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South Australian trial reduces OSOM permits

Three OSOM trials on South Australian freight routes will lower the number of heavy vehicles access permits required in the state

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has announced a new win for productivity in the transport industry, with South Australia streamlining its oversize overmass (OSOM) permits required on key routes.

Alongside state and local governments in SA, the NHVR has delivered the three OSOM trial notices to provide heavy vehicle productivity support, making movements more efficient.

The OSOM trial notices replace the need for the heavy vehicle industry to apply for permits on certain key routes.

South Australian infrastructure and transport minister Koutsantonis is pleased to see the changes come into effect after asking the NHVR to reduce heavy vehicle access permits in SA.

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“Streamlining heavy vehicle access by transitioning permits to notices will allow operators to travel more efficiently, and I thank the NHVR for their enthusiastic response to improve access to routes subject to multiple heavy vehicle access permits,” Koutsantonis says.

“This announcement is part one of a multi-stage plan to drastically reduce the need for thousands of heavy vehicle permits in South Australia.

“These outcomes show how the NHVR and state and local government are listening to industry about what needs to be done to continue to achieve improved heavy vehicle safety and productivity outcomes.”

NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto OAM says the new OSOM trial notices would allow access to load carrying vehicles with greater mass and dimension limits than previously authorised.

“What this will mean is a more streamlined process for operators, with larger and heavier movements of indivisible loads now either requiring no permit, or consent from less road managers than before,” he says.

“I’d like to thank Minister Koutsantonis for his continued support of the heavy vehicle industry, and his recognition of the important contribution it makes to the South Australian economy and the communities.”

Over the next 12 months, the NHVR, the South Australian Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) and other participating road managers will assess how effective the trial notices have been in supporting heavy vehicle productivity and safety.

Future stages of the multi-stage plan will focus on reviewing South Australia’s Performance-Based Standards (PBS) combinations, livestock transport mass exemptions and tri-drive prime mover access arrangements. The review will also address special-purpose combinations, ensuring alignment with evolving industry needs.

The new notices and more information on the changes is available here.

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