Road managers
Accessibility tools
HVSAPS will remove the need for manual bridge assessments for the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) and provide Class 1 and PBS operators with faster consent approvals for Victorian state-controlled roads and reduce administrative burden.
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is working with the DTP in preparation for the launch of the Heavy Vehicle Structural Assessment Permit System (HVSAPS) on 12 January 2026.
Understanding HVSAPS
HVSAPS has been developed to significantly reduce consent turnaround times for state-controlled roads (local councils and other road managers will continue using existing consent processes).
HVSAPS will also eliminate the need for the industry to pay for bridge assessment fees from 1 January 2026.
It should be noted that DTP must still conduct other assessments, such as Geometry Assessments, that are not actioned through HVSAPS to ensure road safety.
HVSAPS will be directly accessible through 
, providing road managers and industry with access to regulatory tools and services through a single, digital destination.
Class 1 operators will start benefiting from HVSAPS through the existing permit application process.
From 12 January 2026, Class 1 applications will be sent to HVSAPS automatically when the application moves to road manager consent.
Operators will see a new banner indicating that HVSAPS is processing the case.
Access Assessment tool
A new Access Assessment tool will be available to PBS operators alongside HVSAPS from 12 January 2026.
The use of the HVSAPS Access Assessment tool will be mandatory for all new PBS permit applications in Victoria.
The tool will allow operators to enquire about access for different vehicle combinations, with enquiries sent directly to HVSAPS to identify network restrictions and provide greater transparency on the available access (an operator is then required to select their approved assessments to be included in the permit application).
Improvements will be made to the HVSAPS Access Assessment tool throughout 2026, such as the digitisation of PBS Vehicle Approval (VA) documents, enabling PBS operators to select and automatically load PBS combination data directly from their digital VA records.
The tool will also be expanded to Class 1 operators in the second quarter of 2026.
Combination limits for PBS permits
The use of HVSAPS will limit new PBS permit applications to no more than 10 combinations. The use of the HVSAPS Access Assessment tool will support industry to make more informed decisions when selecting combinations for a permit application.
More information
As the lead agency for this project, all enquiries about HVSAPS and the structural assessment results may be directed to hvsaps_support@transport.vic.gov.au
The NHVR has provided FAQs to assist industry in using HVSAPS for permit applications:
- HVSAPS FAQs – permit applications
- Coming soon - HVSAPS tutorial for permit applications