Road Manager Toolkit

The Road Manager Toolkit is designed to assist local councils in responding to road manager consent requests for heavy vehicle road access from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) for Road Trains and Higher Mass Limits (HML) heavy vehicles.

The Toolkit comprises of:

• A Road Manager Toolkit User Guide to assist local councils in understanding the process of receiving and responding to a road manager consent request with appropriate conditions, where applicable, to manage road safety and protect road infrastructure. This document explains how to use the other documents in the Road Manager Toolkit.
• Heavy vehicle diagrams and descriptions of common Class 2 heavy vehicles.
• The standard access conditions that TfNSW apply to road access requests for Class 2 Road Trains and Higher Mass Limits (HML) heavy vehicles.
• A sample written statement of road manager consent for a 4.6 metre high HML B-double.

Please note the information contained in the Road Manager Toolkit is intended as a guide only for other road managers.

The information has been prepared based on the practices of Transport for NSW (TfNSW) which may change from time to time.

Road managers should undertake their own research and not solely rely on the information provided in this Toolkit.

Road Manager Toolkit User Guide

Background

Under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) and co-delegation arrangements in NSW, only the NHVR can issue a road access permit for a Class 2 heavy vehicle.

The definition of a Class 2 heavy vehicle is contained in section 136 of the HVNL. Common types of Class 2 heavy vehicles include semitrailers, B-doubles, road trains, Performance Based Standards (PBS) heavy vehicles and heavy vehicles operating at Concessional Mass Limits (CML) and HML.

If a Class 2 heavy vehicle does not operate under a Notice because it is travelling on a route that is not contained in a Notice, an operator will submit an application for a road access permit to the NHVR. Once the NHVR receives an application it will then seek the consent of all road managers on the proposed route. A road manager can respond by either:

• Granting consent with no access conditions,
• Granting consent with access conditions; or
• Refusing consent.

Under section 172 of the HVNL, a road manager that refuses consent or provides consent with conditions must provide the NHVR with a statement to explain the reasons for their decision. If the NHVR receives the consent of all road managers on the proposed route, the NHVR can issue a road access permit to the operator.

Application of standard access conditions for Higher Mass Limits (HML) and Road Train access requests

The five steps below demonstrate how to respond to an access request using the example of a 4.6m high HML B-double as an example through applying the TfNSW Standard Access Conditions – Road Trains and Higher Mass Limits heavy vehicles.

1. Road Manager Consent Request received from NHVR
   The NHVR will email a road manager consent request to a road manager if a transport operator requests to travel on a route that includes a road managed by the road manager. The email will include specifications of the vehicle, including vehicle details, axle spacings and vehicle registration information, along with an attached Written Road Manager Consent form to complete to use to respond to the access request.
2. Identify the type of heavy vehicle
   The TfNSW Class 2 Heavy Vehicle Diagrams lists common Class 2 heavy vehicles type. In this instance, a B-double is listed in the second row of the table.
3. Identify in the excel spreadsheet the access conditions that apply to that particular heavy vehicle
   The TfNSW Standard Access Conditions – Road Trains and Higher Mass Limits heavy vehicles spreadsheet contains standard access conditions that are categorised by vehicle type for HML heavy vehicles and road trains operating on TfNSW managed roads. These conditions are indicative of the access conditions that TfNSW applies and may not be exhaustive. Identify the permit conditions in the tab labelled 4.6m HML B2.
4. Additional access conditions
   Additional access conditions may be required to suit local conditions and specific details of the particular heavy vehicle, for example, travel restrictions on specific bridges and roads.
5. Complete the Written Road Manager Consent form
   Complete the Written Road Manager Consent form provided by the NHVR to indicate if you consent to the access request, consent to the access request with conditions or refuse consent and provide a statement of reason, if required. See sample TfNSW Written Road Manager Consent form with the conditions for a 4.6m high HML B-double for a practical example. When completed send to the NHVR. Please note that under section 156 of the HVNL, a road manager has 28 days to respond to an access request.

This information should only be used as a guide. Road managers should undertake their own research and ensure that they understand their rights and obligations arising under HVNL.

Class 2 heavy vehicle diagrams and definitions

The below tables contains descriptions and diagrams of common Class 2 heavy vehicles.

