Heavy Vehicle Access Management System

Freight carrying heavy vehicles carry a broad range of goods all over the road network, and a huge diversity of designs exist to perform this role, from short rigid trucks to long multi-trailer combinations.

For many, general access is provided to all roads due to their smaller dimension and mass, whilst others have more restricted access networks as their size increases.

An ever-growing group of freight carrying vehicles use the Performance Based Standards (PBS) Scheme to provide design flexibility and demonstrate suitability for the network.

A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) is a motor vehicles or trailer built for a purpose other than transporting goods (aside from water for their on-site task) which exceeds prescribed mass or dimension limits.

Examples include cranes, drill rigs, concrete pumps and fire trucks. Agricultural vehicles and tow trucks are separately categorised.

An Oversize Overmass (OSOM) vehicle is a heavy vehicle that is carrying, or specifically designed to carry, a large indivisible item. Alone, or together with its load, it exceeds prescribed mass or dimension limits.

Examples include prime movers towing low loader, platform, dolly or jinker trailers used to transport large building components for infrastructure development or equipment to a job site.

Buses are heavy vehicles built or fitted to carry more than 9 adults (including the driver). A wide variety exist, including 2 or 3 axle rigid buses, ultra-low floor buses, articulated buses and double decker buses.

Many buses have general access, whilst others which exceed general access dimensions (eg length 12.5m-14.5m, rear overhang) are defined as Controlled Access Buses and have specific networks.

Tow trucks are heavy vehicles, or vehicles with trailers, used for the towing of vehicles which are equipped with crane, winch, ramp or other lifting device. Heavy tow trucks are designed to enable transport of damaged or disabled heavy vehicles from roads or between depots, safely and efficiently to minimise traffic disruption. To facilitate this, increased mass and dimensions are available however network access restrictions or conditions may apply.

An agricultural machine - a vehicle with its own automotive power, built to perform agricultural tasks. Examples include a harvester or tractor.

An eligible vehicle as defined by the National Class 1 Agricultural Vehicle and Combination Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice Operator's Guide.