Performance Based Standards

Performance Based Standards (PBS) is a national heavy vehicle scheme designed to help the industry become safer and more productive.

If you have an idea for an innovative heavy vehicle and are interested in building a heavy vehicle that does not meet the current prescriptive Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) standards or have an idea for an innovative heavy vehicle that would manage your freight task in NSW more efficiently, then PBS may be the solution you are looking for.

Further information about the PBS Scheme including vehicle standards is available on the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) website.

Road Access

Notice	National Class 2 PBS Level 1 & 2a Truck and Dog Trailer Authorisation Notice 2024 (No.2) National Class 2 Performance Based Standards (High Productivity) Authorisation Notice 2024 (No.1) National Class 2 Performance Based Standards (Tier 1) Authorisation Notice 2022 (No.1)
Supporting Documents	PBS Network Classification Guidelines Information Sheet - National Class 2 PBS Level 1 & 2A Truck and Dog Trailer Authorisation Notice National Class 2 Performance Based Standards (High Productivity) Authorisation Notice - Reference Vehicle Information Sheet
Network	The Performance Based Standards maps on the NHVR National Network Map
Permit	Operators seeking access to roads that are not on the approved network, or with a vehicle with dimensions or mass over the limits stated in a notice must obtain a permit for travel. Information on applying for a permit is available on the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator website.
Scheme	Schemes with PBS access include: Safety, Productivity and Environment Construction Transport Scheme (SPECTS)

PBS road network access in NSW is based on the four PBS performance levels (1-4) and access classes ‘A’ and ‘B’ as stated in the PBS Network Classification Guidelines. For PBS Level 2 and above, PBS road network access is divided into 'A' and 'B' networks based on vehicle length as shown in the table below.

PBS Performance Level	Access Class 'A'	Access Class 'B'
1	≤ 20 metres in length	≤ 20 metres in length
2	≤ 26 metres in length	≤ 30 metres in length
3	≤ 36.5 metres in length	≤ 42.0 metres in length
4	≤ 53.5 metres in length	≤ 60.0 metres in length

Note: Tier 1 Level 1 20 metre truck and dogs and 20 metre B-doubles may operate on the Great Western Highway at their Level 2 masses without the need of a permit under the National Class 2 Performance Based Standards (High Productivity) Authorisation Notice.

Access for PBS Tier 3 vehicles

The National Class 2 Performance Based Standards (High Productivity) Authorisation Notice 2022 provides network access for Tier 3 PBS Level 1 Quad Axle Semi-trailers, PBS 2B Quad-Tri and Quad-Quad B-doubles and PBS 2B A-doubles with tandem axle dollys.

PBS Level 1 Quad Axle Semi-trailers and PBS 2B A-doubles with tandem dollys are required to meet particular axle spacings in order to obtain network access at Tier 3 masses.

PBS Level 1 Quad Axle Semi-trailer Reference Vehicle 1

Tier 3 PBS Level 1 Quad Axle Semi-trailers complying with the minimum axle spacings shown in Reference Vehicle 1 can operate at the Tier 3 QML2 approved mass on the PBS Level 1 QML2 network.

Transport for NSW Reference vehicle one.

PBS 2B Tier 3 A-double Reference Vehicle 2

Tier 3 PBS 2B A-doubles complying with the axle spacings shown in Reference Vehicle 2 can operate at their Tier 3 GML/CML and HML approved mass on the PBS 2B GML/CML - Tier 3 Reference Vehicle 2 and PBS 2B HML – Tier 3 Reference Vehicle 2 networks respectively.

Transport for NSW Reference vehicle two.

PBS 2B Tier 3 A-double Reference Vehicle 3

Tier 3 PBS 2B A-doubles complying with the axle spacings shown in Reference Vehicle 3 can operate at their Tier 3 GML/CML and HML approved mass on the PBS 2B GML/CML - Tier 3 Reference Vehicle 3 and PBS 2B HML – Tier 3 Reference Vehicle 3 networks respectively.