Housing developments, renewable energy projects (wind farms and transmission lines), Queensland’s Olympic infrastructure, and critical mining and infrastructure projects across every state and territory rely heavily on cranes to progress efficiently and safely.
However, three key blockages prevent sectors that rely on cranes from achieving their productivity and safety goals: a shortage of skilled operators, inconsistent regulatory frameworks across jurisdictions and systems that hinder timely crane deployment and utilisation.
CICA is working to advocate for our members on these key issues by engaging with regulatory and government stakeholders.
Rover
The ROVER system was introduced as part of the Road Vehicle Standards Act, a framework designed to replace the Motor Vehicle Standards Act and modernise vehicle importation, certification, and compliance across Australia. ROVER is the department's online portal for applications and approvals under the Road Vehicle Standards (RVS) legislation.
In Australia, all road vehicles must be entered on the Register of Approved Vehicles (RAV) before being provided to a person for use in transport for the first time. If the vehicle is being imported, a RAV entry approval is taken to be an import approval. Vehciles that comply with ROVER requirements are approved to be entered on RAV.
Mobile cranes that are road vehicles and use the road network. Cranes that are floated to sites do not need to get ROVER approval for import purposes (i.e. crawler cranes, tower cranes).
The Australian Design Rules (ADRs) are national vehicle standards for vehicle safety, anti-theft and emissions. These standards apply to new vehicles manufactured in Australia and to imported new or second-hand vehicles being provided to the Australian market.
Even though mobile cranes are special purpose vehicles and are not used for freight purpose, they are categorised under heavy goods vehicle category NC. Generally speaking, mobile cranes need to comply with ADRs that are applicable to NC category vehicles.
Rough terrain cranes with front projection more than 5.5 meters, are classified as non-road vehicles. They do not need to comply with ADR requirements, but they do need to apply for an "advisory notice that a thing is not a road vehicle" in the ROVER system.
You can use the crane's VIN to check ROVER compliance at: https://www.rover.infrastructure.gov.au/RAVPublicSearch/
In some cases, when you are buying a used crane, the VIN will not be captured in the ROVER system as these cranes were imported prior to the Road Vehicle Standard Law comes in place. For these cranes, if it was previously registered with a State road authority, then they are deemed as comply with ROVER requirements. If the crane has never been registered with any road authorities before, the crane will need to show full compliance to ADRs through ROVER.
Refer to the guidance published by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts:
https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/department/media/publications/guide-spvs-concessional-rav-entry-approvals. If you are still requiring more assistance, please reach out to Alice Edwards.
The implementation of the Road Vehicle Regulator (ROVER) system under the Road Vehicle Standards Act 2018 (RVSA) presents unnecessary and detrimental barriers to the efficient importation of cranes.
While regulatory oversight is essential, the current ROVER framework imposes excessive bureaucratic obstacles, redundant compliance requirements, and unnecessary costs.
A key issue is the failure to recognise EU type-approvals under Regulation (EU) 2018/858 — a world-leading vehicle approval framework. This oversight places Australian businesses and consumers at a competitive disadvantage, as Australia remains the only country in the world to impose these additional, duplicative requirements.
- The recognition of EU Regulation 2018/858 as a benchmark for compliance under ROVER.
- The elimination of redundant testing and approvals, thereby reducing red tape and accelerating equipment availability.
- By enhancing international alignment, improving trade relations and ensuring Australian industry benefits from global advances.
These reforms would modernise vehicle standards regulation, support industrial productivity, and ensure that safety and compliance are achieved without unnecessary duplication.
NAAS
A nationally harmonised, automated road access system with a one-stop approval process for cranes and OSOM (oversize and overmass) vehicles to access roads and road assets
The current system is complex because it involves:
Multiple road managers: A single journey might require input from dozens of local councils and state road authorities, each with different rules, timeframes, and risk tolerances.
Delays in approvals: Councils often have no statutory timeframe to respond, causing significant delays, sometimes weeks or months.
Timeliness of response: Permit applications are often delayed unnecessarily while awaiting distribution to road managers for approval within the NHVR portal
No standardisation: Inconsistent decisions, documentation, and risk assessments across jurisdictions make national operations unpredictable and inefficient.
Duplicate systems: WA and NT are not under NHVR, requiring separate applications and compliance processes for national fleet operators.
Complex route planning: Operators must often plan around infrastructure that lacks adequate data on load limits, clearances, and turning paths.
The National Automated Access System (NAAS) formerly Heavy Vehicle Access Management System (HVAMS) has the potential to positively transform road access for cranes in Australia.
