Dimension limits

An eligible vehicle must comply with the dimension limits described in Tables 2 and 3.

Rear overhang limits

An eligible vehicle must have a rear overhang length not exceeding the lesser of:

• 4.0m; or
• 90% of the distance between the centreline of the front axle and the rear overhang line.

Forward projection

The forward projection of an eligible vehicle must not exceed 5.5m.

Minimum widths

An eligible vehicle must meet the following minimum ground contact and axle spacing widths in Table 3.

Total mass limits

The total mass of an eligible vehicle must not exceed 28t.

Mass limits for single axle and axle groups

The mass limit on an axle must not exceed 14t.

Pilot and escort vehicle conditions

An eligible vehicle exceeding 3.0m wide, when operating in the Adelaide Hills area under the Notice during daylight hours, is required to be accompanied by one pilot vehicle.

For travel at night in the Adelaide Hills area, the eligible vehicle must be accompanied by pilot vehicles as follows:

• one pilot vehicle up to 3.0m wide; or
• two pilot vehicles if more than 3.0m wide.

Where centre-line travel is specified on the approved maps, the vehicle must slow to 5km/h and requires a police escort.

Pilot and escort vehicle eligibility

Pilot and escort vehicles must comply with the requirements of Schedule 8 of the MDL to be eligible to escort an oversize vehicle.

Pilot and escort vehicles (Schedule 8, Part 1, Division 5)

• Requirements for a pilot vehicle (including vehicle size and warning sign) – s26
• Requirements for an escort vehicle (including vehicle size and warning sign) – s27
• Headlights on a pilot or escort vehicle (low-beam headlights switched on during the daytime) – s28
• Restriction on what a pilot or escort vehicle may carry – s29
• Where a pilot vehicle must be driven – s30
• Communication between drivers – s31

Warning light (Schedule 8, Part 3, Division 1)

• Characteristics of warning light – s35
• Visibility of warning lights – s36
• Switch for warning lights to be within easy reach – s37
• Warning lights to be on if required, and off if not – s38

Warning sign (Schedule 8, Part 3, Division 2)

• Face of warning sign (outlines surface material requirements) – s41
• Other specifications for warning signs (such as display and maintenance) – s42
• Size and shape of warning sign – s49
• Faces of warning sign – s50
• Fitting warning sign – s51

Exemptions from Road Rules

Rule 311 of the Australian Road Rules exempts the pilot vehicle operator or escort driver from a number of road laws, such as giving way, traffic signs and road markings, keeping left and overtaking, provided that the following requirements are met:

• it is not practicable for the driver to comply with the provision
• the driver is taking reasonable care
• the driver is complying with any other relevant law of this jurisdiction relating to oversize vehicles, including the conditions of any permit or authority issued in relation to the oversize vehicle.

Note: The Rule does not exempt the driver of a vehicle escorting or piloting an oversize vehicle from obeying traffic lights or arrows. Where an oversize load proceeds through a traffic light or traffic arrow, and the pilot is not legally able to follow, the oversize load is required to wait for the pilot to continue, noting that the oversize load can continue to a safe location clear of the intersection. With two pilots, the front pilot may be required to drop behind to cover the load.

Pilot vehicle operating guidelines

Role and responsibilities

The pilot vehicle operator must at all times:

• Provide a visual advance warning, by means of signs and warning lights, to other road users of the approach of an oversize vehicle using the road.
• Maintain the pilot vehicle in an appropriate position in relation to the oversize vehicle to provide adequate warning to other road users of the presence of the oversize vehicle, taking into account traffic speed, weather, visibility and other driving conditions.
• Inform oncoming or overtaking vehicles, by radio where possible, of load dimensions.
• Inform the oversize vehicle driver, by radio, of oncoming traffic, road conditions, bridge and traffic light status, clearance of load from trees and obstacles etc.
• Assess potential hazards and inform the driver of the oversize vehicle accordingly.
• Provide ‘rear vision’ when required due to load width.

Traffic control

Pilot vehicle operators do not have the power or authority to direct traffic. However, they may position their pilot vehicle in such a manner within the appropriate traffic lane to prevent other traffic from conflicting with the turning manoeuvres of the oversize vehicle.

The above duties must be performed in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Road Traffic Act 1961 and Rule 311 of the Australian Road Rules.

Clarification

While pilot(s) and/or escort(s) may be required as part of the exemption, the driver of the oversize vehicle and load remains responsible for the movement of the vehicle on the road and complying with all conditions of the exemption.

Positioning a pilot vehicle(s)

The distance between the pilot vehicle and the oversize vehicle should be adjusted to suit traffic and road conditions to ensure sufficient warning to other road users. Factors that could influence the distance between the pilot and oversize load are:

• traffic volumes
• approaching vehicle speed
• proportion of commercial vehicle traffic
• road alignment and sight distance.

Adelaide metropolitan area

Due to the higher traffic volumes and multi-lane carriageways in the metropolitan area, pilot vehicle operator(s) must remain as close as practical to the oversize vehicle without impeding its passage.

If two pilots are required as a condition of the exemption and the vehicle is operating on a multilane carriageway, the rear pilot should position their vehicle to ‘block’ lanes (within the parameters of Section 2) when the oversize vehicle is turning, to prevent other road users from colliding with the vehicle/load.

Adelaide Hills

The pilot vehicle operator(s) should generally be positioned well ahead and/or well behind the oversize vehicle in order to provide sufficient advanced warning to approaching traffic of an oversize vehicle.

South Australian country areas

The pilot vehicle operator(s) should be positioned well ahead and/or well behind the oversize vehicle depending on the traffic volumes and road conditions in order to provide sufficient advanced warning to approaching traffic of an oversize vehicle.

Dual tyres and minimum tyre width

An eligible vehicle must have dual tyres on each axle. Tyres must have a minimum width of 355.6mm (14 inches).

Carriage of extra equipment

An eligible vehicle may carry up to 1.0t of equipment related to the special purpose of the vehicle. This does not provide extra mass above the conditional mass limits of the Notice. 

Night Travel 

Night travel is permitted within the following areas on the approved networks:

• Adelaide Metropolitan Area
• Adelaide Hills Area
• South Australian Country Area.

An eligible vehicle travelling at night has additional pilot and escort requirements detailed in the 'Pilot and escort conditions' section of the Guide.

Hours of operation

Travel within the Adelaide Metropolitan Area is prohibited between the hours of 7am to 9am, and 4pm to 6pm Monday to Friday inclusive.

Speed restrictions

An eligible vehicle must comply with the following conditions: 

• The maximum speed must not exceed 80km/h, unless a lower limit applies.
• An 80km/h maximum speed sign must be fitted to the rear of the vehicle.
• A warning decal in the cabin visible from the driver’s position must display a maximum speed limit of 80km/h.

Additional rear marking plates and warning patterns

A rear marking plate must be fitted to the rearmost part of the body of an SPV. The rear marking plate must comply with VSB12 – Rear Marking Plates.

A warning pattern must be displayed on the left and right sides of any rigid projection extending more than 1.2 metres in front of the body of an SPV.

A warning pattern consists of diagonal stripes at least 150mm wide and alternatively coloured either red and white or black and white. The warning pattern must cover an area of at least 0.16m².

This is in addition to the requirements set out in Schedule 8, section 17(2) of the MDL about rear marking plates and warning patterns.

No travelling if low visibility

An eligible vehicle must not begin to travel if, due to circumstances such as fog, heavy rain, smoke, dust or insect plague:

• visibility is less than 250m in the daytime; or
• the headlights of a vehicle approaching within 250m could not be seen at night. 

If an eligible vehicle is already travelling when visibility is reduced to the level mentioned above, the driver must drive the vehicle into the nearest safe parking area and wait until visibility improves beyond that level before continuing to travel.

Minimum following distance

An eligible vehicle exceeding 2.5m in width must be driven at least 200m behind another oversize vehicle travelling in front of it, unless the driver is:

• driving on a multi-lane road or a length of road in a built-up area; or
• overtaking.

Side lights for travel at night with long front projections

When travelling at night, an eligible vehicle with a projection extending more than 1.2m in front of the vehicle must have a yellow light fixed on each side of the projection.

The light must be:

• fixed as far forward as possible, and shielded from the driver’s view; and
• isible to any traffic approaching the vehicle from its front; and
• visible to any traffic approaching the vehicle from the side on which it is fixed.

An eligible vehicle complying with the conditions of the Notice may operate on the network specified in Table 4.

Heavy Vehicle - Road Operations Access Map (HV-ROAM)

Prior to commencing any journey in South Australia, operators should refer to the Heavy Vehicle – Road Operations Access Map (HV-ROAM) page on the South Australian Government website to assist with journey and route planning. 

HV-ROAM should be used alongside the NHVR National Network Map and Traffic SA. 

For further information about the map, please visit the Heavy Vehicle – Road Operations Access Map (HV-ROAM) webpage.

Prior to commencing any journey, operators should review traffic alerts, road closures, travel delays, and other traffic advisory information for participating jurisdictions.

Table 5 provides details and links to official traffic advisory services for each participating jurisdiction. For more information about a particular service, contact the relevant jurisdiction or department via the contact details listed on the service webpage. 

Access permit applications are required for heavy vehicles that don’t comply with the conditions set out in a notice and when accessing routes that aren’t covered on an approved network.

The following pages provide useful information and resources for submitting access permit applications:

• Do I need a permit?: Information and resources for determining whether a road access permit, or a Notice is required to operate on Australian roads.
• Access permit application process: Information, resources, and instructions for submitting a valid access permit application.