A series of free and highly practical “Roadworthy Heavy Vehicles… Made Easy!” workshops are heading to the South Australian regions this August — offering producers the chance to boost safety, compliance, and confidence when it comes to operating heavy vehicles pre and post farmgate.

Grain Producers SA (GPSA), in partnership with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), is delivering another round of its popular heavy vehicle workshops, funded by the NHVR’s Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative. These workshops will be held in Jamestown, Kadina, Naracoorte, Murray Bridge and Loxton next month. Each event is open to grain producers and all Primary Producers SA (PPSA) commodity group members who own and operate their own heavy vehicles.

The workshop program is designed to take the complexity out of vehicle compliance by giving producers a clear understanding of their obligations - including road safety awareness, maintenance responsibilities – and how to use the NHVR Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual as a practical tool.

The GPSA run sessions will be delivered by Bernie O’Hara from National Transport Consulting, who brings decades of transport safety knowledge and will walk producers through both the regulatory requirements and the common pitfalls that catch operators out.

GPSA Chief Executive Officer Brad Perry said the workshops are about putting producers in control of their road safety obligations.

“We want to make it as easy as possible for grain producers and other commodity group members to get their heavy vehicle compliance right,” Mr Perry said.

“This initiative is about more than ticking boxes. It’s about ensuring your vehicles are safe, your business is protected, and your team can operate with peace of mind. We know compliance can sometimes feel like a moving target - this program helps bring it into focus.

“GPSA is proud to once again partner with NHVR on this initiative, and we’re grateful to the local mechanics who are providing their time and expertise to support our workshops.”

In addition to the theory and practical sessions, each producer who attends will be eligible for one free roadworthy inspection following the workshop with a participating local mechanic. Places for these inspections are limited and must be booked through GPSA following the event.

Workshop attendees will gain insight into:

• The NHVR Heavy Vehicle Inspection Manual and how it applies to farming businesses
• Key heavy vehicle and road safety risks and how to proactively address them
• The legal obligations for heavy vehicle owners and operators
• Steps to improve maintenance record-keeping and inspection readiness
• Advice on how to navigate the Heavy Vehicle Portal, called ‘NHVRGo’

Post the event, all participating producers will be eligible for one free heavy vehicle roadworthy inspection with the workshop's participating mechanic.

The confirmed workshop schedule is as follows:

• Jamestown – 12 August at Kelly Bros Toyota REGISTER HERE
• Kadina – 13 August at Emmetts Kadina REGISTER HERE
• Naracoorte – 19 August at Tatiara Truck and Trailer REGISTER HERE
• Murray Bridge – 20 August at Moore Mechanical REGISTER HERE
• Loxton – 21 August at Max’s Mechanical Workshop REGISTER HERE

Places are limited and early registration is encouraged. Producers can register for their preferred session and express interest in the post-event inspection via www.grainproducerssa.com.au

This program is made possible by support from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative Program through the Australian Government.