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Phase 3 of the National Heavy Vehicle Charging Pilot commenced in March 2024 and recently concluded. This phase tested a road user charging model based on mass, distance and location, with road user charge data collected via telematics devices.
The telematics provider for Phase 3 was Air Brake Corporation of Australia Pty Ltd (Air Brake), and Air Brake worked with selected participants to install telematics devices on heavy vehicles. The Phase 3 third-party invoicing provider was InLoop/Nuonic. Inloop logged trip activity and analysed trip data to calculate different charges for 'mock' invoices issued to participants. This data is stored securely and was used solely to create a 'mock' invoice for each participant. The 'mock' invoices were provided to participants each month, enabling participants to compare current road user charges with the alternative road user charging model.
The 'mock' invoice outlined possible charges based on mass, distance and location under the alternative charging model, as well as providing charges under the current road user charging model for comparison purposes. It is important to note this was a test and the rates may not be the actual rates that would be used in an alternative road user charging framework. Any decisions made by governments to move to a new way to charge heavy vehicles would be informed by the results of the trials and undertaken in consultation with industry.