Trucking firms on the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS) will be given three months advance notice when audits are due, the regulator says.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has extended the reminder period from one month to three on the advice of the industry, after many said the shorter period was inadequate.

“The earlier reminder will help operators to book and complete their audits on time,” says NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto.

“The NHVR has increased this to help operators meet their requirements... We’re always grateful to operators for the feedback, it helps the NHVR to keep improving.”

Operators are allowed to submit their compliance audit and existing accreditation holders’ application to the NHVR up to six months before accreditation expires, and the documents must be lodged at least one month before the expiry date.

Petroccitto is urging operators to contact their auditors before their deadline due to the rapid rate of membership, which is growing at about 10.2 per cent to see more than 7,200 transport businesses accredited to date.

Operators are also being encouraged to complete the compliance audit notification (CAN) form, as NHVAS auditors cannot conduct more than two consecutive audits on each of the NHVAS modules for mass, maintenance, or fatigue.

NHVAS allows heavy vehicle operators to apply for accreditation under mass management, maintenance management, basic fatigue management and advanced fatigue management.