In states where it has been implemented, NAAS has improved access efficiency, enhanced safety, and significantly reduced administrative burdens for crane operators and logistics managers.
As a sector that depends heavily on reliable and timely road access for oversized, complex vehicles, the crane industry (and any industry that relies on cranes) stands to benefit immensely from a nationally harmonised rollout of NAAS.
Improved Access and Efficiency
NAAS provides automated, 24/7 road access decisions for crane operators—eliminating permit wait times and administrative bottlenecks.
Operators can receive instant access conditions for vehicles, even at 2:00 a.m. on a Sunday.
Vehicle parameters can be saved for future access, allowing quick repeat applications.
Increased Flexibility
Crane companies can generate multiple access codes for different crane configurations to suit unique site or lifting requirements.
Alternate setups can be trialled easily by adjusting vehicle parameters in the system.
Reduced Administrative Burden
Approximately 95% of Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) movements would no longer require individual permits, saving considerable paperwork and processing time.
A harmonised system across local and state networks benefits cross-border and interjurisdictional crane projects.
Enhanced Safety and Compliance
NAAS ensures all access decisions are underpinned by engineering assessments and asset capability.
Operators receive real-time, route-specific information to ensure safe passage and compliance with road standards.
Economic Benefits
Time delays from permit processing are largely avoided, boosting operational agility.
The system supports improved fleet utilisation, faster job turnaround, and reduced costs for crane operators and their clients.
Emergency response or urgent works can be supported more reliably due to instant route access.
Stress Reduction and Better Planning
Instant access outcomes reduce uncertainty and planning stress for drivers and dispatchers.
Enhanced ability to meet contractual timelines and client commitments with greater confidence.
Critical Occupation List
Crane operators play a pivotal role in supporting critical sectors such as construction, housing, mining, and renewable energy, which are fundamental to Australia’s infrastructure goals and economic growth. The ability to lift, move, and position heavy materials safely and with precision is critical to the success of complex projects.
Crane operations require a unique skill set due to the complex and demanding nature of the role. Operators must possess technical proficiency, including a deep understanding of various crane types, load charts, rigging techniques, and machinery maintenance. Exceptional hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness are essential for manoeuvring loads accurately and safely in tight spaces.
Safety is paramount, requiring a strong focus on risk management, quick problem-solving abilities, and adherence to strict protocols. These specialised skills make crane operators indispensable to safe and efficient lifting operations in Australian construction and industry.
The demand for crane operators is outpacing the current supply, creating challenges for industry stakeholders to deliver projects on time and maintain the high safety standards Australia is known for. By recognising this occupation as a priority, the government can address immediate industry needs while continuing to lay the groundwork for long-term workforce sustainability.
The crane industry is critical to Australia’s construction, infrastructure, renewables, mining, and logistics sectors. Its workforce is highly mobile, its operations inherently high-risk, and its regulatory landscape fragmented across jurisdictions.
To meet this demand, CICA urges both Federal and State governments to implement a dual approach: prioritising skilled migration to fill urgent vacancies while investing in local training and development programs to build a pipeline of qualified operators.
This strategy will ensure Australia has access to the talent it needs today while creating opportunities for Australians to meet future industry requirements.
CICA’s Submission to the Productivity Commission
CICA has lodged a detailed submission to the Productivity Commission’s Impacts of Heavy Vehicle Reform inquiry – a study examining how heavy vehicle policy reform can improve productivity, efficiency and safety across Australia’s road network.
CICA’s submission highlights how current heavy vehicle frameworks impact the crane industry and offers a suite of practical recommendations. Key points include:
The submission outlines how existing systems - particularly national permitting and access arrangements, impose administrative burdens, inconsistent conditions and delays that reduce productivity and increase costs for crane operations.
CICA argues that mobile cranes are often misclassified under current heavy vehicle categories. This has knock-on effects in international import compliance, local road access, and regulatory duplication. The submission calls for regulatory recognition that better reflects the specialised nature of cranes and aligns with reputable international standards, reducing red tape and enabling modernisation.
This strategy will ensure Australia has access to the talent it needs today while creating opportunities for Australians to meet future industry requirements.
A cornerstone of the submission is support for a National Automated Access System - a harmonised digital platform that would speed up route approvals, improve consistency across states and reduce delays that currently impact mobilisation and project delivery timelines.
This strategy will ensure Australia has access to the talent it needs today while creating opportunities for Australians to meet future industry requirements.
CICA’s submission frames these access and compliance challenges as a broader productivity drain, not just for individual crane businesses but for Australia’s infrastructure pipeline and economic competitiveness. By streamlining processes, facilitating access and modernising regulatory settings, the industry stands to become more efficient, responsive and safer overall.
