NHVAS Mass Management Accreditation
What is Mass Management Accreditation?
NHVAS (National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme) Mass Management is a component of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) program designed to ensure that heavy vehicle operators manage vehicle weights effectively and comply with legal load limits. This accreditation is a formal process for recognising operators who have processes and systems in place to monitor and control the mass of vehicles and their loads, aiming to prevent overloading and ensure safe and efficient operation. It involves implementing procedures for accurate weight measurement, maintaining proper documentation, and conducting regular checks to ensure compliance with Mass, Dimension and Loading regulations.
By adhering to NHVAS Mass Management standards, operators can enhance road safety, improve vehicle performance, and reduce the risk of penalties associated with overloading, ultimately contributing to a more reliable and compliant transportation system.
Other components with the NHVAS accreditation modules include Maintenance Management Accreditation and Fatigue Management Accreditation (Basic Fatigue Management and Advanced Fatigue Management).
What are the benefits of Mass Management Accreditation
Mass Management Accreditation offers significant benefits for operators by enhancing safety, improving compliance, and increasing operational efficiency. It ensures that vehicles are operated within legal weight limits, reducing the risk of accidents and penalties associated with overloading.
What are the Mass Management Accreditation Standards?
The Mass Management standards are a set of guidelines designed to ensure effective management of vehicle weights and compliance with legal limits. There are 8 standards these are:
Responsibilities
Clearly defining and assigning responsibilities for weight management to ensure accountability and proper oversight within the business. Operators must ensure that each person with responsibilities has been informed of their responsibilities and completed any required training and/or inductions. Operators are also required to verify the knowledge and skills of the responsible person and retain any documented evidence of these skills and knowledge.
Vehicle control
Implementing controls and procedures to manage and monitor vehicle weights, including processes for load assessment and compliance with mass regulations. Documentation of each vehicle that has been nominated under Mass Management Accreditation must be kept and updated regularly. Documentation includes vehicle registers are properly managed and detail the specifications information confirming the vehicles allowable mass limits and any sub contractors working under the operators Mass Management Accreditation
Vehicle use
Ensuring that vehicles are used within their weight limits and that load distribution is managed to maintain compliance with axle group weight requirements. There must be a procedure in place that demonstrates how loading and unloading is controlled.
Records and documentation
Maintaining comprehensive and accurate records of vehicle weights, load details, and related documentation to demonstrate compliance and facilitate audits. Documented records and procedures need to be regularly reviewed, kept up to date and available to relevant personnel at all locations and retained for a minimum of 3 years. Documentation of any vehicle defect notices or infringement relating to suspension or overloads must also be kept within the vehicle register.
Verification
Regularly verifying that weight management practices and systems are effective and compliant with NHVAS standards through checks and inspections. A documented procedure can be used to ensure that the vehicles are being loaded within their allowable limits and demonstrate the process of calibration on weight assessment methods, ie. pressure gauges, load scales, weighbridges are documented. Verification of a vehicles weight assessment method should be completed and recorded bi-annually.
Internal review
Conducting internal reviews and audits to assess compliance with mass management standards, identify areas for improvement, and address any non-compliance issues. The review process includes evaluating current practices and procedures against NHVAS standards and compliance with the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL). These reviews help to identify any non-compliance or areas for improvement. Findings are then documented in a comprehensive report, detailing issues and recommending corrective actions. These actions are implemented to address identified problems, and follow-up reviews are scheduled to ensure ongoing and continuous improvement.
Training and education
Providing training and education to staff involved in mass management to ensure they are knowledgeable about NHVAS standards and procedures. Operators must ensure that persons who hold a position of responsibility under Mass Management Accreditation are training are records are maintained.
Maintenance of suspension
Ensuring that vehicle (Truck and Trailer/s)suspension systems are well-maintained and functioning correctly to support effective mass management and compliance with mass limits. Road-friendly suspension (RFS) refers to a suspension system certified by the Department of Transport and Regional Services (DoTaRs) that meets specific performance and is a requirement when operating under Higher Mass Limits. Operators must also ensure there is a record of these suspension certificates and must produce the certificate when completed the NHVAS audit. It is also crucial for persons maintaining vehicles under Mass Management Accreditation are suitably qualified or experienced. Some jurisdictions require annual inspections as part of the registration process, but grant exemptions to vehicles with maintenance management.
