Labor is rolling out new technology that is slashing costs and boosting productivity for freight operators.

The new Heavy Vehicle Structural Assessment Permit System (HVSAPS) is eliminating the need for most manual bridge and culvert assessments.

The technology is dramatically reducing wait times – cutting approval times from up to six months to days.

It’s also slashing costs that can reach up to $30,000 for manual assessments.

More than 60 per cent of assessments are now completed within 30 minutes at no cost to operators.

Before the system was introduced, engineers would manually undertake around 1,000 bridge and culvert assessments every year.

Already, the HVSAPS has processed more than 4,000 assessments – boosting efficiencies by 300 per cent.

Where some manual assessments are required, cases are returned within five business days – compared to up to three months before the new technology was introduced.

It is expected that 95 per cent of assessments will be fully automated by September.

The HVSAPS is an initiative of the Labor Government’s Business Acceleration Fund.

Only Labor has new solutions that will make life easier and more affordable for freight operators.

Victoria’s freight sector contributes more than $36 billion to the economy every year and supports around 240,000 jobs.