Here you'll find safety guidance material and standards related to heavy vehicles in Western Australia (WA).
Permits, accreditation, notices and standards
The management and regulation of heavy vehicles on WA roads is jointly managed by Main Roads WA (MRWA) and the Department of Transport and Major Infrastructure (DTMI).
When heavy vehicles or single-trailer combinations are operated within the standards for dimensions and mass prescribed by the Road Traffic (Vehicles) Regulations 2014, the vehicle licence issued by the DTMI’s Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS), allows general (as of right) access to WA’s state road network.
Operationally, MRWA manages road access for vehicles that have been permitted or licensed for road use by DTMI.
Heavy vehicle(s) or combinations that don’t meet these prescribed standards, including all combinations with more than 1 trailer, are called Restricted Access Vehicles (RAVs). In addition to the vehicle licence, your vehicle(s) will require a permit from MRWA.
When your vehicle(s) are operating under a permit, a copy of the current permit must always be carried in the vehicle.
Visit the Main Roads WA website for the following information:
- accreditation
- compliance and enforcement
- forms
- heavy vehicle operator updates and information for new truck owners
- performance based standards
- permits
- pilots
- policies
- RAV classes
- road curfews.
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
The rules and regulations established under the Heavy Vehicle National Law in each participating jurisdiction are administered by an independent body known as the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).
The range of services offered by the NHVR has expanded as the Heavy Vehicle National Law became established in participating states and territories. Ultimately, the NHVR is intended to become a one-stop-shop across Australia (except for WA and the Northern Territory) for all heavy vehicle road transport business with government.
National Driver Work Diary
You must carry and complete a National Driver Work Diary if you drive:
- a vehicle or vehicle combination weighing more than 12 tonnes or a bus fitted to carry more than 12 adults including the driver; and
- outside of WA and NT.
You must record your work and rest details of all trips more than 100 kilometres from your driver base.
Find out more about the National Driver Work Diary.
Compliance inspections and notices
Compliance with heavy vehicle regulations is assessed by roadside inspections that are carried out by the Main Roads Heavy Vehicle Road Transport Compliance Unit and the WA Police Service.
Vehicles that are not roadworthy are issued with a defect notice, and the vehicle must be submitted for inspection at an Authorised Inspection Station (AIS).
For more information refer to our web page on defect notices.
Compliance with heavy vehicle regulations is assessed by roadside inspections that are carried out by the Main Roads Heavy Vehicle Road Transport Compliance Unit and the WA Police.
Vehicles that aren’t roadworthy are issued with a defect notice, and the vehicle must be submitted for inspection at an Authorised Inspection Station (AIS) or DTMI Vehicle Examination Centre.
For more information about defect notices, visit Yellow sticker (defect notice).
Heavy vehicle modifications
For information on heavy vehicle modifications, visit Modify a heavy vehicle.
How to nominate a change in heavy vehicle use
You must inform DTMI of the configuration of the configuration in which you intend to use the vehicle by choosing a Nominated Heavy Vehicle Category (NHVC).
For information on how to change the configuration of your NHVC, visit How to nominate a change in heavy vehicle use on our Change use of heavy vehicle page.
Rear marking plates
All vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) over 12,000 kg and trailers with a Gross Trailer Mass (GTM) over 10,000 kg, must be fitted with retro-reflective rear marking plates.
Buses fitted with hand grips, or similar equipment for standing passengers to hold, are exempt from these requirements.
More information is available in the Commonwealth Vehicle Standards Bulletin, VSB 12 – Rear Marking Plates, published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).
The bulletin explains all the different types of marking plates and how to install them.
Safe use of long semi-trailers
DTMI, in conjunction with MRWA, have agreed to allow the conditional licensing and use of long semi-trailers in WA, subject to several conditions. The industry circular VTB-11A: 14.63m Long Semi-Trailers (Vehicle Technical Bulletin) - PDF has information on:
- general operating conditions
- nationally accepted dimensions for prime movers and trailers
- mass limits
- total mass and load distribution.
Safely restraining your load
The proper restraint of loads is a vital aspect of heavy vehicle operations. Load restraining devices must be capable of withstanding a multiple of the mass load specific to a direction.
For example, the restraints must be able to withstand 0.8 times the mass of the load in the forward direction, and you are free to use any type of restraining system that meets this restraining load specification.
The National Transport Commission’s Load Restraint Guide provides basic safety principles which should be followed for the safe carriage of loads on road vehicles.
Speed limiting for heavy trucks and buses
Speed limitations apply to heavy truck and buses. More information is available in the Australian Design Rules, ADR 65 – Maximum Road Speed Limiting for Heavy goods Vehicles and Heavy Omnibuses.
ADR 65 covers:
- general information about speed limiting for heavy vehicles
- details about speed limiting by gearing and road speed governors
- maximum road speed capability
- testing and alternative standards.
Tilt trays
Following several serious crashes involving tilt tray vehicles, a range of regulations have been put in place to address the need for greater awareness by road users of the chisel point at the rear of tilt trays.
This has been achieved by requiring the rear of a tilt tray vehicle to be made more conspicuous and by providing measures, such as under run protection bars and wheel lifts, to reduce the risk of serious injury should a collision occur.
Further details about the rules and regulations regarding tilt trays - including technical specifications and compliance guidelines - are available in CI-117B Tilt Tray Vehicles (Circular to Industry) - PDF.
Multi Combination (MC class) vehicle with air suspension systems
For years both heavy vehicle operators and drivers have raised concerns about the performance of heavily loaded, air suspended long combination vehicles. These concerns have included problems with vehicle handling and in some extreme cases, vehicle roll-overs.
A project was undertaken to gain a better understanding of the problematic behaviours in certain road train combinations and develop practical ways to reduce or eliminate them.
The following project reports provide insights into the performance of heavily laden, high centre of gravity Multi Combination vehicles.