Access to PBS mass limits for truck and trailer combinations
This discussion paper examines if the efficiencies delivered by the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) can be supplemented by a ‘prescriptive’ design for six or seven-axle truck and trailer combinations that meets the safety and infrastructure standards of the Performance Based Standards (PBS) scheme. This may allow a number of truck and trailer combinations not currently registered under PBS, but which meet PBS standards, to travel with increased mass limits. This would give access to PBS-equivalent productivity benefits without the administrative time and costs currently incurred by industry and government. For this to occur it is necessary to establish that a prescriptive design can be developed without compromising vehicle safety and performance. Designing, developing, assessing and constructing new high-productivity vehicles to comply with PBS incurs significant cost and time. PBS-compliant truck-trailer combinations can operate with up to 20 per cent higher payloads than conventional truck and trailer combinations. However, the time, cost and complexity of obtaining access to the road network through the PBS process can dissuade some operators from using the scheme and high-productivity vehicles. Some of the barriers to participation in the PBS scheme have been resolved with the introduction of the HVNL. The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is able to process PBS applications. Some administrative improvements have been instituted and participating states and territories can better advise where the PBS vehicles can have access to their road networks. The development of truck and dog trailer PBS-approved blueprints by manufacturers has made it easy for operators to purchase ‘off the shelf’ six and seven-axle truck and trailer combinations.
- Record URL:
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Corporate Authors:
National Transport Commission (NTC)
Level 15, 628 Bourke Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
Melbourne, Victoria -
Authors:
- Kannan, S
- Publication Date: 2014-8
Language
- English
Media Info
- Pagination: 28p
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Economic efficiency; Heavy vehicles; Legislation; Regulations; Trucks by number of axles; Vehicle safety
- Geographic Terms: Australia
- ATRI Terms: Axle configuration; Efficiency; Heavy vehicle; Legislation; Performance based standard (PBS); Vehicle regulations; Vehicle safety
- Subject Areas: Law; Motor Carriers;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01537376
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: ARRB
- Files: ATRI
- Created Date: Sep 12 2014 9:51AM