Dubbo opens up more roads to HML in a boon for trucking operators travelling to and from the area
August 1, 2011
Dubbo City Council has opened up more of its road network to higher mass limits in a boon for trucking operators travelling to and from the regional town.
The council has approved HML access to 10 local roads on its network. Eight transport operators have already applied seeking access, with the council saying it has approved one submission for a quad axle combination.
Dubbo is a key centre for HML access to other parts of NSW and the country, including Newcastle, Sydney, Victoria, Queensland, the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia.
Mayor Allan Smith says the council has a policy of supporting HML vehicles and performance based standards as long as the roads can support them.
He says HML and quad axle vehicles have lifted efficiency for the likes of livestock carriers, bulk and general freight operators, those hauling quarried gravel and trucks carting liquefied petroleum gas.
“Council’s decisions mean that HML and quad axle transport operators on these approved routes can achieve significant reductions in fuel consumption and environmental emissions. A reduction in the number of truck trips is also achievable for these transport tasks,” Smith says.
Operators seeking HML access must be enrolled in the Intelligent Access Program (IAP), which requires trucks to be fitted with GPS to track their movements.