The South Australian Government is fast-tracking new heavy freight reforms to lift productivity and drive down costs, including by delivering a reduction in fuel usage of up to 18 per cent.
The reforms – supported by five new notices issued by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) – will take effect immediately and will see 100 new network maps introduced across state roads in South Australia, unlocking access to more efficient truck and trailer configurations and providing increased operational flexibility.
The additional networks allow for the operation of more productive tri-drive rigid trucks and prime movers, which are capable of transporting significantly larger payloads than dual-drive trucks.
For larger truck combinations like B-doubles, operating long distances on the state’s regional roads such as the Lincoln Highway, the new networks allow for the use of quad-axle trailer configurations. Previously, only tri- and tandem-axle trailers have been approved for these roads. The newly approved quad-axle trailers will see the maximum weight limit of a typical B-double increase by up to 13 per cent to 77 tonnes.
By carrying a larger payload per trip, the new initiatives can enable trucks to use up to 18 per cent less fuel per tonne of payload, the government estimates.
In addition to changes for rigid and multi-combination trucks, the new measures will also improve productivity for livestock transport.
Collectively, the changes will ensure that vital supplies continue to reach isolated and regional communities across South Australia without delay.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Joe Szakacs says the SA government is “pulling every lever we can to ensure that goods keep moving across the state and that vital supplies continue to flow to regional and remote communities”.
“Road safety remains our top priority, and every network opened under these new measures has been thoroughly assessed and approved for being able to support these heavier vehicle combinations safely. This measure will support our freight industry when they need it most, helping them move more with less fuel.”
Premier Peter Malinauskas notes the reforms will deliver significant benefits to the state’s primary producers, “who have done it tough through drought only to confront rising fuel costs”.
“Whether we’re talking about groceries on our supermarket shelves, clothes on the rack at retail outlets, or even petrol in the bowser at the service station, the cost of transporting it there is factored into the sale price,” he adds.
“The reason we’ve been able to move so quickly and decisively is because our government was already doing the homework before the crisis emerged. This means we are making no compromises to safety and reinforcing transport companies’ confidence in our nation-leading freight management framework.”