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IAP: Part of the future freight task solution
Tuesday 25 September 2007
The Intelligent Access Program (IAP) is moving steadily towards its IAP Goes Live phase scheduled for later this year, with the first wave of applicants currently working towards achieving certification as IAP Service Providers.
That was one of the messages Mr Steve Golding, Transport Certification Australia Limited (TCA) Chairperson, had for the audience during his presentation at Freight Outlook, part of Freight Week 2007 in Melbourne.
Mr Golding was speaking on the role of the IAP in addressing the future freight task. He said achieving certification of a number of applicants was important for TCA.
“That is a very important requirement for us, to actually have a competitive market amongst IAP Service Providers in the transport industry,” Mr Golding said.
In examining the role of the IAP in the future, Mr Golding outlined a number of potential uses for IAP technology.
These included:
- TCA’s current trailer interoperability and on-board mass monitoring projects
- the potential to assist in the implementation of Performance Based Standards (PBS) for freight vehicles
- a tool to address chain of responsibility issues
Mr Golding said the IAP had an important role to play in facilitating the management of Australia’s growing freight task.
“It’s not the sole solution, but it is certainly an important part. It’s about developing efficient policies to manage the increasing movement of freight in Australia,” he said.
Mr Golding said the IAP should provide a better environment for relationships within the industry – allowing regulators, jurisdictions and the industry to come together in a more focused way.
“The IAP gives us a better opportunity to match the load to the road.”
More IAP at Freight Week 2007
In the Urban and Regional Freight sessions, John Baring, TCA National Manager Government Relations, discussed opportunities for local governments to use the IAP to better manage local road access.
While not suitable for all situations, where it was appropriate, Mr Baring told the audience, the IAP would enable greater capacity to be extracted out of the road network.
Mr Baring also underlined Mr Golding’s message that certification of IAP service providers would commence later this year, and emphasised the importance TCA places on achieving a smooth transition to the IAP.
“Importantly, we are working very closely with the industry, with the state and territory road authorities – and would be delighted to do the same with local government – to ensure that the implementation of the IAP is as smooth and efficient as possible,” Mr Baring said. “This is about being part of the solution and not creating problems.”
Mr Baring also announced a representative of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) had joined the IAP Jurisdiction Liaison Group (JLG). Facilitated by TCA, the JLG consists of road authority officers who will implement and operate the IAP in their respective state or territory.
Trailer Interoperability & On-board Mass Monitoring
Presentations on the current findings of TCA’s Interoperability of Trailer Monitoring Devices study were made by Dr Chris Blanksby from ARRB and Shaun Talko, TCA Senior Operations Engineer. Dr Charles Karl presented the latest findings of TCA’s study into On-Board Vehicle Mass Monitoring.
In the case of both projects, which represent possible future applications for IAP technology, the presenters emphasised the need for further transport industry feedback in taking the studies to the next level.
The current report for each study, together with their respective request for comment documents, can be found on the TCA website.
IAP on display
Visitors to Freight Week also had the opportunity to visit the IAP exhibit, where TCA staff were on hand to provide information about the IAP and a variety of publications were available, including TCA’s recently released 2007/2008 Statement of Corporate Intent IAP Goes Live.
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