Updates to CML on Vehicle Approvals (VAs) 

This page explains how the amendments to the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), coming into effect mid-2026, are to be reflected in PBS Design Approvals (DAs) and Vehicle Approvals (VAs).

All VAs issued before the HVNL implementation date will be considered legacy VAs and will still be permitted access to the road network under their VA, notice or access permit. All references to Concessional Mass Limits (CML) should be regarded as meaning General Mass Limits (GML).

If a VA is modified on or after the HVNL implementation date with a change that does not result in a new VA number, the CML labelling references in the mass tables will not be updated. This is to ensure all access permits stay accurate and compliant without operator intervention.

All other VAs will be updated to reflect the new GML labelling when a new application is received. The date of the Design Approval (DA) will determine how the VAs will be labelled.

Pre HVNL implementation date DA

Current labelling of GML will be updated to GML 1, and CML will be updated to GML 2 on the VA only. If there are already multiple GML labels, the labels will continue with the next number in the sequence. The DA will not be updated at this stage.

Post HVNL implementation date DA

The VA will be created as per mass labels on the DA, which will not contain any references to CML. Mass tables may continue to contain multiple mass case references as per the previous process if the PBS assessor deems this necessary. 

Quad Mass Limits (QML)

Quad-axle combinations will also be affected by this change. For quad-axle combinations, the QML 1 masses will be updated to reflect GML.

National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS) conditions

For legacy VAs, all references to the “National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS) – Mass Management Accreditation” being required for CML may be disregarded. Operators will be able to run at the CML listed on their VA without Mass Management Accreditation after the HVNL implementation date.

All VAs issued after the HVNL implementation date will have the NHVAS – Mass Management Accreditation (for CML) condition removed.

Example 4: Condition to be disregarded

Concessional Mass Limits (CML) requirements:

• an NHVAS - Mass Management Accreditation must be in force for all motor vehicles listed on this vehicle approval.

PBS combinations requiring Mass Management and Maintenance Management Accreditation

Some PBS combinations, including but not limited to, quad-axle and split-axle combinations, will still require operators to be accredited with the NHVAS Mass and/or Maintenance Management Accreditation or the Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (HVA) scheme, mass (ACA-Mass) and/or maintenance (GSA-MAP).

PBS will still accept NHVAS Mass and/or Maintenance Management Accreditation during the three-year transition period after the HVNL implementation date. Once this transition period has ended, operators must hold the HVA scheme, mass (ACA-Mass) and/or maintenance (GSA-MAP).

Both the legacy NHVAS Accreditation and the HVA scheme will be compliant with these conditions. Legacy VAs should be interpreted to comply if they hold either of these accreditations until the end of the transition period.

All VAs issued after the HVNL implementation date will contain the following updated conditions.

Example 5: List of updated conditions

Higher Mass Limits (HML) requirements:

• for tandem axles groups, road friendly suspensions;
• for tri-axle groups, road friendly suspensions and a NHVAS – Mass Management Accreditation or HVA - ACA-Mass must be in force for all motor vehicles listed on this vehicle approval.

Quad-axle Mass Limits (QML) requirements:

• or tandem and tri-axle groups, road friendly suspensions;
• the quad-axle group must be fitted with a road-friendly suspension system that is certified for tri-axle groups in accordance with the requirements of VSB 11; and
• all axles in the quad-axle group must be fitted with dual tyres; and
• an NHVAS – Mass Management or HVA - ACA-Mass must be in force for all motor vehicles listed on this VA.
• An NHVAS – Maintenance Management Accreditation or HVA scheme - Maintenance (GSA-MAP) must be in force for all vehicles listed on this vehicle approval.
• If steerable axles are fitted to the semitrailer(s) and/or dolly, a NHVAS – Maintenance Management Accreditation or HVA scheme - Maintenance (GSA-MAP). must be in force for all vehicles listed on this vehicle approval.

Operators must continue to comply with all conditions listed on their VAs that do not relate to CML.

Increasing Level 1 maximum length to 20m - MDL Regulation exemptions

The Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL Regulation) has been updated to allow the following combinations that are up to 20m to run as General Access Vehicles (GAVs):

• Truck and trailer
  • truck and dog
  • truck and pig
  • truck and tag trailer.
• Prime mover and semitrailer.

The additional length allowances come with additional conditions outlined in the HVNL. Compliance with some of these additional conditions is not covered in the PBS certification process (e.g. requirements for Side Underrun Protection), and therefore, exemptions will continue to be applied as per current (pre-implementation date) processes.

Euro VI complying steer axle vehicle condition changes

Road train combinations

From the HVNL implementation date, PBS road trains will be allowed to run as Euro VI vehicles without the Pavement Vehicle Loading (PVL) Standard exemption required.

All VAs issued before the HVNL implementation date with the PVL exemption will be considered compliant with the standard, and the exemption may be disregarded.

All VAs issued on or after the HVNL implementation date will not contain the PVL exemption, even if the DA that the VA was certified against still contains the exemption.

Operators may request the conditions be removed from their VA by contacting their PBS Certifier to submit an application to modify the VA.

DAs will only be updated to remove this condition if an amendment or variation is completed.

Tri-axle drive group combinations

As of the HVNL implementation date, tri-axle drive group combinations will not be eligible to use the Euro VI Mass Transfer to exceed GML mass limits on the drive group (21t). Effectively, this means that the Euro VI mass transfer allowance is only applicable on the steer axle group.

Any VA issued with the Euro VI Mass Transfer allowance prior to the HVNL implementation date will be grandfathered and will continue to be able to access the mass transfer on the drive axle group if previously allowed to apply the allowance to the drive group. VA updates received after this date will be issued without the Euro VI Mass Transfer allowance on the drive axle group.

DAs will only be updated to remove this condition if an amendment or variation is completed.

Component rating and tyres

From the HVNL implementation date, the Euro VI vehicle definitions no longer prescribe specific tyre section widths or component ratings.

However, to access a steer axle limit over 6.5t for a Euro VI vehicle (complying steer axle), the vehicle must be fitted with tyres with section widths of at least 315mm (with a 6.5t limit applying for tyres of at least 295mm but less than 315mm).

To access twinsteer limit over 11.0t for a Euro VI vehicle (twinsteer), the vehicle must be fitted with tyres with section widths of at least 275mm. These requirements are now in Table 1 of Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the MDL Regulation.

Vehicles listed on VAs issued before 13 March 2026 must continue to comply with all conditions. Vehicles must still be rated to the steer mass listed in the VA and use only the tyres listed in the tyre list of the VA.

A DA variation will be required to update the mass tables and conditions on DAs issued before 13 March 2026, and a corresponding application to modify will need to be submitted to any affected VAs.

Any VA issued after 13 March 2026 that is using a DA that has the previous version of the mass tables will automatically be updated to reflect the new format.

DAs and VAs issued after 13 March 2026 that allow the Euro VI mass transfer allowance will show the extra 500kg on the drive axle group, with an updated condition for the mass transfer allowance.

The PBS assessor can also nominate the 500kg to be added to the steer or the drive axle groups only, with no mass transfer allowance. The VA will always reflect the mass table from the DA, and no other changes to the steer or drive axle masses will be permitted.

The 7.1t steer axle road train allowance does not apply in addition to the 500kg Euro VI mass allowance. i.e., 7.6t on the steer is not possible.

Important dates

All DA and VA applications issued after the HVNL implementation date will be processed in accordance with HVNL requirements, as outlined in this information sheet.