HMV Categorisation of defects

Walkaround - visual inspection

February 2008

Full version available in PDF (872 KB)

Preamble

The NZ Police (CVIU), Land Transport NZ, the Road Transport Forum, the Heavy Haulage Association and the Bus and Coach Association have all been involved in the preparation of this inspection guide.

Section 115 of the Land Transport Act 1998 empowers enforcement officers to direct that a vehicle must not be used on a road. The following are guidelines to assist with the more consistent application of the section.

• This aid has been developed to assist enforcement officers in determining ‘in’ or ‘out’ of service criteria for vehicles found with defects at a roadside inspection.
• The pass/fail criteria differ from those applied to the vehicle at the time of certificate of fitness (CoF) inspections. The walk-around may not include physically climbing under a vehicle.
• It applies criteria, which will assist in consistency of application when assessing if a vehicle is safe to continue after a visual walk-around inspection.
• Depending on fault/s identified, and the particular circumstances, an out-of-service order may be issued, with the accompanying pink or green sticker, both requiring the issue of a new CoF. Under new legislation, an enforcement officer may issue a green (2) sticker with an instruction to repair or rectify the fault/s to be carried out within a specified time. A new CoF is not required if a green 2 sticker is issued. Instead the operator must prove to the enforcement officer that faults have been rectified.
• Failure to comply with the instruction on an offence notice to repair or rectify the fault/s, and to notify the officer that the faults have been remedied, may result in prosecution
• The driver is to be advised the level of assessment prior to commencement of the inspection, eg walk-around or comprehensive.

Interpretation

*Loose – Visually or can be moved without the aid of a tool
*Codes – QP (Qualifies for Pink)
*Codes – QG (Qualified for Green)

Discretionary equipment

• Checking of towing connections with the appropriate equipment (go – no go gauge) is discretionary.
  Note: If the trailer is disconnected it is to be made clear to the driver that it is his/her responsibility to ensure a safe re-coupling before moving off.
• Use of the ‘heat gun’ for assessing brake drum temperatures is discretionary – should it be decided to carry out this check then the procedure laid down in the Induction manual – Appendix 4.5 (page 339) must be adhered to.

Last updated: 20 February 2008