Application information
What is heavy vehicle specialist certification
What is certification?
Certification is verification that a vehicle complies with applicable requirements. We use certification to ensure that motor vehicles meet appropriate standards and other safety requirements before they can be certified for use in
New Zealand, and that they then remain within safe tolerance of their original state when manufactured.
The different types of heavy vehicle specialist inspectors
There are 4 types of heavy vehicle specialist inspector:
- Engineer inspecting organisation/vehicle inspector (IO/VI)
- Local manufacturer inspecting organisation (IO)
- Local manufacturer vehicle inspector (VI)
- Static roll threshold (SRT) inspector
Engineer inspector (IO/VI)
Heavy vehicle specialist engineers are capable of producing relevant engineering designs along with overseeing the manufacture and installation of components and modifications. This is done via:
Full certification
An engineer IO/VI may certify using the correct certification documentation (LT400), which must be supported by a completed heavy vehicle design file. The certification process can be completed with the engineer IO/VI directing the manufacture and installation of the assembly or the modification, and a final inspection by the engineer IO/VI.
Design only
Alternatively, an engineer IO/VI can provide a design-only service to a local manufacturer vehicle inspector, with a Statement of Design Compliance (SODC), and the Local Manufacturer VI can complete the final inspection and certify the manufacture and installation to that certified (SODC) design.
Local manufacturer Inspecting organisation (IO)
A local manufacturer inspecting organisation (IO) cannot independently use the certification but provides the infrastructure to allow a local manufacturer vehicle inspector (VI) to certify vehicle components from manufacture through to installation. An IO or VI obtains the design and an SODC from an engineer IO/VI or, where allowed, uses standards or pre-approved designs. The IO is responsible for the inspection/certification outcome and must at all times provide and maintain sufficient equipment and systems to support the tasks undertaken by manufacturer inspectors (VI) in their employ. Both the IO and VI must have the appropriate categories for the work they intend to certify
Local manufacturer vehicle inspector (VI)
A local manufacturer (VI) trained and assessed by the Truck-Trailer Manufacturers Federation (TTMF) and once appointed by the Transport Agency may certify the manufacture and installation of components using an SODC or, where appropriate, standards or pre-approved designs for the aspects that they hold the appropriate categories for. A local manufacturer vehicle inspector (VI) may only sign the LT400 if they are in the employ of a local manufacturer inspecting organisation (IO) and they both hold the categories that are appropriate to the task.
Static roll threshold inspector
Static roll threshold (SRT) inspectors can certify vehicles for compliance to the dimensions and mass rule to a level attained by attending courses and passing the assessments for the 3 levels available: HVS1, HVS2 and HVS3. Refer to page 9 of this pack for further clarification on the different levels of certification.
The different types of certification
Heavy vehicle specialist IO/VIs are appointed to certify in specific categories. The following is a list of certification categories:
- Load anchorages
- Towing connections - drawbars, drawbeams, kingpins, fifth wheels, towbars
- Chassis modification - steering conversion, PSV rollover, chassis modification
- Swept path and vehicle dynamics
- Brakes
- SRT
- Log bolster attachments.
Local manufacturer inspecting organisations (IO) are assessed for each category of certification they wish to undertake to ensure they can support those certifications being undertaken.
Local manufacturer vehicle inspectors (VI) are assessed for each category of certification they wish to undertake to ensure they have the appropriate technical skills and statutory knowledge to undertake the certifications planned.
Engineer inspectors are assessed for each category of certification. See the assessment information for more detail.
The specific codes for each category and type of certification are outlined in the table in the next section.