Overview of the Trial
The National Heavy Vehicle Charging Pilot (NHVCP) is investigating fairer approaches to funding Australia's roads in the future, utilising on-road trials. NHVCP is aiming to test different ways of charging heavy vehicles for their road usage, based on vehicle weight and distance traveled.
Currently, charges are determined based on an annual registration fee and fuel excise (PAYGO). The National Pilot is exploring multiple Road User charging methods: one involves manual tracking using hub odometers and mock permits, while the other employs automated tracking through telematics and mock invoices.
The Government is collaborating with the industry to design these on-road trials. This collaboration allows the industry to contribute to shaping future policies.
Purpose of the trial
The central premise behind this trial is to leverage data sourced directly from heavy vehicle operators, aimed at informing and shaping decisions pertaining to road user charging strategies. This trial is also thoughtfully designed to encompass the collection of comprehensive information from over 1,000 trucks, spanning a duration of 12 months.
This robust and granular dataset, meticulously gathered, is slated to serve as the cornerstone for building a compelling body of evidence. This substantive body of evidence holds significant promise in guiding the formulation of comprehensive approaches for funding and charging road usage in the future.
Trial process
The proposed trial has been designed to assess and contrast various Road User Charging models tailored specifically for Heavy Vehicles, drawing a comparison with the established Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) system in place. This trial holds the primary objective of investigating alternative methodologies for charging heavy vehicle proprietors for their utilisation of road infrastructure. Through a meticulous examination of diverse concept of operational models, the trial endeavours to ascertain whether any of these models present superior benefits compared to the current system.
The goal of this trial is to identify a balanced and efficient approach that precisely mirrors the actual costs attributed to the usage of roads by heavy vehicles. This undertaking aligns with the commitment to ensure that road usage charges remain equitable and accurately reflect the impact and resource allocation needed for this significant sector of transportation.
National Pilot web application
The National Pilot's analytics systems provide a sophisticated solution for the efficient handling of vast and ongoing data generated from telematics devices. These systems are equipped with a robust analytics engine capable of automating complex calculations. The results of these computations are presented in the form of regular reports, dynamic dashboards, and other informative content.
Additionally, these systems play a pivotal role in analysing trip and vehicle data, enabling the generation of mock invoices based on the distance covered which are produced on a recurring basis and distributed to nominated users and recipients.billing.
Read more about: Key Concepts of the trial