Schedule—Heavy vehicle standardsSchedule—Heavy vehicle standards

Schedule—Heavy vehicle standards

Subregulation 4(1)

Note: Introductory note to Heavy Vehicle Standards

Note: The Heavy Vehicle Standards apply to all vehicles and trailers over 4.5 tonnes GVM (gross vehicle mass), regardless of when they were built, unless they have been exempted. Some of the Standards relate to combinations of vehicles such as B‑doubles or road trains.

Note: In most cases, if a vehicle meets all of the Standards, it is suitable for use on the road without special restrictions. However, some vehicles at or approaching some of the maximum dimensions may be severely restricted as to where they can travel. These restrictions are imposed by other sets of regulations under the Road Transport Reform (Vehicles and Traffic) Act 1993. For example, other sets of regulations restrict the operation of:

 rigid vehicles more than 12.5 metres long or 4.3 metres high; and
 combinations of vehicles more than 19 metres long or 4.3 metres high; and
 vehicles with a quad‑axle group.

Note: The Standards are intended to cover areas not already covered by the Australian Design Rules (ADRs), which are a set of rules for designing and building vehicles. The ADRs do not cover vehicles built before 1969, combinations of vehicles of any age, or some vehicles built for a special purpose. These are covered in Parts 2 to 9 (inclusive) of the Standards. The ADRs did not cover every safety feature for vehicles built between 1969 and 1988. The Standards are intended to fill these gaps too. If a vehicle is covered by both an ADR and a Standard, and the 2 are inconsistent, the vehicle must generally comply with the ADR.

Note: These Standards also require a vehicle to continue to comply with the applicable ADRs.

Note: A vehicle must continue to comply with these Regulations, even if it is modified. The National Code of Practice: Heavy Vehicle Modifications, issued by the Federal Office of Road Safety in Vehicle Standards Bulletin 6, provides advice to help decide whether a modified vehicle continues to comply with the Regulations. It is recommended that modifications be made in accordance with the Code. Modifications that are not covered by, or consistent with, the Code may also be permitted, but the owner must ensure that the vehicle continues to comply with these Regulations. Road laws provide that vehicles must not be used on a road unless they are in a safe condition.