Higher mass limits

Higher Mass Limits (HML) provides a significant increase in the productivity of road freight transport vehicles.

Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has previously required all vehicles operating at HML to be enrolled in the Intelligent Access Program (IAP).

After a review of the benefits and costs of IAP to industry, road managers and road asset owners, TfNSW have provided a more flexible approach to the telematics requirements for HML.

Vehicles operating at HML now have the option to enrol in the Telematics Monitoring Application (TMA) with Transport Certification Australia (TCA) or they can elect to remain enrolled in the IAP.

TMA provides greater visibility of heavy vehicle network usage. This visibility enables data driven evidence based decisions for road access, road investment, road maintenance and compliance activities. While IAP continues to provide evidence of non-conformance activity measured against an approved route.

The flexibility to use either TMA or IAP enables industry to select the telematics application that suits their operational needs and reducing regulatory burden and cost where possible. The option to use TMA commenced on 2 April 2020 with the NSW Higher Mass Limits Declaration 2020.

For more information on the approved telematics options for HML, please read the HML telematics requirements fact sheet (PDF, 55.31 KB).

HML eligible vehicles

In NSW, the vehicles types eligible to operate at HML are:

Short combinations (standard six axle semi-trailer)
B-doubles
Type 1 A-double road trains including modern road trains
B-triples
AB-triples
Modular B-triples
Vehicles operating under Performance Based Standards (PBS) schemes, including quad axle combinations.

HML access on NSW roads is dependent on the vehicle type of operation enrolled in the IAP or TMA and is granted under the current NSW Higher Mass Limits Declaration 2020. (Please note that this Declaration does not apply to Performance Based Standards (PBS) vehicles. These vehicles still require a permit to operate at HML).

New South Wales Higher Mass Limits Declaration

The current New South Wales Higher Mass Limits Declaration provides HML access for eligible short combinations, B-doubles, Type 1 A-double road trains, AB-triples, B-triples and Modular B-triples under a Notice. It is a condition of the Declaration that all vehicles operating at HML in NSW be enrolled in the NSW Intelligent Access Program (IAP) or Telematics Monitoring Application (TMA) and comply with the conditions contained in Schedule 5 of Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation.

The NSW Higher Mass Limit information sheet (PDF, 242.26 KB) provides further information on the types of heavy vehicles authorised to operate at HML under the Declaration. You can also refer to the TNSW Telematics fact sheet (PDF, 55.31 KB) for more information on the type of telematics required for your HML vehicle.

HML eligibility requirements

Operators must ensure that the following conditions are met before operating at HML in NSW.

Vehicles must:

not exceed the manufacturer's gross vehicle mass for the rigid truck or gross combination mass for the prime mover
have all axles in the combination operating at HML fitted with road friendly suspension (with the exception of the steer axle) certified in accordance with the Commonwealth Vehicle Standards Bulletin (VSB) 11
comply with all conditions and mass limits for the vehicle contained in the current New South Wales Higher Mass Limits Declaration
comply with all conditions for the vehicle type contained in the current relevant National Class 2 Heavy Vehicle Authorisation
be enrolled in the IAP with Transport for NSW to operate at HML or
be enrolled in TMA with Transport Certification Authority to operate at HML.

Road Friendly Suspension (RFS) requirements

All axle groups in an eligible vehicle operating at HML must be fitted with RFS models certified in accordance with VSB 11 – Certification of road friendly suspension, as issued by the Commonwealth Department of Transport and Regional Services. A listing of certified RFS is available at the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development website.

Operators must ensure that axle groups operating at HML are fitted with RFS, and check that a valid sticker, label or plate with the RFS Certificate Number is affixed to the suspension system, or on a suitable location on the vehicle near the installed suspension or the vehicle compliance plate.

