The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) has called for changes to the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) to allow general access to the road network for taller trucks.
It wants to see 4.6 metre high trucks allowed access without the need for notices or permits, with the current height limit set at 4.3 metres.
ATA CEO Mathew Munro says that increasing heights would increase productivity across the trucking industry and remove the need for operators to apply for more than 1000 permits a year.
“National Transport Commission analysis shows it would save the industry $95,000 per year in permit fees and deliver time savings worth $91,000 per year,” he says.
“It would also deliver a productivity boost for operators that transport bulky products like retail and refrigerated goods.”
The ATA is aware of concerns around increased risk of overheight incidents, but says that can be managed through the use of signage, enforcement and targeted awareness campaigns.
“Our 4.3 metre high trucks must already navigate the many road structures that are less than 4.3 metres high,” Munro says.
“Plus, there are already standard vehicles such as car carriers, livestock trucks and some containers that routinely move around the network at 4.6 metres in height.
“The low prevalence of strikes across the tens of thousands of truck movements every single day demonstrates that operators can manage this risk safely.
“In higher risk or higher consequence situations, targeted awareness campaigns are very effective.
“For example, strong collaboration between Road Freight NSW, the NHVR, Transport for NSW, police and the TWU achieved a dramatic fall in incidents involving overheight trucks in the Sydney tunnel network. There were only four overheight incidents in November 2023, compared to 25 in November 2022.
“We ask every government using the HVNL to agree to the reform so Australia and the trucking industry can benefit, even if they decide to derogate from the law in their own state.”
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