The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has completed a month-long operation to address key safety risks posed by heavy vehicles during grape harvest season, in New South Wales (NSW), Victoria (Vic) and South Australia (SA).
NHVR Chief Operations Officer Paul Salvati said Operation Fortified was critical to ensure the smooth and safe delivery of grapes and local produce, from vineyard to shelf.
"Heavy vehicles are currently hitting the road in force as the grape harvest season peaks, however it's important to remember that safety is always in season," Mr Salvati said.
"SA alone produces more that 50% of Australia's wine, and in 2021-2022, the state's industry produced more than 800,000 tonnes of grapes valued at $622 million.
"This just goes to shows what a major contributor the industry is to the national economy, and with this kind of scale, it's vital that the transport of these valuable crops is as smooth as fine wine."
Mr Salvati said NHVR Safety and Compliance Officers (SCOs) conducted more than 270 heavy vehicle inspections throughout Operation Fortified, focusing on fatigue management, monitoring and identifying potential grape spillage incidents, and undertaking mechanical inspections to ensure compliance with vehicle standards.
"We know this is busy time of year for the agricultural sector, but we can't afford to let any lapses in safety spoil what should be a very productive season," he stressed.
"Some of the primary risks related to grape harvest transportation include driver fatigue, particularly at the end of night shifts or from wait times to either load or offload, in addition to spillage due to overloading.
"Grape spills have a significant impact on the safety of other road users, creating slippery surfaces that can lead to a vehicle losing control and increasing the risk of catastrophic accidents occurring.
"This operation was a crucial step forward in our ongoing efforts to reduce crashes and ensure the safety of everyone on the road."
NHVR Acting Director of Southern Region Stephen Bryers said SCOs concentrated compliance and enforcement efforts on strategic locations across Vic, NSW and SA, and provided education to drivers on how to meet their safety obligations in 88 of the intercepts conducted.
"This is the fifth time Operation Fortified has been undertaken in both SA and Vic, and each time the NHVR has led this operation we have seen the rate of non-compliance steadily decrease," Mr Bryers explained.
"We detected a non-compliance rate of around 38% during this year's operation, with the majority of offences either mechanical, fatigue or permit related.
"This is down from a non-compliance rate of 42.2% in 2023, 59% in 2022, and 61% in 2021 - this is a true testament to industry's collective efforts in driving continuous improvement, and we are optimistic that non-compliance will only continue to decline.
"We know heavy vehicles play a critical role transporting the harvest, but it's essential that vehicles are roadworthy, and drivers are fit to operate them safely.
"Every crash, every serious incident, and every spill is avoidable - so please, whether you're behind the wheel of a heavy vehicle or sharing the road with one, follow the crucial safety measures that will help to prevent tragedy, and instead result in a safe, successful harvest."
The NHVR has also recently released the Wine Code of Practice, crafted specifically for the wine industry, to help producers, distributors and transport operators keep their operations on track, without spilling over into non-compliance or unsafe practices.
