TfNSW Publish Notice For Zero-Emission Heavy Vehicles

Transport for NSW has published a Notice enabling access to the State Road network for the additional masses required for zero-emission heavy vehicles, with exceptions such as load-limited bridges and third-party infrastructure.

It says the two-year trial will enable “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 enrollment in the Road Infrastructure Management, Telematics Monitoring Application and Telematics Monitoring Application with Smart On-Board Mass programs. See the zero emission heavy vehicle access trial webpage for more information on the Notice and mapped network.

Further work is 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.

TfNSW says the initiative supports Action 1.3 of the Towards Net Zero Emissions Freight Policy: ‘Provide concessions on mass limits for heavy LZEVs operating on the State-road network to enable access.’

To support decision making with regards to zero-emission heavy vehicles, the government agency has developed the heavy vehicle comparison tool, an online knowledge hub developed to support freight operators to transition to low- and zero-emission vehicles.

The regularly updated tool provides comparative information on diesel and low- and zero-emission vehicles and a database of available technologies.

TfNSW says the projects support industry to transition to zero-emission vehicles and achieve the NSW Government’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050.