About the Intelligent Access Program
The Intelligent Access Program (IAP) is the ‘third generation of access’ to the Australian road network complementing 'general and restricted access' with ‘Intelligent’ Access.
The IAP is a voluntary program which provides heavy vehicles with access, or improved access, to the Australian road network in return for monitoring of compliance with specific access conditions by vehicle telematics solutions.
This is a much-needed reform and Transport Certification Australia Limited (TCA) will continue working closely with jurisdictions, government departments, IAP Service Providers, telematic providers and the transport industry to further enhance the IAP and to ensure its on-going success.
Why is IAP needed?
The IAP is an Australian Transport Council reform and has been developed at a time when the Australian road network is facing increasing problems. These include:
- a growing population, transport and freight task
- constrained road budgets
- pressure from the road transport industry to permit operation of larger, heavier vehicles
- community expectations about the safety of the road network
Increases in freight volumes have been higher than truck travel growth rates because of the trend towards larger trucks and higher payloads. Heavier articulated trucks are replacing smaill rigid trucks. Along with freight issues, Australia is facing challenges in:
- road safety through the interaction of people, vehicles and infrastructure
- increasing traffic congestions resulting from the interaction of demand and lack of capacity in the movement of people, freight and services
- sustainability and environmental impact
- security and associated responses in transport
Whilst traditional reforms have served Australia well, authorities require smart solutions to move forward. The IAP is an effective, efficient, non-intrusive approach that delivers unparalleled assurance and productivity gains.
One of the many benefits of the IAP is its ability to accurately monitor compliance. In turn, road authorities and the road transport industry will have new opportunities to optimise vehicle operations safely, efficiently and productively. Another important feature of the IAP is its ability to combine regulatory and commercial fleet management services.
The Transport Operator and Driver Guideline provides more information on how the program works and the roles and responsibilities of the main participants.
Sustainable setting of the IAP
The IAP provides a nationally agreed platform to support the current and future telematics business needs of governments. This ensures that the public and private benefits of the IAP can be realised.
The IAP provides a nationally agreed and industry compatible:
Policy and Regulatory Framework
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national legislative framework
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provision of a framework, where the IAP administered by TCA as the policy-taker is separate to the use or application delivered by the Member/Jurisdication (i.e. the policy-maker)
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the 'separation-of-powers' permits policy development across multiple spheres independently of the service delivery
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nationally recognised certification service
Functional and Technical Platform
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an open approach (performance based) to functional and technical solutions as long as the output oriented specification is met
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leveraging existing standards
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evidentiary level technical provision
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promotion of innovation
Operational Environment
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public/private business outcome
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modular based so enhancements can be relatively easily accommodated
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provision of a single in-vehicle box supporting both regulatory and commercial applications
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the monitoring of vehicular parameters and not hard-wired to a specific use or application
Commercial Setting
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commercialised service offerings
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affordable and deliverable within the Australian environment
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risks are allocated to the party best to deal with and accommodate the risk
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designed to be self-sufficient subject to the number of IAP vehicles