Cameras to catch rogue truck operators

TRUCK drivers are on notice as a system capable of measuring speed, and the length, width and weight of trucks is now operating between Little River and Werribee.

Cameras mounted on a gantry over the Princes Freeway Melbourne-bound will be used to profile truck drivers, verify their driving logs and to identify rogue operators, VicRoads says.

But they won’t be used to fine road users for speeding or other road rule breaches.

VicRoads Heavy Vehicle Services manager Russell Greenland said data and pictures from the system would be available within an hour to staff, and could be used for crash investigations and prosecutions.

“It’s all about data collection and identifying the worst of the worst,” Mr Greenland said. “We knew trucks were overweight but now we will be able to see who they are.”

The $400,000 system will focus on vehicles that weigh more than four tonnes and will aid VicRoads enforcement officers.

The system uses a fixed point-to-point laser to count, classify and measure the speed of passing vehicles while Weigh in Motion (WIM) devices in a culvert under the road weigh axle loads.

The laser and the WIM devices are located about 30m from the camera gantry.

About 3000 heavy vehicles each day pass the cameras.

Mr Greenland said the system, which uses automatic numberplate recognition, would allow staff to set alerts for trucks or other vehicles that are known offenders and monitor the Princes Freeway right-lane truck ban.

Mr Greenland said the system would be used to lift trucking companies’ compliance with safety standards.

The importance of the cameras was shared with transport industry representatives at a Victorian Transport Association forum at the Geelong Yacht Club yesterday.

Companies breaching truck width, length or height limits or load restraint requirements face a $3224 fine.