No more PBS permits? Not quite.
The National PBS Tier 1 Notice is a significant step forward, it means that PBS combinations no longer require permits to operate at Tier 1 masses. The NHVR released the National Class 2 PBS Tier 1 Notice on 27 October 2021.
The Notice extends and should ultimately replace the National PBS Truck and Dog Notice which has allowed trucks and dogs access to PBS networks without a permit since 2016. However, it doesn’t apply in the NHVR’s home state of Queensland and the conditions in participating states vary dramatically.
The Notice does NOT apply to vehicles with multiple axle groups, i.e., belly or spread axles, tri-drives nor trucks with non-standard axle groups, i.e., tri-steer. “Any eligible vehicle” means a conventional truck or trailer and quad-axle groups are limited to 21 tonnes.
Tier 1 weights specified on the PBS Vehicle Approval apply. However, the GCM’s are limited to 50.5 tonnes (L1), 68.5 tonnes (L2A/L2B), 110 tonnes (L3A/L3B) and 150 tonnes (L4A). South Australia allows 118 tonnes L3B but only 136 tonnes L4A.
Victoria doesn’t allow any PBS combination, only semi-trailers, B-doubles, Rigid trucks, Truck and Dogs, Truck and Pig, and Truck and Tag trailers.
The access in NSW and South Australia is most significant. Both states cover all networks from PBS L1 to PBS L4A and the networks are reasonably expansive.
PBS L2B is limited to 68.5 tonnes so mass constrained vehicles seeking more productivity than a B-double still require permits.
Why Victoria couldn’t support a L2B network under the National notice is unclear since the PBS L2B cubic network has been available for some time. Presumably because the Department of Transport Victoria has indicated that their various HPFV networks will soon be Gazetted along with B-triples and AB-Triples. So, we expect Victoria will remain the most progressive and supportive State for PBS Vehicles and will soon allow access to up to 1/3 of their network to 36.5 m (PBS L3A) combinations.
The PBS L1 general access notice was limited to GML weights, this meant that popular 20 m 6x4 prime movers and 26 pallet or 28 pallet tri-axle semi-trailers wanting CML or HML weights still needed access permit. With the new National Tier 1 notice they can operate up CML or HML without a permit.
This could open the door for more Truck and Pig trailers which now have the potential to get 20 m and 43 tonnes GML (general access) and 46 tonnes HML (PBS L1 Networks) without a permit. It will be curious if this leads to a shift in more European style truck and trailer combinations for, e.g., supermarket delivery.
With an 8x4 prime mover or truck and tri-axle trailer 50.5 tonnes is possible on the L1 HML network.
The PBS Level 3A network provides the potential for 110 tonnes so we can potentially see a significant shift away from A-doubles to more innovate combinations in SA and NSW.
Gazette Notices will never fully eliminate PBS permits. PBS permits provide flexibility and enable new concepts to be progressively and safely introduced onto the road network. However, the NHVR and the State Road Managers are steadily laying down the foundations for a more streamlined, productive and scalable PBS Scheme.
Global Exclusions/Limitations
A vehicle issued an exemption under section 8 or section 9 of the General Regulation; or
Additional axle groups or split axle groups
Tri-drives
