About the Revised Class 1 Heavy Vehicle Access Regime Program
A new Class 1 heavy vehicle access regime is being developed by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR).
The new access regime aims to improve safe and sustainable access to TMR roads and structures for all road users by managing risks associated with Class 1 heavy vehicles.
We are working with industry to deliver the following benefits:
- industry access to the network in a safe and sustainable way
- improved systems and processes for managing Class 1 heavy vehicle access
- increased transparency and certainty about access
- better supported decision making by the road asset owner.
Types of Class 1 heavy vehicles relative to this program
Class 1 heavy vehicles in this program include:
- Class 1 Oversize Overmass (OSOM) load carrying vehicles designed for the purpose of carrying a large indivisible item including:
- prime mover and low loader trailer combinations greater than 59.5 tonnes
- prime mover and load platform trailer combinations greater than 59.5 tonnes
- Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) including mobile cranes and Department of Defence SPVs.
We have focused on these Class 1 heavy vehicles first to implement into the new vehicle access regime. This is because while Class 1 heavy vehicles represent less than 1% of all heavy vehicle movements on our state-controlled road network, from a structural engineering perspective, these vehicles pose the greatest risk to our bridges due to their higher mass and load configuration.
Note: The Multi-State Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle Mass Exemption Notice vehicles are not in scope, neither are Class 1 Agricultural Vehicles.
When the new regime will come into effect
The new heavy vehicle access regime is being implemented in 2 stages:
- Stage 1 – Class 1 load carrying OSOM vehicles including low loaders and load platform trailers greater than 59.5 tonnes (expected to be included in 2025).
- Stage 2 – Class 1 Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) mobile cranes and Department of Defence vehicles. We expect to start implementation of these vehicles into the new regime soon after Stage 1 is completed.
Working with industry groups
We are collaborating with the first of 2 industry working groups representing operators of different types of Class 1 heavy vehicles. The groups are:
- Load Carrying Vehicles Industry Working Group.
- Special Purpose Vehicles Industry Working Group.
Group members will take part to help identify any issues or opportunities influencing the program's delivery and to co-design a new Class 1 heavy vehicle access regime.
Load Carrying Vehicles Industry Working Group
The Load Carrying Vehicles Industry Working Group representatives are:
- Anthony Arndt, Express Cargo Services
- Richard Bowles, Peter Tippett Haulage
- Jeremy Bennett, JBS Heavy Haulage
- Kelsey Belton-Smith, Hi-Quality Heavy Haulage
- Woody Scott, National Heavy Haulage Pty Ltd
- Shane Warmus, Heavy Haulage Assets
- Jacinta Goode, Sarina Crane Hire
- Tanya Gilbert, Australia Wide Heavy Vehicle Permits
- Shaun Tull, Bower's Heavy Haulage
- Robert Campbell, Southern Cross Heavy Haulage.
This working group is underway. Working with the group helps us consider the perspectives and expertise of all parties so that the co-design for the new access regime will:
- be comprehensive and robust
- meet the evolving needs of TMR, road managers and industry users for low loader and load platform combinations.
These 5 principles for a successful new access regime have been established by the group: consistency, timeliness, certainty, transparency, and customer focus.
Special Purpose Vehicles Industry Working Group
We expect to call for nominations for this working group in mid-2025.