South Australia is moving to ease pressure on transport operators, with the State Government fast-tracking heavy freight reforms designed to cut fuel use, lift productivity and keep goods moving across the state.
The reform will give freight companies more flexibility to run more efficient truck and trailer combinations. At the centre of the changes is greater access for tri-drive rigid trucks and prime movers, along with new approvals for quad-axle trailer configurations on larger combinations like B-Doubles.
The reforms will take effect immediately and will see 100 new network maps introduced across state roads in South Australia. Careful consideration was made for each new network, including assessments of road and bridge infrastructure as well as the safety of drivers and other road users.
For operators travelling long regional freight routes, including corridors such as the Lincoln Highway, that could mean carrying significantly more freight in a single trip. Under the changes, the maximum weight limit of a typical B-Double will increase by up to 13 per cent to 77 tonnes, helping reduce the number of trips needed and cutting fuel use by as much as 18 per cent per tonne of payload.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said the change was about giving transport operators the freedom to work more efficiently straight away.
“Put simply, this means fewer trucks, less fuel, more freight and lower costs for transport businesses,” he said.
“This vital reform will also deliver significant benefits to our primary producers, who have done it tough through drought only to confront rising fuel costs.
“Whether we’re talking about groceries on our supermarket shelves, clothes on the rack at retail outlets, or even petrol in the bowser at the service station, the cost of transporting it there is factored into the sale price.”
For more info on transport, visit the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator website.
