There are three ways in which a Heavy Vehicle Certifying Engineer (HVCE) becomes involved in the certification of heavy vehicles. Note: Some heavy vehicle manufacturers have their own certifying engineers
1. Repair
Something needs to be repaired on a heavy vehicle following a Certificate of Fitness (CoF) inspection. The owner will be issued a notice outlining where the repair is required, and a completed LT400 certificate will be requested for the certification of the completed repair. The vehicle owner may approach a suitable repair workshop in the first instance to undertake the repair work and they will engage a certifier on behalf of their customer, or the vehicle owner may directly engage a Heavy Vehicle Certifying Engineer to oversee the repair and issue an LT400 to certify the completed repair.
2. Compliance
An owner is aware that a component on their heavy vehicle must be certified/recertified, or this is brought to their attention at a Certificate of Fitness (CoF) inspection. A Heavy Vehicle Certifying Engineer is then needed to certify/recertify the component as compliant with required standards. This may involve further steps that need to be taken in order for certification/recertification to be completed and a new LT400 produced.
3. Design and Modification
The owner of a heavy vehicle wishes to have modifications undertaken, or to design new components for their vehicle which change part, or all, of the structure or layout of their vehicle. The vehicle owner must first contact a Heavy Vehicle Certifying Engineer who needs to be involved in the design and to oversee the work and a heavy vehicle engineering workshop to undertake the work.
Certification Categories
Check out what is covered under the various Certification Categories to help you find a certifier who can best advise you and/or do the work you require.
Steps in Heavy Vehicle Certification
- The certifying engineer must conduct a visual inspection of the vehicle BEFORE any structural work has been undertaken. They will take measurements, draw a sketch, record the owner’s details, and often take photographs during this inspection, and consider the task from a professional perspective
- They will then conduct necessary calculations, analysis and research to determine what needs to be, and/or can be done
- They will provide design instructions, drawings and specifications to the transport engineer/company to undertake the repairs/modifications within required safety standards and rules
- They will often inspect the vehicle whilst the work is in progress
- The certifying engineer MUST PERSONALLY reinspect the vehicle and alterations AFTER completion of the repairs/modifications to ensure that the work was undertaken to the specifications and standards required
- When satisfied with the work that has been undertaken, he/she will issue an LT400 which certifies the repair/modification as being complete and up to required standards
- The certifying engineer will upload details from the completed LT400 to the NZ Transport Agency Landata computer records system. A copy will be given/emailed to the owner, and also to the testing station where appropriate. If the original LT400 certificate is issued directly to the owner instead, it is the owner’s responsibility to present it to a CoF testing station to upload to Landata
- The owner may deal directly with the certifying engineer, or a repair agent may contact a certifying engineer on behalf of their client
