In this post I will be discussing changes to Higher Mass Limits (HML) access in NSW including a discussion on alternatives to the Intelligent Access Program (IAP). In April the New South Wales Higher Mass Limits Declaration 2020 (No.1) gazette notice was published which enables vehicles in NSW to access the HML network without the need for IAP enrolment.

Hopefully, you will find this article useful when thinking about your approach to heavy vehicle access and compliance management (warning lots of acronyms).

Time for change

In 2018 I was fortunate to be invited by Transport for NSW to assist them in designing a workshop to consult on a replacement for the Intelligent Access Program (IAP) and to develop other trials for the use of Transport Industry telematics data with the aim of improving heavy vehicle access whilst protecting infrastructure assets and public amenity.

The workshop was a great success and a number of programs where developed out of it including the Telematics Monitoring Application (TMA) and Road Infrastructure Management (RIM) application. The development of TMA in conjunction with the HML gazette notice mean that for the first-time heavy vehicles in NSW can access HML mass without the need to enroll in the IAP.

The benefits of HML

For a NHVAS Mass accredited standard semitrailer HML access increases the allowable mass on the triaxle group by 1.5 tonnes and the Gross Combination Mass (GCM) by the same amount, for a B-Double the increase is 4 tonnes and for a PBS Quad axle trailer it is 6 tonnes (mass increases are only on approved routes / areas).

More mass means fewer heavy vehicles on the road, less emissions, less road wear, and lower operating costs for the heavy vehicle operators which means lower costs for consumers.

Aside from the economic, environmental and safety benefits, heavy vehicles operating across borders that are on the same mass scheme makes compliance and operations simpler.

Victoria and South Australia have do not have a requirement to fit regulatory telematics devices (TMA / IAP) to heavy vehicles to access the HML network (note: Queensland still requires IAP for HML access).

When an interstate operator can easily access HML mass in NSW not only does it increase the payload and reduce vehicle movements it also reduces the complexity of the transport task as the vehicle is operating at the same mass limits in three jurisdictions (NSW/VIC/SA).

IAP Declarations

From a compliance management perspective, the main problem with IAP is the declarations.

When the vehicle is operating at HML mass declarations regarding:

• the vehicle configuration;
• the number of axles in the configuration; and
• the total mass of the vehicle or combination, including the mass of the hauling unit, any  attached trailers, and any load on board the vehicle or combination.

Declarations are required to be made:

• at the start of the journey;
• whenever there is a change in the vehicle configuration;
• whenever there is a change in the total mass of the vehicle or combination, including the mass of the hauling unit and any attached trailers, plus any load on board the vehicle or combination; and
• whenever prompted by the Self Declaration Input Device (SDID), if a SDID is available in the vehicle.

As an operator there is a lack of visibility of noncompliance or issues flagged to enforcement agencies, an operator needs to see where drivers are not complying so that they can generate exceptions and take corrective / preventative action – this is very difficult with the structure of the IAP.

Telematics Monitoring Application (TMA) the alternative to the IAP

The Telematics Monitoring Application collects data related to vehicle location, time and vehicle identity, and makes HML easier to access for transport operators when compared to IAP.

TMA provides TfNSW with access to all data collected through the application, but does not identify non-compliant events (unlike IAP).

The self-declaration of vehicle configuration (but not mass) is a requirement for vehicles operating in TMA for HML but is only required at setup and if the configuration changes.

Operators are required to carry a TMA Certificate (issued by a certified service provider) in their vehicles.

How is TMA accessed?

TMA is offered by some traditional telematics providers and also as a stand alone device  such as the “plug and play” offering from V-DAQ which is sold as an annual subscription service per vehicle.

The benefits of a separate device is that transport operators (whether or not they currently use telematics) can quickly and easily access the benefits of HML without interfering with their current compliance or productivity management systems at a relatively low cost.

Summary

HML access has changed for the better in NSW, I am looking forward to more operators taking advantage of the easier HML access that TMA offers because less vehicle movements, less pollution and less wear on the roads means a safer and more efficient road network for everyone.

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