Introduction

In New South Wales, Regulations made under the Motor Traffic Act 1935 limit the overall size (width,
height and length) and some internal dimensions of vehicles. These limits ensure that vehicles have
adequate manoeuvrability and that they are compatible with road systems and other traffic.
A permit to exceed dimensions (available from Permits Section of the RTA) is required if the length,
rear overhang, forward projection, width or height of a vehicle exceeds the limits allowed by the
regulations.
Contents
1) Length
2) Height and Width
3) Ground Clearance
4) Projecting Loads and Equipment
5) Loading Space
1. Length
The following diagrams show the maximum length allowed for various types of vehicles:
Truck Bus/Coach
Vehicle Standards Information No. 5
for Vehicle Owners & Operators in New South Wales Revision 3, May 1998
First issued June 1993
Cat. No. 45070585A
Issued by Vehicle Standards, Driver and Vehicle Policy Branch, Roads & Traffic Authority of New South Wales
(10 pages)
www.rta.nsw.gov.au/dvpr/vss.htm
12.5m
6) Rear Overhang
7) Turning Circle
8) Axle-Groups and Suspension Systems
9) Permits
Vehicle
Dimension Limits
12.5m
Note: Articulated buses (Bendy-buses) 18m
Controlled Access Buses (Restricted Access) 14.5m
.
.
page 2 Vehicle Standards Information Sheet No. 5
Truck and Pig Trailer
Trailer with only one axle or axle group
Note:
(i) a livestock trailer (a trailer built to carry cattle, sheep, goats, pigs or horses) must have no
more than 12.5m of its length available for the carriage of animals. The length available is
measured from the inside of the front wall or door of the trailer to the inside of the rear wall or
door of the trailer but excluding any intervening partitions.
A livestock trailer of overall length not exceeding 13.7m (single deck only for cattle/horses and
double deck allowed in the case of sheep/goats/pigs) may be operated in NSW under an
overdimensional vehicle permit.
(ii) a low loader float (a gooseneck semi-trailer with a loading deck of no more than 1m above
ground level) is not subject to certain internal dimension limits applicable to other types of articulated
vehicles.
The dimensions concerned are:-
(1) the distance from the kingpin to the foremost extremity of the rear overhang may exceed 9.5m;
and
(2) the distance between the point of articulation to the rearmost extremity of the rear overhang
may exceed 12.3m.
However, the overall limits for length, width and height must be observed unless
operating under a permit.
the length of a semi-trailer does
not include any refrigeration or
other auxiliary equipment or any
loading space of a reduced width
at the front of the semi-trailer
Rear
overhang
line
Point of articulation
Maximum forward projection of
the trailer to be within this arc
1.9m radius
9.5m
12.3m
19.0m
Articulated Vehicle
Truck and Dog Trailer
Trailer with steerable front axle or axle group
12.5m
8.5m
12.5m
19.0m 19.0m
#
For dog trailers first registered on or after 1st January, 1983, must not exceed 5 metres. In
the case of a dog trailer used in a road train must also not be less than 3 metres. #
#
page 3 Vehicle Standards Information Sheet No. 5
25.0m
, A rigid vehicle and two trailers;
c. Car Carrier
Definition: A motor vehicle combination that is designed or adapted for the transport of motor
vehicles.
Typical Car Carrier Combinations -
A rigid vehicle and semi-trailer;
Car Carrier (designed to carry vehicles on more than one
deck) overall length must not be more than 23m
Road Train overall length
must not be more than 53.5m
#
#
Non-Rigid Restricted Access Vehicles
a. B-Double
Note: For a livestock B-Double the two semi-trailers must have no more than 18.8m of their combined length
available for the carriage of animals, ie. the total longitudinal internal length of the combined loading spaces
(excluding any internal partitions) with the door or gates closed must not exceed 18.8m.
b. Road Train
Definition: A Road Train is a combination other than a B-Double, consisting of a motor
vehicle towing at least two trailers (counting as one trailer a converter dolly
supporting a semi-trailer)
Typical Road Train Combinations -
, A prime mover, semi-trailer and a dog trailer;
#
# #
#
page 4 Vehicle Standards Information Sheet No. 5
2. Height and Width
2.5m
For Restricted Access and all
multiple deck livestock or
primary produce transporters
operating on prescribed
routes, or car carriers carrying
vehicles on more than one
deck, this dimension may be
4.6 metres.
For double-deck buses this
dimension may be 4.4
metres.
The overall width is the maximum distance measured across the body including wheel guards, but
excluding rear vision mirrors, lights, signalling devices, side mounted lights and tyre pressure
monitoring systems.
3. Ground Clearance
A vehicle or combination must have a ground clearance of:
a. at least 100mm at any point within 1 metre of an axle; and
b. at least one-thirtieth of the distance between the centres of adjacent axles at the mid-point
between them; and
c. at any other point - at least the distance that allows the vehicle or combination to pass over
a peak in a road, the gradient on either side of which is 1:15, when the wheels of one axle
of the vehicle or combination are on the slope on one side of the peak and the wheels
of the next axle are on the slope on the other side.
