Ban on truck brake noise

Courier Mail
November 19, 2007

TRUCK muffler businesses should boom in the wake of a clampdown on engine brake noise that has been approved unanimously by the Australian Transport Council.

National Transport Commission safety spokesman Tim Eaton said engine braking noise on heavy vehicles fitted with worn, defective or inferior mufflers had been a community concern for some time.

"During consultation, the community broadly supported the regulation, while the trucking industry's views ensured that it is practical and targets only the small number of operators who do the wrong thing," he said ...

Eaton said trucks fitted with purpose-designed mufflers in good condition were reasonably quiet in any case, and would not be impacted by the new regulation.

"Noise problems emerge when mufflers deteriorate or are replaced with an inferior product, so fixing the problem is as easy as replacing the muffler," he added.

"Once it has been implemented by that states and territories, this regulation will help to ensure a minority of noisy vehicles do not result in community-led truck curfews and restrictions, which could impact on productivity."

The development of a national regulation and enforcement technology involved government and industry and was unanimously supported by the Environment Protection and Heritage Council ...

The Regulatory Impact Statement can be seen at the NTC website www.ntc.gov.au: here and here.

From NTC's website:

Title: Regulation to manage engine brake noise approved
Article Date: 13 Nov 2007

An in-service standard to manage engine brake noise has been approved unanimously by the Australian Transport Council (ATC)

The loud ‘bark’ caused by engine brakes on heavy vehicles fitted with worn, defective or inferior mufflers has been a community concern for some time, yet, until now, it has remained unregulated.

National Transport Commission (NTC) General Manager Safety & Environment Tim Eaton said the development of a national regulation and enforcement technology has been a collaborative effort involving government and industry ...