National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS) requirements

Vehicles operating at HML must:

be nominated vehicles of an operator who is enrolled in the Mass Management module of the NHVAS if the vehicle or combination has a tri-axle group. The prime mover must be a nominated vehicle for the Mass Management module of the NHVAS and have an appropriate label affixed to the vehicle on or adjacent to the driver’s door of the prime mover
comply with in-service and maintenance requirements for road friendly suspension under the NHVAS.

NHVAS is a national scheme managed by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and recognised in all jurisdictions. To obtain accreditation under the NHVAS please contact the NHVR on 1300 MYNHVR (1300 696 487).

Enrol in the IAP or TMA

In NSW, IAP or TMA is a road access condition for HML vehicles. This applies even when only some axle groups in an eligible vehicle are operating at HML.

To operate at HML, operators must enrol their vehicle(s) in either IAP or TMA application(s) depending on the vehicle type of operation and carry in the vehicle applicable Certificate of Enrolment issued by Transport for NSW or TCA for the vehicle type of operation.

Please note: If the vehicle is already enrolled in the IAP in another jurisdiction, the vehicle will still be required to separately enrol in the IAP with Transport for NSW or TMA with TCA.

Operators must follow these steps to enrol the vehicle in the IAP with Transport for NSW to operate at HML:

For eligible HML vehicles enrol via Transport for NSW online services:
- Online enrolment is not available for HML modern road trains, GML modular B-triples operating east of the Newell Highway, HML modular B-triples operating west of the Newell Highway and HML PBS Enrol these vehicles in the IAP by completing and lodging the IAP enrolment form.
Transport for NSW will send an interim Intelligent Access Condition (IAC) to the email address you have provided once your IAP application has been received and assessed. The interim IAC contains details of your selected IAP application.
Select a certified IAP service provider and provide them with your interim IAC. The certified IAP service provider will install the IAP equipment in your vehicle. Only IAP service providers certified by Transport Certification Australia (TCA) can provide IAP services.
Your chosen certified IAP service provider will inform Transport for NSW once the IAP equipment has been installed and Transport for NSW will send the approved IAC to your chosen IAP service provider for monitoring of your vehicle.
Transport for NSW will send a NSW IAP Certificate of Enrolment to the email address you have provided once the IAC has been approved. Your vehicle will now be enrolled in the IAP.
Your vehicle can now legally operate in NSW at HML for the vehicle type of operation enrolled in the IAP and contained in the current New South Wales Higher Mass Limits Declaration.

All enrolments in the IAP are processed free of charge.

For operators seeking to enrol in TMA, contact a TCA approved Service provider for more information. Operators can visit the TCA website to view an up-to-date list of Service Providers.

For more information operators can read the TCA HML telematics FAQ (PDF, 55.31 KB).

HML network access

HML network access is dependent on the vehicle type of operation enrolled in the NSW IAP and contained in the current New South Wales Higher Mass Limits Declaration.

A number of network maps and/or lists of approved roads are available for HML vehicles enrolled in the IAP in NSW:

IAP maps and approved road lists provide details on the roads approved in NSW for:
- HML short combinations
- HML B-doubles
- HML Type 1 A-double road trains, including modern road trains
- HML B-triples
- HML AB-triples.
NSW Livestock Loading Scheme (NSWLLS) maps provide details on the roads and zones approved in NSW for HML B-triples and AB-triples under the NSWLLS carrying livestock loads
List of approved roads on and east of the Newell Highway for HML modern road trains
List of approved roads west of the Newell Highway for HML modular B-triples.

B-double or road train access conditions

Operators are advised that all B-double or road train access conditions also apply to HML approved roads and route requests. Consideration should be given to B-double or road train access arrangements and/or conditions when considering HML access for these combinations.

Requesting access to non-approved HML roads

Operators can request assessment of roads that are not currently approved for HML access by applying to the NHVR.

Vehicles must not operate on requested routes until they are stated as approved roads on the access permit or until the approved routes appear on the relevant IAP maps or approved road lists.