A better performance based standards (PBS) system would bring productivity benefits, cut red tape and reduce administrative burden, the NTC says.

The National Transport Commission (NTC) has put out a discussion paper asking the transport industry to share its expertise on how to get the best out of PBS.

The paper is called ‘Access to PBS mass limits for truck and trailer combinations’.

The NTC says the PBS scheme aims to encourage a move to “more productive” vehicle designs without sacrificing safety.

That productivity could come from heavier payloads, six and seven-axle truck and trailer combinations or other options, the NTC says.

The discussion paper seeks to examine which new designs might deliver the greatest efficiencies.

It could even allow vehicles not currently PBS-certified under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) - but which meet the requirements of current PBS regulations - to travel with same mass limits as PBS-approved rigs.

“Of the four options we are considering, our preliminary research suggests that making PBS-compliant blueprints and specifications more easily accessible is our greatest opportunity to save industry time and money,” NTC chief Paul Retter says.

“The scheme has set safety and infrastructure performance standards, but Australia’s transport industry has told us that the uptake has been slowed by the lengthy, costly process of getting a PBS vehicle blueprint approved, built and certified.

“Since establishing the Heavy Vehicle National Law, there are clearer access rights and applications and certifications have got quicker, but we know we can unlock greater savings. This project aims to realise the scheme’s full potential

“To do this we need to first draw on the wealth of knowledge and experience that exists to set the prescribed requirements and test the viability of the options. We need to hear from engineers, manufacturers, operators, road agencies and drivers so we can all get the most out of the scheme in the future.”

Submissions for feedback close on October 28.