Austroads backs heavy vehicle width increase

Recent research conducted by Australian road transport and traffic agency, Austroads, has indicated there is evidence to support a boost in heavy vehicle width from the current benchmark of 2500mm to 2550mm, excluding attachments.

"New Zealand has allowed heavy freight vehicles to operate at 2550mm without restriction since 2017 and there has been no reported or anecdotal evidence that the wider vehicles are more likely to be involved in a crash," states an Austroads media release.

"Most of Australia’s trading partners regulate a maximum heavy freight vehicle width of at least 2550mm and many allow 2600mm for refrigerated vehicles. This means that most imported heavy freight vehicles must be modified to comply with Australian standards before use in Australia."

Austroads highlights that many trucks with a width of 2550mm are already permitted to operate in Australia through ratified exemptions or permits.

"This results in productivity impacts (increased costs of procuring new vehicles and increased cost for operations of modified vehicles) and additional regulation and administration costs in getting approvals from road agencies and National Heavy Vehicle Regulator," the organisation says.

"The need to modify imported heavy freight vehicles before use on Australian roads also results in safety impacts, due to slower penetration of newer vehicles with modern safety technologies and limitations on installing safety technologies which extend beyond the 2500 mm width."

Related reading:
ATA welcomes new rest area guidelines
ATA: defect inconsistencies must be addressed
Laws must treat truck drivers like humans: ATA

After consultation with industry and government stakeholders, Austroads says there is majority support for an increase to 2550mm

"Some respondents indicated that their support is conditional on mandated safety technologies being included as part of the change and others raised concerns about the potential impact on domestic manufacturers and challenges for road managers when assessing the risks of wider vehicles," it says.

"These risks could be mitigated by mandating driver training and specific safety technologies (such as blind spot information systems and side under-run protection) and by supporting domestic manufacturing (transitional arrangements and subsidies to adapt processes).

"Some respondents suggested that the proposed change was not enough, and the change should allow vehicles access at 2600mm. The option to expand the policy change to allow some vehicles access at 2600mm is recommended for future consideration after the 2550mm relaxation has been proven on the network.

"While Austroads recognises that moving to a maximum heavy freight vehicle width of 2600mm would generate benefits for some in the freight industry, and especially the operators of refrigerated vehicles, the impact of the wider vehicles on road safety would need additional consideration."

However, the Australian Trucking Association says we've heard the recommendation before, without any subsequent action.

"It's decisions like this that are holding our country back economically," said ATA CEO, Ben Maguire.

"The ATA's understanding is that Austroads made the same recommendation 27 years ago, in 1992.

"The ATA and industry have consistently made the case that 2.6-metre-wide trucks should have been considered in this study, however Austroads has once again avoided the issue and delayed it to some distant future time," he said.

"An increase in allowable width to 2.6 metres would enable refrigerated trucks to utilise thicker insulated walls without loss of payload. In 38-degree outside temperatures, these thicker walls would reduce heat gain by 36 per cent and deliver a fuel saving of 2500 litres per typical refrigerated vehicle, per year.

"It appears our governments are not serious about the international harmonisation of refrigerated vehicle widths, ignoring the recommendation of the expert panel inquiry on freight and supply chain priorities."

The ATA has called for Austroads to release its truck width study immediately.

"Austroads has announced the completion of the study without releasing the actual study," Mr Maguire said.

"It has denied the ATA's request for a copy. We have lodged an immediate freedom of information request, because the public and the industry have the right to know why governments are not prepared to consider this sensible approach to increasing productivity and reducing fuel consumption."