Ground clearance at the mid-point
between two axles
Ground clearance
over a peak in the
road
1:15 gradient
ground clearance checked at mid-point
= =
Collapsible type mirrors may
protrude up to 230mm beyond
the extreme width of the
vehicle (where the
manufacturers nominated
gross vehicle mass is 3.5
tonnes or more).
4.3m
.
.
page 5 Vehicle Standards Information Sheet No. 5
This paragraph applies only to vehicles manufactured before 1st July, 1988.
Note: These requirements do not apply to a truck with an unladen weight
less than 2 tonnes and a rear overhang not exceeding 50% of its
wheel-base.
a) If tare weight is less than 50% of
aggregate weight, B must not be
more than 90% of A.
b) If tare weight is more than 50% of
aggregate weight, B must not be
more than A.
12.5m (Rigid vehicles) 2.5m
(i)
(ii),(iii)
Rear
overhang
line
150mm
1.2m
4. Projecting Loads and Equipment
Note (i) A red flag is required if the load projects more than 1.2m to the rear.
Note (ii) Lesser of 3.7m or 60% of wheelbase.
Note (iii) Maximum of 4.9m in the case of trailers carrying vehicles (i.e. car carriers) on more than one deck.
A vehicle must still comply with the previously described limits on length,
height and width when loaded.
5. Loading Space
6. Rear Overhang
All the dimensions illustrated below and overleaf are measured from the foremost extremity of rear
overhang (shown here as dotted line). In the case of vehicles fitted with twin steer axle-groups, the
wheelbase is measured from the foremost axle.
Trucks
Rear overhang must not exceed the lesser of:
a) 3.7m
or
b) 60% of the wheelbase.
Rear overhang Wheelbase
page 6 Vehicle Standards Information Sheet No. 5
Dog Trailers
Rear overhang must not exceed the lesser of:
a) 3.7m
or
b) 60% of the wheelbase..
Other Trailers
Rear overhang must not exceed the lesser of:
a) 3.7m
or
b) Front loading space (in the case
of trailers first registered on or
after 1st January, 1983)
Articulated Vehicles (other than articulated buses)
Rear overhang must not exceed the
lesser of:
a) 3.7m
or
b) 60% of S
Buses
Rear overhang must not
exceed the lesser of:
a) 3.7m
or
b) 60% of the wheelbase.
Controlled Access Buses up to 14.5m in length must not exceed the lesser of 70% of the difference between
the centre of the foremost axle and the foremost extremity of the rear overhang or 4.9m.
Articulated
Buses
(Bendy-buses)
point of articulation
Rear overhang S
Wheelbase Rear overhang
Wheelbase Rear overhang
Wheelbase Rear overhang
y x
y shall not exceed 40% of x
page 7 Vehicle Standards Information Sheet No. 5
Articulated Buses (Bendy-buses)
All parts, except mirrors and signalling devices,
must be able to move within this track
How to determine the foremost extremity of rear overhang
(shown here as dotted line)
One axle Two axles Two axles Three axles
each axle fitted one axle with each axle fitted
with the same twice the number of with the same
number of tyres tyres as the other axle number of tyres
Special Case
A retractable axle or steerable axle is ignored for the purpose of measuring rear overhang if it is the rear-
most axle in the group as illustrated below.
7 Vehicles other than
articulated buses
Maximum 25m, or 26m in the case of
buses exceeding 11m in length and
manufactured before 1 July 1988;
measured from outer edge of front tyre.
7. Turning Circle
25.0m
12.0m
5.3m
Steerable or retractable axle
Rear overhang Rear overhang
F
R
O
N
T
F
R
O
N
T
page 8 Vehicle Standards Information Sheet No. 5
An axle-group is a combination of one, two or three axles which collectively support a vehicle or
portion of a vehicle.
Number of Axle Groups
i) A rigid vehicle or prime-mover
may be supported by two axle-groups
only. Wheels of the front axle-group
must be connected to a steering
mechanism for the vehicle.
ii) Trailers may have two axle-groups
provided that the front group is steered
by the drawbar. Otherwise trailers must
have one axle-group only.
iii) Semi-trailers (the rear part of
articulated vehicles) must have
one axle-group only.
Prohibited Axle Groups
The Motor Traffic Regulations limit the arrangements of some axle-groups and suspension systems
which are fitted to heavy vehicles. These limits are imposed for the protection of roads and relate to the
spacing of axles within groups and to the loadsharing capabilities of the group.
Only axle-groups which conform with axle spacing and loadsharing requirements may be fitted to new
vehicles.
The axle-groups illustrated below and on the next page are prohibited on vehicles first registered in
New South Wales on or after 28th April, 1978. If an axle-group on any vehicle is modified after that
date it must, after modification, conform with these requirements.
1. Tandem axle- groups with axles spaced
at more than 2m.
2. Twin-steer axle groups with axles spaced
at more than 2m.
