The IAP was developed by Australian Governments in response to current and emerging policy challenges, including:

• A growing population, public and private transport and freight task
• Constrained infrastructure budgets, being impacted by an ever increasing maintenance demand, including in urban areas a declining ability to build new infrastructure
• Expectations of increased and unrestrained mobility of people, goods and assets including, pressure from the road transport industry to permit operation of larger, heavier vehicles
• Community expectations about the use, availability and 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 small rigid trucks. Along with freight issues, Australia is facing challenges in:

• Road safety through the interaction of people, vehicles and infrastructure
• Increasing traffic congestion resulting from the interaction of demand and lack of capacity in the movement of people, goods and assets
• Sustainability and environmental impact in managing greenhouse emissions
• 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 Intelligent Access Program - Overview Guideline provides a brief explanation of the IAP, and the role of program participants.

Benefits

The ability of the Intelligent Access Program (IAP) to accurately monitor vehicle compliance provides a new set of opportunities for road authorities and the road transport industry to optimise heavy vehicle operations in terms of safety, efficiency and productivity.

Benefits to Transport Operators

The IAP is a powerful tool available to transport operators to negotiate improved road access. The IAP provides an opportunity for transport operators to achieve productivity gains, better turnaround times and increased profits. It also creates the possibility for a transport operator to develop an advantage over competitors. If a transport operator is enrolled in the IAP and a direct competitor is not, the enrolled operator may be able to deliver a better service to their customers.

Benefits to Government and Road Agencies

The IAP gives road authorities a means to better manage transport obligations for the growing transport demands. The IAP provides for more productive and compliant heavy vehicle operations that promote sustainable road infrastructure, improve road safety and reduce environmental effects. The IAP will help to reduce damage to the road infrastructure and allow road agencies to focus their enforcement activities in more efficient areas and with greater flexibility.

Benefits to Freight Owners

Freight owners are increasingly relying on the IAP to fulfil their obligations under the Chain of Responsibility legislation. With the IAP, freight owners have the assurance that their transport operators are complying at all times with the conditions set by relevant road agencies.

Benefits to the Telematics Industry

The TCA National Telematics Framework which the IAP is built upon provides a platform for telematics companies and service providers to impact upon the market by developing software and hardware systems specifically geared  towards monitoring compliance. The IAP facilitates the development of current and next generation telematics solutions and offers whole new possibilities for telematics products.

IAP Service Providers can offer a variety of additional telematics services to their clients.

The TCA Certification of IAP Symbol is a symbol of quality assurance - allowing telematics companies to complement their business offering and exploit marketing opportunities.

Companies certified as IAP Service Providers can utilise the TCA Certification Symbol to market their IAP services.