The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has announced that CEO Sal Petroccitto OAM will step down on January 24, 2025, concluding more than a decade of impactful leadership. Under his guidance, NHVR has grown into a respected national body, driving safety and productivity reforms across Australia’s heavy vehicle industry.
NHVR Chair, the Hon. Duncan Gay AM, expressed deep appreciation for Petroccitto’s contributions. “On behalf of the NHVR Board, staff, and the road transport industry, I want to share my sincere thanks to Sal for his outstanding dedication and passion in championing better outcomes for the safety and livelihood of the heavy vehicle industry and all road users,” Gay said.
Gay highlighted Petroccitto’s success in establishing a modern regulatory approach that promotes trust and respect within the industry. He noted Petroccitto’s “no-nonsense and practical approach in ‘saying it as it is,'” which played a key role in building partnerships and fostering industry trust. This approach has been pivotal in transitioning state-based regulatory functions under the NHVR, leading to consistent enforcement and education outcomes across the sector.
“Sal’s legacy includes genuine behavioral changes and an improved safety culture, achieved through his ‘inform, educate, and enforce’ approach to compliance,” Gay added. This foundation has fostered overwhelmingly positive sentiments from transport operators, drivers, and NHVR staff alike.
With a nationwide recruitment process set to begin shortly, NHVR will seek a successor to carry forward Petroccitto’s vision of an effective and trusted national regulatory body.
Petroccitto’s departure marks the end of a distinguished chapter for the NHVR, but his legacy of improved safety measures and dedication to compliance leaves the organisation well-positioned to address the evolving needs of the heavy vehicle industry.
