Heavy vehicles (any vehicles with a gross vehicles mass over 3,500 kg) including trucks, larger trailers, motor homes and buses, legally require inspection and a Certificate of Fitness (CoF) every six months to ensure the vehicle meets required safety standards (See Waka Kotahi (NZTA) to find the standards and requirements that apply to your vehicle).

Inspections for Certificates of Fitness for heavy vehicles are conducted at Waka Kotahi (NZTA) approved testing stations such as the Automobile Association (AA), Vehicle Inspection New Zealand (VINZ) or Vehicle Testing New Zealand (VTNZ).

If, as a result of an inspection you need to have some repairs or alterations done, or the testing agent requires certification for some aspect of the vehicle, or you are planning on designing a new component or modifying your vehicle in some way, you need to contact a Heavy Vehicle Specialist Certifier (HVSC).

There are two kinds of HVSC. Heavy Vehicle Certifying Engineers (HVCE) and Heavy Vehicle Manufacturing Certifiers (HVMC). HVMC work with particular manufacturing companies. See TTMF

NB: Most light vehicles require Warrants of Fitness (WoF) every six months. If your vehicle requires a WoF and you need to have some repairs or alterations done, or the testing agent requires certification for some aspect of the vehicle, you need to contact a Light Vehicle Certifier. Modifications are certified by a Low Volume Vehicle Certifier (LVV). Repairs are certified by a Light Motor Vehicle Repair Certifier.

 

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Finding a certifier with the certification category you need

Heavy Vehicle Certification Categories

There are different certification categories and each individual certifying engineer must pass examination in a category or categories before being authorised to certify heavy vehicles for that particular type of work. See below for a list of heavy vehicle certification categories and the work involved in each.

When you know the certification category related to the component and/or task you need, you can visit the Waka Kotahi (NZTA) website here for a comprehensive list of Heavy Vehicle Specialist Certifiers (HVSC) authorised to conduct this work.

CERTIFICATION CATEGORY  COMPONENTS COVERED
HVEC  CHASSIS AND BODY MODIFICATIONS AND REPAIRS:
Chassis and Wheelbase Extensions/Shortening etc.
Chassis and Suspension Modifications
Chassis Rust Repairs
Design of New Chassis and Ratings
Mounting of Cranes and Other Equipment
Seat and Seatbelt Anchorages
PSV Rollover Strength and Stability
HVEA  LOAD ANCHORAGES:
Chain Hooks
Rope Rails
Twist Locks/Chain Plates etc.
HVEL  LOG BOLSTER ATTACHMENTS:
Logging Bolster Attachments, Modifications and Repairs
HVET  TOWING CONNECTIONS:
Drawbars
Drawbeams
Towbars
5th Wheel Assemblies (Tractors)
Kingpin Assembly (Semi-Trailer)
HVEK  BRAKE RULE CERTIFICATION:
Heavy Vehicle Brake System Design and Modifications
HVS1  STATIC ROLL THRESHOLD (SRT1):
Vehicle Stability – Basic Vehicle Arrangements/Shapes
(Flat Decks, Stock Crates, Tankers, Bath Tubs – with generic suspensions)
HVS2  STATIC ROLL THRESHOLD (SRT2):
Vehicle Stability – Complex Vehicle Arrangements/Shapes
(Transporters, Grain Trailers etc., … or with specifically defined suspensions)
Overweight Permits for Import/Export Containers
HVS3  STATIC ROLL THRESHOLD (SRT3):
Vehicle Stability – Practical Test of Performance using an authorised tiltbed or computer simulation
HVP1  SWEPT PATH 1:
Swept Path Certification provides exemptions from: travel time restrictions requirement to be escorted by a Class 2 Pilot Vehicle requirement to be escorted by a Class 1 Pilot Vehicle
HVP2  SWEPT PATH 2:
Dynamic Vehicle Performance (PBS) analysis for proposed High Productivity Vehicles, either new proforma or bespoke designs

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What is an LT400?

An LT400 is the NZ Transport Agency certificate that a Heavy Vehicle Specialist Certifier issues upon completion of repair/modification work.

It contains:

  • Heavy Vehicle Inspector’s (Certifier’s) Name & ID
  • Vehicle Identifiers (Reg. No. & VIN / Chassis No.)
  • Certification Category
  • Description of Work (Repair, modification and/or component descriptions)
  • Code or Standard to which the component has been certified
  • Component Load Rating
  • Reference to Supporting Documentation
  • Any Special Conditions
  • Certification Expiry Date or Hubometer Reading (if applicable)
  • Heavy Vehicle Inspector’s (Certifier’s) Signature & Date

The LT400 is used to demonstrate certification to the CoF Agent and subsequently to Waka Kotahi (NZTA) that the work was undertaken and completed to the required standard(s).

Generally, the Heavy Vehicle Certifier uploads details from the completed LT400 to the NZ Transport Agency Landata computer records system, retains the original LT400 certificate and gives/emails a copy to the owner, and also to the testing station where appropriate. However, if the Heavy Vehicle Certifier issues the original LT400 certificate to the vehicle owner, the owner must immediately present it to a CoF Testing Agent to upload to Landata.

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