The National Transport Commission (NTC) has flagged a review of Australian Road Rule 108 – a national ‘model’ regulation that relates to truck and bus low gear signs – to address issues relating to battery-electric and fuel-cell trucks.
This follows HVIA’s technical advocacy on the issue at the most recent Vehicle Standards Consultation Forum (VSCF) in Canberra.
The model Australian Road Rules (ARRs) form the basis of the road rules in each Australian state and territory, much like the Heavy Vehicle National Law. Each state adopts and administers its own rules, based on the model regulations.
In its current form, Australian Road Rule 108 states that: If the driver of a truck or bus is driving on a length of road to which a trucks and buses low gear sign applies, the driver must drive the truck or bus in a gear that is low enough to limit the speed of the truck or bus without the use of a primary brake.
The wording of that regulation is problematic for vehicles with non-conventional drivelines and braking systems, such as battery electric or fuel cell trucks. Those vehicles do not feature conventional transmissions with individual gears that can be ‘selected’ by the driver, nor do they feature conventional primary and secondary braking systems. This means that drivers have difficulty in complying with the rule, even though there is no question nor concern regarding the design and safe operation of the vehicle.
“This is a case of the road rules being outdated by advancing technology, which is something that the industry is grappling with, and will continue to grapple with as new innovations come to the market,” Adam Ritzinger, HVIA’s Chief Technical Officer, says.
“Two HVIA members raised it with me separately in 2025, and I put it on the agenda for the Vehicle Standards Consultative Forum in February 2026. HVIA is a member of that forum, and through it, has the chance to shape national regulations in a range of areas.”
After discussions at the VSCF, the NTC developed a policy document and is seeking feedback from industry up to Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
Interested members are invited to contact Adam Ritzinger (a.ritzinger@hvia.asn.au) to share their views.