Under a two-year trial in NSW, zero emission heavy vehicles will be able to access the state road network under additional masses, with some exceptions.
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has published a notice that it says allows “broad access to support the transition to zero-emission heavy vehicles and provide an evidence base to inform ongoing access and management of the road network”.
Access restrictions will apply across sensitive structures such as load-limited bridges, and assets owned or managed by local councils and third parties.
Under the Notice, zero-emission heavy vehicles will be able to operate at up to eight tonne on a single steer axle, when fitted with minimum 385mm wide tyres; and up to 10.5 tonne on a single drive axle or up to 18.5 tonne on a tandem drive axle.
Additional Gross Combination Mass (GCM) caps and telematics conditions apply, including enrolment in the Road Infrastructure Management, Telematics Monitoring Application and Telematics Monitoring Application with Smart On-Board Mass programs.
More information on the notice and mapped network can be found here.
Work is also underway to expand the Notice to capture other zero emission heavy vehicles such as twin steers, truck and dogs, A-doubles and Performance Based Standards (PBS) vehicles.