The Performance-Based Standards (PBS) Scheme offers the heavy vehicle industry the potential to achieve higher productivity and safety through innovative and optimised vehicle design.
PBS vehicles are designed to perform their tasks as productively, safely and sustainably as possible, and to operate on networks that are appropriate for their level of performance. The basic principle of PBS is matching the right vehicles to the right tasks.
PBS vehicles are tested against 16 stringent safety standards and four infrastructure standards to ensure they fit the existing road network and are safe. The scheme has been in operation since October 2007.
Publications
- Adding identical vehicles to a PBS Vehicle Approval (PDF, 256KB) - From 1 April 2019, the VA number will not change when adding or removing identical vehicle units. This means that existing access permits no longer require updating as the VA number will remain the same.
- PBS pre-advised design approval process (PDF, 338KB) - Guidance about the extension of the PBS pre-advised design approval process to include qualifying truck and 5- and 6-axle dog combinations
- PBS Vehicle Configurations chart (PDF, 1.1MB) - This chart shows some of the NHVR-approved PBS heavy vehicle combinations used in Australia. Other heavy vehicle configurations may not be represented.
- PBS vehicles carrying dangerous goods (PDF, 144KB) - Describes the requirements for PBS approved tankers carrying dangerous goods.
- Performance Based Standards - A guide for road managers (8.6MB) - This booklet is designed to provide road managers with a greater understanding of the Performance Based Standards (PBS) scheme, and its principles, benefits and approval processes, to make it as easy as possible to assess, and grant network access to, PBS vehicles.
- Performance Based Standards - Australia’s PBS fleet 2019 (PDF, 732KB) - To assist the heavy vehicle market to better understand the significance and benefits of PBS, the Australian Road Transport Suppliers Association (ARTSA) and the NHVR have prepared this report.
- Updates to the PBS pre-advised design approval process (PDF, 372KB) - From 22 July 2019, the PBS pre-advised design approval process has been extended to include vehicles carrying dangerous goods