Vehicle type	TfNSW Services definition	Vehicle diagram
Short Combination	‘Short Combination’ means a three axle prime mover comprised of one steer axle and an eight tyred tandem drive axle group towing a three axle semitrailer comprised of one twelve tyred triaxle group.	Image Collapse the Image Toolkit Diagram Short Combination Image controls: Enlarge the Image ≤ 19.0 metres
25/26 metre B-double	‘B-double’ means a combination consisting of a prime mover comprised of one steer axle and an eight tyred tandem drive axle group towing two semitrailers comprised of either an eight tyred tandem axle group and/or a twelve tyred triaxle group with the first semitrailer being attached directly to the prime mover by a fifth wheel coupling and the second semitrailer being mounted on the rear of the semitrailer by a fifth wheel coupling on the first semitrailer.	Image Collapse the Image toolkit-diagram-25-26m-b-double Image controls: Enlarge the Image 25/26.0 metres
36.5 metre Type 1 A-double with a tandem dolly	‘Type 1 A-double road train with a tandem axle dolly’ means a prime mover consisting of one steer axle and an eight tyred tandem drive axle group towing two semitrailers consisting of either an eight tyred tandem axle group and/or a twelve tyred triaxle group with an eight tyred tandem axle dolly supporting the second semitrailer.	Image Collapse the Image toolkit-diagram-type-1-a-double-tandem-dolly Image controls: Enlarge the Image ≤ 36.5 metres
Modern Road Train	‘Modern Road Train’ means a 36.5 metre long Type 1 A-double road train with a triaxle dolly consisting of: A prime mover with one steer axle and an eight tyred tandem drive axle group towing two semitrailers consisting of either an eight tyred tandem axle group and/or a twelve tyred triaxle group with a twelve tyred triaxle dolly fitted with certified Road Friendly Suspension supporting the second semitrailer; and The extreme axle spacing measured from the centreline of the first axle to the last axle is at least 26.5 metres; and The prime mover and trailers forming part of the combination are nominated vehicles of an operator who holds an accreditation for the NHVAS Maintenance Management Module.	Image Collapse the Image toolkit-diagram-modern-road-train Image controls: Enlarge the Image ≤ 36.5 metres
Modular B-triple	‘Modular B-triple’ means a Modular B-triple complying with National Class 2 Heavy Vehicle Road Train Authorisation (Notice) 2014 (No.3).	Image Collapse the Image toolkit-diagram-modular-b-triple Image controls: Enlarge the Image ≤ 35.0 metres
B-triple	‘B-triple’ means a 36.5 metre road train consisting of a prime mover comprised of one steer axle and an eight tyred tandem drive axle group towing three semitrailers each with a twelve tyred triaxle group connected by fifth wheel couplings.	Image Collapse the Image toolkit-diagram-b-triple Image controls: Enlarge the Image ≤ 36.5 metres
AB-triple	‘AB-triple’ means a 36.5 metre road train consisting of a prime mover comprised of one steer axle and an eight tyred tandem drive axle group towing a semitrailer comprised of a twelve tyred triaxle group connected by a converter dolly with either an eight tyred tandem axle group or a twelve tyred triaxle group to two semitrailers each with a twelve tyred triaxle group connected by a fifth wheel coupling.	Image Collapse the Image toolkit-diagram-ab-triple-1 Image controls: Enlarge the Image ≤ 36.5 metres Image Collapse the Image toolkit-diagram-ab-triple-2 Image controls: Enlarge the Image ≤ 36.5 metres

The vehicle diagrams and definitions provided above are indicative only. TfNSW can not guarantee the accuracy of this information. These should not be relied upon and road managers should undertake their own research.

Sample Road Manager Consent Form

The sample written statement of road manager consent (PDF, 67.38 KB) provides an example using the TfNSW Standard Access Conditions for a 4.6 metre high HML B-double.

Standard Access Conditions – Road Trains and Higher Mass Limits heavy vehicles

The Standard Access Conditions spreadsheet (XLS, 213 KB) contains the access conditions that are indicative of the conditions that TfNSW applies to heavy vehicle access requests for Class 2 Road Trains and HML heavy vehicles.

This spreadsheet is intended as a guide for other road managers. Other conditions may be required to suit local conditions and the particular characteristics of the heavy vehicle.