineers on how to accommodate increasingly heavy vehicles on local roads.

The Route Assessment Tool is aimed at cutting time and enhancing productivity in transport and logistics. A successful roll-out has been reported across many councils since it was offered over a year ago, now the originators of the performance-based tool want it mandatorily included in the NHVR adjustment.

MAV Development Consultant John Hennessy is concerned over reports of recent delays, saying “we would really like them to press the go-button on the Route Assessment Tool and to have that as part of their ongoing mechanisms by which decisions are made about access onto local roads.”

“When you speak to large companies in the industry they’re saying the problem is gaining access onto local roads – the first and last kilometre... This particular tool addresses that problem and it’s just a little bit disappointing the regulator hasn’t been able to integrate that into their decision making system at this point in time.”

The PBS RAT scheme enables local governments and regional councils to conduct assessments and block or allow heavy vehicle access permits within 24 hours.

“Each state around Australia now supports the Route Assessment Tool and has been conducting some trials and training, which is unheard of for the local government to be working together so closely and the one time we do it we can’t seem to get the thing into practice,” Hennessy said.

The PBS RAT system saw ARRB take home the Technology Award at this year’s Freight Industry Awards.