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Alternative road reform options could replace heavy vehicle registration
fees and fuel-based charges
Heavy vehicle charging trials underway
THE FIRST IN A SERIES of on-road trials designed to test
potential direct road user charging options for heavy
vehicles commenced in July.
In a partnership between government and the heavy
vehicle industry, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport
and Regional Development Michael McCormack says
that while no decisions have been made to change the
way heavy vehicle charges are currently collected, the
first stage of the National Heavy Vehicle Charging Pilot
will provide a way to test potential alternatives, well
ahead of any decisions being taken.
McCormack says the heavy vehicle on-road trials
are part of broader Heavy Vehicle Road Reform, which
is about creating stronger links between road usage,
charges and services for road users.
“The Government will continue to prioritise progress
on reforms to improve infrastructure investment, while
testing alternative options to replace heavy vehicle
registration fees and fuel-based charges.
“Decisions to implement a new way of collecting
heavy vehicle charges may be part of a potential future
stage of Heavy Vehicle Road Reform. These decisions are
likely to be a number years away and will take on board
the real-life experience of industry following a full
evaluation of the trials.
“In progressing this reform, the Australian
Government will retain a focus on making sureregional roads get a fair share of investment. I
encourage operators of all sizes across the sector,
particularly those from regional areas to be involved in
the trials.”
Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight
Transport, Scott Buchholz, says the initial Small Scale
On-Road Trial will not involve payment of charges
and will assess an alternative form of heavy vehicle
charging using mock invoices generated by on-board
technology that measures the distance travelled by
heavy vehicles.
“The trial will involve partnerships with up to 11
heavy vehicle operators of various sizes, totalling up to
111 vehicles,” Buchholz says.
Planning is also underway for a Large Scale On-Road
Trial, the next stage of the National Pilot which will
take place during 2020.
However, Australian Trucking Association (ATA)
chair Geoff Crouch says governments need to focus the
reform agenda on supply-side road-funding reforms.
“In November 2018 Transport Ministers agreed to
develop nationally consistent service level standards
for roads, to categorise roads by their functions and set
customer-focused service levels.” This is intended to
improve transparency and the evidence base for road
funding decisions,” Crouch says.
“As the Government takes the next step inconsidering change on heavy vehicle charges, they
need to prioritise reforms on how roads are provided
which is where the largest economic gains from reform
will be found.
“We welcome the Government’s commitment
to prioritise progress on reforms to improve
infrastructure investment.”
Crouch adds that the ultimate test for the charging
trials would be if they could demonstrate an overall net
benefit for industry.
“If the charging trials can’t demonstrate an overall
net benefit then governments should not implement a
direct distance-based charging scheme.”