Intelligent Access Program (IAP) passes major milestone
Transport Certification Australia (TCA), the national government body responsible for providing assurance in the use of telematics and related intelligent technologies, today reported that there are now over 4,000 individual vehicles participating in the IAP, electronically monitored for over 8,200 access conditions which may consist of location, time and/or speed requirements.
The IAP is a nationally agreed, technical and regulatory approach to the management of heavy vehicles utilising certified telematics, and forms part of the National Telematics Framework.
The IAP enables road managers and regulators, though the use of the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) monitoring, to grant access to heavy vehicle configurations and/or loads, which improve productivity and safety.
TCA Chief Executive Officer, Chris Koniditsiotis said, “During 2016-17, we’ve seen major increases in the number of vehicles joining the IAP.”
“Over the last 12 months we have seen a 13% increase, with 456 additional vehicles joining the IAP. These conditions demonstrate how road managers and regulators have been able to improve the management of road network access, or grant improved access conditions, through the IAP.”
Mr Koniditsiotis continued, “These numbers demonstrate that transport operators are taking advantage of the opportunities to increase the productivity and efficiency of their operations. Transport operators are also benefiting from competition and choice from a market of IAP Service Providers.”
“By responding to the needs of the transport industry, IAP Service Providers continue to lead the telematics sector by providing the latest available technologies, and making innovative, cost-effective options available to transport operators.”
“TCA also continues to lead improvements to the national administration of the IAP – in partnership with Australian road managers, regulators, transport industry and IAP Service Providers.”
In addition to ongoing enhancements to the IAP Functional and Technical Specification, and building upon earlier initiatives such as the Entry Options initiative and Flexible IAP Pricing, TCA is progressing two initiatives for the IAP as part of its work program for 2017-18:
- Real-time alerts – which can be used for the management of high-risk heavy vehicle combinations and/or road access entitlements
- Deferred access to telematics data – which can provide regulators with the flexibility to manage lower-risk applications (which do not require the generation of Non-Compliance Reports (NCRs) through the IAP), while providing assurance that information will be available (if needed at a later date).
“These initiatives will provide renewed opportunities for road managers and regulators to introduce future heavy vehicle productivity and safety reforms.”
“In the meantime, I encourage all operators to take a fresh look at what access arrangements available through the IAP,” Mr Koniditsiotis concluded.