VIRM: Heavy vehicle specialist certification

Addition of section 3-5-2 Issuing a professional letter or statement.

This section details how engineering certifiers can issue a professional opinion on a component when they’ve determined that an LT400 is not required. This may include situations where a clean and treat is required, or inspection of damage is recorded but a certification isn’t required yet.

A class NB or NC vehicle fitted with a transmission/Cardan shaft park brake does must have a warning label, visible to the driver, advising that a transmission/Cardan shaft park brake is fitted to this vehicle.

Introduction 3-5 Work procedure

5-1 Brakes

On 1 April 2021 an HVSC VIRM change introduced a new version of Technical bulletin 4 (TB4) in the heavy vehicle specialist certification VIRM and some changes to heavy vehicle and trailer brakes in the in-service VIRM. The introduction of the new TB4 was aimed at providing one source of information regarding heavy vehicle brake certification, where alteration or modifications are carried out on both new and in-service heavy vehicles.

The introduction caused unintended actions and unexpected responses from both heavy vehicle certifiers and vehicle inspectors resulting in many vehicles being delayed for certification and failed at CoF inspection.

The revised TB4 now requires the heavy vehicle manufacturer or the approved representative of the manufacturer to supply documentation that gives details of the braking system for the vehicle being modified, the HVSC uses this document to support the changes being made before signing off the LT400 for the work.

This amendment includes:

• an update to delegations regarding initial assessment and repairs, and how different aspects are dealt with between engineers
• seatbelts and seatbelt anchorages updated to more closely reflect the rule
• a rewrite of Technical bulletin 4: Heavy vehicle modifications that may affect brakes
• rescinding technical bulletin 16 as the content has been merged into technical bulletin 4.

In this amendment:

• Clarification to chassis frame rail replacements
• Instructions for certification plate information requirements
• Changes in some modification requirements.

This new technical bulletin gives guidance to certifiers regarding the design, analysis and certification of truck cab modifications. The bulletin includes the results of testing commissioned by Waka Kotahi demonstrating the comparative effect of various levels of modification on the integrity of the cab, and guidance on the use of FEA to determine whether a modification returns the cab to within safe tolerance of its original condition.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency has amended the VIRM to allow for some inspection and certification documents to be presented electronically. This is to assist businesses with contactless operation. The following documents will be able to be emailed:

• LT400s, chassis ratings and professional opinions from heavy vehicle specialist certifiers, and
• chassis ratings from Waka Kotahi.

This amendment incorporates the Heavy Vehicle Manufacture and Repair Code of Practice (MRCOP), currently found on the NZ Truck-trailer Manufacturer’s Federation website.

MRCOP has been developed to assist the industry in enabling a timely and affordable repair for straight forward and common repairs, reduce down-time to operators, as well as allow routine and repetitive repair and manufacturing tasks without requiring direct involvement of a heavy vehicle engineering certifier. It is designed to ensure that heavy vehicles are both safe and compliant.

In addition to MRCOP, some other smaller amendments to the VIRM have also been published.

These changes bring the VIRM into line with current standards and practices with welding and welding qualifications, in particular Technical bulletin 10 and the Heavy Vehicles Rule.

In consultation with a key HVSC industry group, the NZ Transport Agency has been working to complete the incorporation of HVSC memos into the HVSC vehicle inspection requirements manual (VIRM). This has been done to centralise sources of information for your ease of access and to allow for a simpler change process going forward. This work is now complete and as of Monday 9 April 2018 all HVSC memos are rescinded and the VIRM amendment will go live.

See the list of changes for more details.

Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2016

In November 2016, the Vehicle Dimensions and Mass (VDAM) Rule 2016 was signed, coming into effect on 1 February 2017.

The rule sets vehicle size and weight limits, and vehicle configuration requirements, with a focus on heavy vehicles.

It is intended to strike a reasonable balance between the risks that heavy vehicles present to public safety, and the efficient operation of the heavy vehicle fleet within the constraints imposed by the road network.

As a result of the new rule, there are updates to a number of sections in the VIRM.