General Access Vehicle

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:

  1. Be an eligible vehicle or combination listed in the below table
  2. Comply with the dimension requirements for the eligible vehicle or combination.
  3. 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)

GAV - Prime Movers

A heavy motor vehicle designed to tow a semitrailer.

General Access Vehicle - Rigid Truck

A rigid motor vehicle built mainly as a load carrying vehicle.

General Access Vehicle - Rigid truck and trailer combinations

A rigid truck towing one trailer up to 19m in length.

General Access Vehicle - Prime mover semitrailer combinations

A prime mover towing one semitrailer up to 19m in length.

Controlled Access Bus

A heavy motor vehicle built or fitted to carry more than nine adults, including the driver.

GAV - PBS Level 1 example

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)
  • General Mass Limits (GML) apply to all heavy vehicles by default. 
  • A GAV operating at GML, can access all roads without a permit or notice unless the road is signposted otherwise. for example, bridge tonnage restrictions.
  • A GAV can utilise the one-tonne mass transfer allowance (1TMTA). For more information visit about 1TMTA
> 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.

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 vehicle configurations chart

Common Heavy Freight Vehicle Configurations chart (PDF, 972KB)

The first three sections of the chart are General Access Vehicles.

 
 
PBS vehicle chart

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:

  • an engine complying with the emission control requirements contained in ADR 80/01 (Euro IV engine) or a later version of ADR 80
  • a front underrun protection device that complies with UN ECE Regulation No. 93 or ADR 84 – Front Underrun Impact Protection
  • a cabin that complies with UN ECE Regulation No. 29
  • appropriately rated tyres, axle and suspension to permit 6.5 tonnes on the steer axle
  • a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 15 tonnes or more 

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 .

Twinsteer max mass limit spacing

Figure 1 Twinsteer maximum mass limit spacing requirement

Heavy Vehicle National Law

Load-sharing suspension system (of an axle group)

Means a suspension system:

  • built to divide the load between the tyres on the group so no tyre carries a mass more than 10% above the mass it would carry if the load were divided equally; and
  • with effective damping characteristics on all axles of the group

Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation

Eligible 3-axle bus

Means: the bus

  • was manufactured before 1 January 2015; and
  • has 3 axles, including a rear tandem axle group fitted with single tyres on 1 axle and dual tyres on the other axle; and
  • is 1 of the following—
    • a complying bus;
    • a bus, other than an articulated bus, whose Length is more than 12.5m but not more than 14.5m;
    • an ultra-low floor bus;
  • a bus, other than an ultra-low floor bus that is authorised to carry standing passengers under an Australian road law; and is fitted with:
    • a complying anti-lock braking system; or
    • a vehicle stability function that complies with the version of UN ECE Regulation No. 13 applied to the bus at the bus's date of manufacture or a later version of UN ECE Regulation No. 13.

Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation

Eligible 2-axle bus

Means the bus:

  • was manufactured before 1 January 2016; and
  • has 2 axles, 1 of which is a single-drive axle fitted with dual tyres; and
  • is 1 of the following:
    • a complying bus;
    • an ultra-low floor bus;
    • a bus, other than an ultra-low floor bus that is authorised to carry standing passengers;
    • a bus, other than an articulated bus, whose Length is more than 12.5m but not more than 14.5m; and
  • is fitted with:
    • a complying anti-lock braking system; or
    • a vehicle stability function that complies with the version of UN ECE Regulation No. 13 applied to the bus at the bus's date of manufacture or a later version of UN ECE Regulation No. 13.

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:

  • the emergency exit specifications in ADR 44; and
  • the rollover strength specifications in ADR 59; and
  • the occupant protection specifications in ADR 68.

Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation

Ultra-low floor bus

Means a bus that:

  • has stairless entry; and
  • is accessible to wheelchairs; and
  • is authorised to carry standing passengers

Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation