Heavy Vehicle (Truck and Trailer) Brake Rule
On 1 December 2008 and in accordance with Government legislation, the brake rule changed and the method of testing heavy vehicle brakes (truck and trailers) when the Certificate of Fitness (COF) inpsecations are carried out also changed.
The new heavy vehicle brake rule testing regime is a mandatory Government saftey initiative. Most heavy vehicle (truck) operators have to comply when they bring their vehicle in for its COF inspection. According to VTNZ, they have had to reconfigure their nationwide network of stations and offsites to be able to prvoide the new brake test for customers.
The new HVBR process is being rolled out by the NZTA on a regional basis over a six month period. The regional rollout is:
Region 1: December 2008
Wellington, Manawatu, Horowhenua and Hawkes Bay (excluding Gisborne)
Region 2: February 2009
Far North, Wairarapa, Tasman, Canterbury, Otago
Region 3: April 2009
Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty
Region 4: June 2009
West Coast, Southland, Taranaki
Following implementation in Region 4, the new laden brake test will be rolled out to all offsites (sites where heavy vehicle COF saftey inspections are carried out that are not a testing station).