General Access Vehicles (GAV) don't require a permit or notice to access road networks; these vehicles have as-of-right access to the network unless signposted otherwise.
For a heavy vehicle to be considered a GAV, it must:
- Be an eligible vehicle or combination listed in the below table
- Comply with the dimension requirements for the eligible vehicle or combination.
- Comply with GAV Mass limits (GML/CML) for the eligible vehicle or combination.
Eligible general access vehicles and combinations
Prime mover |
Rigid truck |
Rigid truck and trailer combinations |
Prime mover semitrailer combinations |
Bus |
Level 1 Performance Based Vehicles (PBS) |
A heavy motor vehicle designed to tow a semitrailer. |
A rigid motor vehicle built mainly as a load carrying vehicle. |
A rigid truck towing one trailer up to 19m in length. |
A prime mover towing one semitrailer up to 19m in length. |
A heavy motor vehicle built or fitted to carry more than nine adults, including the driver. |
A vehicle approved under PBS at Level 1 (PDF, 326KB), not longer than 20 metres in length. |
Mass and Dimension Limits
Heavy vehicle size and weight restrictions are known as General Mass and Dimension Limits.
The Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) Regulation defines general mass and dimension limits.
Any vehicle or combination that exceeds a general mass or dimension is considered a Restricted Access Vehicle (RAV) and requires a permit or notice to travel on the road network.
Additional information on the GAV vehicle or combination is available on the specific vehicle pages above. If your vehicle or combination complies, it can travel without a permit.
GAV Dimension Limits
Vehicle dimensions apply to all heavy vehicles. If a GAV exceeds a dimension limit, it becomes a Restricted Access Vehicle (RAV) and will require a notice or permit to access a road or network. Dimension limits include
- width
- length
- height
- rear overhang
- forward projection.
The General mass and dimension limits web page provides more information on general dimensions.
GAV Mass limits
To be considered a GAV, the vehicle or combination must be an eligible vehicle in the above table and comply with general mass requirements.
General mass requirements include:
- those specified by the vehicle manufacturer
- individual axles and axle groups as prescribed in the MDL Regulations
- mass limits for individual components (vehicles and trailers)
- the combination mass limit, including as determined by axle spacing requirements.
General Mass Limits (GML) | Concessional Mass Limits (CML) |
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> More about GML | > More about CML |
Other vehicle types - Restricted Access Vehicles
Restricted Access Vehicles (RAVs) are all other vehicles not outlined on this page. RAVs must be provided approval through a notice or a permit before travel on any road or network.
A RAV may be provided access to all roads via a Notice. In these circumstances, the RAV can operate on all roads unless signposted otherwise or conditioned in the notice, for example, bridge tonnage restrictions.
- Browse the classes of heavy vehicles page for more information about RAVs.
- Contact us if you need assistance defining your vehicle type
Download and print a vehicle chart
You can download and print a copy of the NHVR Heavy Vehicle configurations and variation charts for quick reference.
The NHVR charts show some of the common heavy vehicle combinations used in Australia. Access for some vehicles and configurations are governed by a notice or permit. Not all heavy vehicle configurations are listed in the heavy vehicle chart.
The mass and length limits shown are derived from the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation and are provided for general guidance only
Vehicle configurations in these charts must also comply with other regulatory requirements. Such as:
- width
- height
- tyre width
- vehicle standards
- load restraint
- suspension type
If you require further assistance, please contact us.
Common Heavy Freight Vehicle Configurations chart (PDF, 972KB)
The first three sections of the chart are General Access Vehicles.
Variations of Buses under the Heavy Vehicle National Law and Gazette Notices (PDF, 260KB)
The first table is a chart of General Access Vehicles.
PBS Vehicle Configurations chart (PDF, 1.17MB)
Refer to the PBS level Column.
Definitions
Term being defined | Definitions | Source |
---|---|---|
General access | General access means access to all roads, subject to the operation of the road rules and unless signposted otherwise | |
Complying steer axle vehicle |
A road train with a single steer axle is a complying steer axle vehicle if the vehicle has all of the following:
|
Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation |
Concessional Mass Limits (CML) | CML is mass exceptions that apply as an exception to GML. CML applies to certain heavy vehicles
The operator must be accredited under the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS) Mass Management Module and the vehicle must be nominated. |
Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation Schedule 2 |
General Mass Limits (GML) | The heavy vehicle general axle mass limits prescribed in the HVNL that apply to public roads in Australia unless otherwise limited by load restriction signs. | Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation Schedule 1 |
Twinsteer |
A hauling unit that is fitted with a tandem steering axle group. The tandem steer axle group is equipped with single tyres to both axles and connected to the same steering column. The axles are spaced at least 1m apart but no more than 2m apart. Figure 1 demonstrates the minimum axle spacing requirements of a prime mover fitted with a twinsteer axle group, required to obtain the maximum GML as 11t for load sharing . Figure 1 Twinsteer maximum mass limit spacing requirement |
Heavy Vehicle National Law |
Load-sharing suspension system (of an axle group) |
Means a suspension system:
|
Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation |
Eligible 3-axle bus |
Means: the bus
|
Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation |
Eligible 2-axle bus |
Means the bus:
|
Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation |
Bus |
Means a heavy motor vehicle built or fitted to carry more than 9 adults (including the driver). |
Heavy Vehicle National Law |
Complying bus |
Means a bus with 2 or 3 axles, 1 of which is a steer axle, that is fitted with an approved air suspension system and meets:
|
Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation |
Ultra-low floor bus |
Means a bus that:
|
Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation |