Dimension limits

An eligible vehicle must comply with the dimension limits described in Table 2.

Note: Measurement of an eligible vehicle must be done as stated in section 8 of the VS Regulation. 

Total mass limits

An eligible vehicle must not exceed the mass limits requirements in Table 3.

6-axle crane towing a 3-axle boom support dolly

Axle spacings

The axle spacing of an eligible vehicle that is a 6-axle crane towing a 3-axle boom support dolly, which complies with the mass limit in Table 3, must comply with the minimum ground contact width (GCW) and minimum axle spacings set out in Table 4. 

Mass limits

An eligible vehicle that is a 6-axle crane towing a 3-axle boom support dolly whose axle spacing complies with Table 4 must not exceed the axle mass limit and maximum gross combination mass (GCM) limit set out in Table 5.

7-axle crane

Axle spacings

The axle spacing for an eligible vehicle that is a 7-axle crane which complies with the mass limit in Table 3  must comply with the minimum ground contact width (GCW) and minimum axle spacing set out in Table 6. 

Mass limits

Each axle of an eligible vehicle that is a 7-axle crane must not exceed 12.0t.

The gross vehicle mass (GVM) of an eligible vehicle that is a 7-axle crane whose axle spacing complies with Table 6 must not exceed 84.0t.

7-axle crane towing a 3-axle boom support dolly

Axle spacings

The axle spacing of an eligible vehicle that is a 7-axle crane towing a 3-axle boom support dolly, which complies with the mass limit in Table 3, must comply with the minimum ground contact width (GCW) and minimum axle spacings set out in Table 7.

Mass limits

An eligible vehicle that is a 7-axle crane towing a 3-axle boom support dolly whose axle spacing complies with Table 7 must not exceed the axle mass limit and maximum gross combination mass (GCM) limit set out in Table 8.

7-axle crane towing a 4-axle boom support dolly

Axle spacings

The axle spacing of an eligible vehicle that is a 7-axle crane towing a 4-axle boom support dolly, which complies with the mass limit in Table 3, must comply with the minimum ground contact width (GCW) and minimum axle spacings set out in Table 9.

Mass limits

An eligible vehicle that is a 7-axle crane towing a 4-axle boom support dolly whose axle spacing complies with Table 9 must not exceed the axle mass limit, and maximum gross combination mass (GCM) limit set out in Table 10.

8-axle crane

Axle spacings

The axle spacing of an eligible vehicle that is an 8-axle crane which complies with the mass limit in Table 3, must comply with the minimum ground contact width (GCW) and minimum axle spacings set out in Table 11.

Mass limits

Each axle of an eligible vehicle that is an 8-axle crane must not exceed 12.0t.

The total mass of an eligible vehicle that is an 8-axle crane must not exceed 96.0t.

9-axle crane

Axle spacings

The axle spacing of an eligible vehicle that is a 9-axle crane which complies with the mass limit in Table 3, must comply with the minimum ground contact width (GCW) and minimum axle spacings set out in Table 12.

Mass limits

The axle mass for an eligible vehicle that is a 9-axle crane at reduced masses must not exceed 12.0t.

The total mass of an eligible vehicle that is a 9-axle crane must not exceed 108.0t.

9-axle crane at reduced masses

Axle spacings

The axle spacing for an eligible vehicle that is a 9-axle crane at reduced axle masses, which complies with the mass limit in Table 3, must comply with the minimum ground contact width (GCW) and minimum axle spacing set out in Table 12. 

Note: To avoid doubt, the 9-axle crane at reduced masses has the same axle spacing requirements as a 9-axle crane.

Mass limits

An eligible vehicle that is a 9-axle crane at reduced axle masses whose axle spacing complies with Table 12 must not exceed the axle mass limit and maximum gross combination mass (GCM) limit set out in Table 13.

Pilot and escort vehicle conditions

Daytime

An eligible vehicle exceeding 3.0m wide, or with a maximum combination length greater than 20m long and up to 22m long and operating in the Adelaide Hills area must be accompanied by one pilot vehicle.

An eligible vehicle exceeding 3.0m wide with a maximum combination length greater than 22m and up to 25m and operating in the Adelaide Hills area must be accompanied by two pilot vehicles.

An eligible vehicle exceeding 3.0m wide with a maximum combination length greater than 25m and operating in the Adelaide Hills area must be accompanied by two pilot vehicles and one police escort.

Night travel

An eligible vehicle exceeding 3.1m wide and operating at night in the Adelaide Metropolitan area or South Australian Country area must be accompanied by one pilot vehicle.

An eligible vehicle up to 25m in length operating in the Adelaide Hills at night must be accompanied by two pilot vehicles.

An eligible vehicle greater than 25m in length operating at night in the Adelaide Hills area must be accompanied by two pilot vehicles and one 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 – s290
• 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.

Single tyres and minimum tyre width

The mass for a single axle fitted with two tyres in Column 1 must not exceed the mass limit applying to it in Column 2 set out in Table 14.

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 15.

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 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 16 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.