General Mass Limits
General Mass Limits (GML) refer to the standard legal weight limits that heavy vehicles in Australia can carry on public roads without any special permits or accreditations. These limits are set to ensure safety, protect road infrastructure, and maintain vehicle performance. GML applies to various vehicle combinations based on their design and axle configurations general.
Concessional Mass Limits (CML)
Concessional Mass Limits (CML) refer to a regulatory framework in Australia that allows heavy vehicles to carry more weight than the standard General Mass Limits (GML), provided that they meet specific requirements. CML permits heavier loads without having to qualify for High Mass Limits (HML), though the increase is smaller than what HML allows.
Higher Mass Limits
High Mass Limits (HML) is a regulatory framework in Australia that allows heavy vehicles to carry more weight than both the General Mass Limits (GML) and Concessional Mass Limits (CML), provided they meet certain requirements. HML is designed to increase productivity and efficiency by enabling operators to carry larger loads while maintaining safety and road infrastructure protection. To qualify for HML, vehicles must be fitted with certified road-friendly suspension systems. Operators must be accredited under the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS) in the Mass Management module to operate vehicles under HML. HML vehicles are generally restricted to specific roads and routes that have been assessed and approved for higher mass loads. When operating with additional mass concessions, the use of telematics monitoring is often a requirement to ensure compliance with regulatory standards and to monitor vehicle performance, safety, and mass management.
What documentation must you keep to ensure Mass Management Accreditation Compliance?
It is essential to maintain comprehensive and accurate documentation to ensure compliance with NHVAS Mass Management Accreditation standards. This includes records of vehicle weights and load details, which provide evidence that vehicles are operated within legal mass limits. Documentation should also cover maintenance records for weighing equipment, demonstrating that it is regularly calibrated and functioning correctly. Additionally, load planning and assessment documents are necessary to show that load distribution is managed effectively. Training records for staff involved in mass management should be kept to ensure that they are knowledgeable and have the required skills to complete their NHVAS requirements. Furthermore, any inspection or audit reports, including interception reports from enforcement officers, must be maintained to demonstrate ongoing compliance and address any identified issues promptly.
How we can help with NHVAS Mass Management Accreditation
BTT Engineering can assist with Mass Management Accreditation by providing comprehensive support throughout the accreditation process. We conduct detailed gap analyses to identify areas for improvement and help to implement effective procedures for mass management, including load assessment and documentation. Their expertise extends to providing training and education for staff to ensure they understand and adhere to NHVAS requirements.
BTT Engineering uses a Mass Management System that captures the required information, the system is straightforward and easy to use. Through the use of QR codes staff members and or subcontractors are able to capture information in real time through the use of a mobile phone or computer. Our forms are designed straight from the compliance standards ensuring that the organisation is capturing the required documents.
How much does Mass Management cost?
The cost of Mass Management Accreditation can vary widely depending on several factors, including the size of the fleet, the complexity of the operations, and the level of support required. Costs typically cover areas such as initial Entry Audit fees, ongoing audit and compliance costs, training, and implementation of required systems and procedures.
Justifying these costs involves several key benefits. Achieving Mass Management Accreditation and helps ensure compliance with legal mass limits, which can reduce the risk of fines and penalties associated with overloading. The financial benefits to access additional mass concessions payload through High Mass Limits (HML) can be substantial for heavy vehicle operators.
NHVAS Accreditation Label and NHVAS Interception Book
The NHVAS accreditation label and interception report book are part of the Mass Management Accreditation requirements. The accreditation label, which is issued to each nominated Mass Management Accredited truck, must be displayed prominently on the vehicle. The interception report book must be carried in all nominated Mass Management Accredited trucks, it is a record of on road interactions with enforcement and includes compliant and noncompliant information. It includes information on the vehicle’s condition, compliance with mass limits, and any issues identified during inspections. Together, these tools ensure that operators adhere to NHVAS standards and maintain transparency and accountability in their operations.
Related Services & accreditation that we can help with
Road access permits
NHVR Fatigue Management Accreditation Including Standard Hours, Basic Fatigue Management and Advanced Fatigue Management