Must be not less than 3.2m
but not more than 4.9m
Must be not less than 2m
but not more than 3.2m
3. Tri-axle groups with axles spaced
at more than 3.2m.
Must be not less than 1m
but not more than 2m
4. Quad axle groups with axles spaced
at more than 4.9m.
Must be not less than 1m
but not more than 2m
or
steering axles
pivot
8. Axle Groups and Suspension Systems
page 9 Vehicle Standards Information Sheet No. 5
5. Tandem or tri-axle groups which are not provided with an effective system of loadsharing.
(Certain axle-groups are exempted - see under Loadsharing Axle-Groups on next page)
Prohibited axle groups (continued)
Loadsharing Axle-Groups
The Motor Traffic Regulations require that, on new vehicles, groups of two or more axles must have
an effective means of loadsharing. This does not apply to twin steer axle-groups or to closely spaced
axles such as those found on small caravans and trailers. Loadsharing axle-groups are those in which
each axle carries an equal share of the load supported by the axle group, no matter how uneven the
road surface is. With non loadsharing axle-groups it is possible, on an uneven surface, for one axle in
such a group to carry most of the load while the other axles are lightly loaded. This can cause excessive
road damage.
Note that a retractable axle must be loadsharing with other axles in the group when the retractable
axle is down.
A comprehensive list of loadsharing truck suspension systems is contained in the Guide to Heavy
Vehicle Suspension Systems and Acceptable Axle Groups which is issued by the Commonwealth
Department of Transport.
In general terms, a loadsharing axle-group requires a linkage between the axles or between the springs
of each axle. This linkage might consist of beams, rockers, bell-cranks and push-rods, torsion bars,
hydraulic devices or pneumatic devices.
The movement of these linkage devices can often be observed as the axles of the vehicle across an
uneven surface. For example, the beam which links the axles in the first illustration will rock about
the central pivot when the wheels pass over the bump.
The illustrations below and overleaf show some popular, acceptable types of loadsharing suspensions.
The linkages which transfer the load are shaded grey.
Rubber-spring
linking axles
Pushrod
linking
axles
Leaf-spring
linking axles
Beam linking
leaf-springs
Air-line linking
air-springs
Leaf-spring &
radius rods
linking axles
Rocker linking
leaf-springs
Beam linking
axles
page 10 Vehicle Standards Information Sheet No. 5
RTA Blacktown:
Vehicle Regulation Unit
Level 1, 85 Flushcombe Road
PO Box 558
BLACKTOWN NSW 2148
Tel: (02) 9830 5555
Fax: (02) 9831 0913
RTA Wollongong:
Vehicle Regulation Unit
104 Market Street
PO Box 5398
WOLLONGONG NSW 2500
Tel: (02) 4226 7007
Fax: (02) 4225 8844
RTA Charlestown:
Vehicle Regulation Unit
Cnr Pacific Hwy & Frederick St
PO Box 585
CHARLESTOWN NSW 2290
Tel: 1 800 049 920
or (02) 4940 5555
Fax: (02) 4921 0827
RTA Parkes:
Vehicle Regulation Unit
PO Box 334
PARKES NSW 2870
Tel: 1 800 809 388
Fax: (02) 6862 8496
Permits to Exceed Weight & Dimension Limits:
The Permits Unit
260 Elizabeth Street PO Box A97 Tel: (02) 9218 2661
SURRY HILLS NSW 2010 SOUTH SYDNEY NSW 2000 Fax: (02) 9218 6564
FURTHER INFORMATION
9. Permits
Under the national mass and loading arrangements a vehicle or combination is classified as either a
General Access or Restricted Access vehicle.
General access vehicles are those that do not exceed the following dimension limits (and general
access mass limits - refer to RTA booklet titled Vehicle Operations - Heavy Vehicle Mass, Loading
and Access - available from your local motor registry):
Length Truck 12.5 metres
Bus/Coach 12.5 metres
Trailer 12.5 metres
Truck and trailer 19.0 metres
Articulated Vehicle 19.0 metres
Height All Vehicles 4.3 metres (4.4 metres for double-deck buses)
Width All vehicles 2.5 metres
Any vehicle or combination outside the above limits is classified as restricted access and may only
operate under a specific permit or under notice.
Restricted access vehicles include:
Combination vehicles longer than 19.0 metres (eg. B-doubles and Road Trains);
Vehicles more than 4.3 metres high, other than 4.4 metre double-deck buses (eg. livestock crates,
loaded car carriers and other commodity carriers);
Vehicles carrying individual loads, operating under overdimension permits scheme; and
Special purpose vehicles (ie. a vehicle that does not carry passengers or goods or whose primary
purpose is not the carriage of passengers or goods) exceeding the general access dimensions
or mass limits. Refer to RTA pamphlet Registration Charges - What is a Special Purpose
Vehicle? available at your local motor registry.
Permits and information on their nature, conditions and cost may be obtained from the:
Permits Unit
Ground Floor, Centennial Plaza
260 Elizabeth Street
Surry Hills NSW 2010
Tel. (02) 9218 2661
Fax. (02) 9218 6564