March | 2017
National heavy vehicle general
dimension requirements
The prescribed dimension requirements for heavy vehicles Length
are set out under the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and
The length of a heavy vehicle is:
Loading) National Regulation 2013 (the Regulation).
ͧͧ for a combination other than a B-double, road train or a
General dimensions car carrier—19 metres
ͧͧ for a B-double—25 metres
Width
ͧͧ for a road train—53.5 metres
The width limit for vehicles is 2.5 metres, excluding:
ͧͧ for a car carrier —25 metres
ͧͧ rear vision mirrors, signalling devices and side-mounted
lamps and reflectors ͧͧ for an articulated bus—18 metres
ͧͧ anti-skid devices mounted on wheels, central tyre ͧͧ for a bus other than an articulated bus—14.5 metres
inflation systems, tyre pressure gauges ͧͧ for another vehicle—12.5 metres
ͧͧ permanently fixed webbing-assembly-type devices, such
as curtain-side devices, provided that the maximum Rigid truck
distance measured across the body including any part of
the devices does not exceed 2.55 metres.
ͧͧ removable load
restraint equipment,
if the maximum
distance across the
body of the heavy
vehicle, including
any part of the
equipment, is not
more than 2.55m. A bus other than an articulated bus - 14.5 metres
Height
The height limit is 4.3
metres unless it is a:
ͧͧ vehicle built to carry
cattle, horses, pigs or
sheep
on two decks - 4.6
metres
18m articulated bus
ͧͧ vehicle built with
at least 2 decks for
carrying
vehicles - 4.6 metres
ͧͧ double-decker bus - 4.4 metres
The information contained in this fact sheet is accurate at the time of publication and in the unlikely event of any conflict the HVNL prevails. This document
does not cover the authorised access. Some vehicles are not permitted to operate in some states. This document does not cover PBS Vehicles, if you require
this information about PBS vehicles, please refer to the PBS Fact Sheet.
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
Page 1 of 5 www.nhvr.gov.au
National heavy vehicle general dimension requirements
Length
Trailers
On a semi-trailer or dog trailer the distance from the front The articulation point to the rear of a semitrailer may be up to
articulation point to the rear over hang line must not be more 13.2 metres if the trailer has a distance of not more than 9.5
than 9.5 metres and the distance from the front articulation metres from the front articulation point to the rear overhang
point to the rear of the trailer must not be more than line, does not operate in a B-double or road train combination
12.3 metres. and otherwise complies dimensionally.
The maximum forward projection of a semi-trailer, or anything
attached to a semi-trailer must not protude beyond a
1.9-metre arc from the towing pivot pin (King pin).
Examples
Semi-trailer Dog-trailer
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
Page 2 of 5 www.nhvr.gov.au
National heavy vehicle general dimension requirements
Length
Refrigerated van trailers
The distance from the articulation point to the rear of a
semi-trailer may be up to 13.6 metres if the trailer is designed
and constructed for the positive control of temperature
through the use of refrigerated equipment, has a distance
from the articulation point to the rear overhang line of no
more than 9.9 metres and does not operate in a B-Double or Example of refrigerated van trailer dimensions
road train combination and otherwise complies dimensionally.
Car carriers
The distance measured at right angles between the rear
overhang line of a trailer carrying vehicles on more than one
deck and the rear of the rearmost vehicle on the trailer must
not exceed 4.9 metres.
Livestock carriers
ͧͧ A trailer built to carry cattle, horses, pigs or sheep on
Note - the length available for the carriage of cattle, horses, pigs or sheep
two or more partly or completely overlapping decks on a trailer is measured from the inside of the front wall or door of the
must not have more than 12.5 metres of its length trailer to the inside of the rear wall or door of the trailer,
available to carry cattle, horses, pigs or sheep. with any intervening partitions disregarded.
ͧͧ In a B-double built to carry cattle, horses, pigs or
sheep, the two semitrailers must not have more
than 18.8 metres of their combined length available
to carry cattle, horses, pigs or sheep.
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
Page 3 of 5 www.nhvr.gov.au
National heavy vehicle general dimension requirements
Dimension requirements
Rear overhang
The rear overhang must not exceed the lesser of 60% of the wheelbase or 3.7 metres.
Rear overhang on rigid trucks
Rear overhang on semi-trailer or dog trailer
The rear overhang must not exceed the lesser of 60% of the “S Dimension” or 3.7 metres.
Dog trailer Pig trailer
Rear overhang on a pig trailer must not exceed the lesser
of the length of the load-carrying area, forward of the rear
overhang line or 3.7 metres.
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
Page 4 of 5 www.nhvr.gov.au
National heavy vehicle general dimension requirements
Class 2 vehicle/combination dimensions B-double - 25 metres
What is a class 2 heavy vehicle?
Class 2 heavy vehicles as defined under the Heavy Vehicle
National Law Act 2012 (HVNL) as follows:
A heavy vehicle is a class 2 heavy vehicle if- B double – 26 metres
a. It-
i. Complies with the prescribed mass requirements and
prescribed dimension requirements applying to it; and
20.6m
ii. is- B-doubles can be 25m in length, however they can operate at
A. B-double; or 26m in length if the distance from the front articulation point
of the most forward semi-trailer to the rear of the B-double is
B. road train; or not more than 20.6m and the prime mover and the B-double
C. bus (other than an articulated bus) and that is is fitted with a:
longer than 12.5 metres; or ͧͧ front under-run protective device complying with
D. combination designed and built to carry vehicles Regulation 93 made under the UNECE Agreement or
on more than 1 deck and that together with its ADR 84-Front Underrun Impact Protection (FUPS)
load is longer than 19 metres or higher than 4.3 ͧͧ for a prime mover manufactured after December 2005
metres; or – is fitted with a cab complying with Regulation 29 made
E. motor vehicle or a combination that is higher under the UNECE Agreement; and
than 4.3 metres and is built to carry cattle, sheep, ͧͧ does not have an area built to carry goods, except for a
pigs or horses; or B-double vehicle carrier.
b. Performance-Based Standard (PBS) vehicle *. Note: A prime mover in a B-double carrying, or designed to
*Further information about PBS requirements can be found at: carry, vehicles may have a deck fitted over the top of the
prime mover that is carrying, or built to carry, a vehicle.
https://www.nhvr.gov.au/pbs
Double road train – 36.5 metres About the NHVR
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR)
is Australia’s dedicated independent regulator for
heavy vehicles over 4.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass.
The NHVR was created to administer one set of rules
for heavy vehicles under the Heavy Vehicle National
Triple road train – 53.5 metres Law (HVNL), improve safety and productivity, minimise
the compliance burden on the heavy vehicle transport
industry and reduce duplication and inconsistencies
across state and territory borders.
For more information
Controlled access bus - 14.5 metres
subscribe www.nhvr.gov.au/subscribe
visit www.nhvr.gov.au
email
[email protected] fax 07 3309 8777
post PO Box 492, Fortitude Valley Q 4006
201703-0113
tel 1300 MYNHVR* (1300 696 487)
*Standard 1300 call charges apply. Please check with your phone provider.
© National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (2016) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/au
Please note: While every attempt has been made to ensure the accuracy of the content of this fact sheet, it should not be relied upon as legal advice.
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
Page 5 of 5 www.nhvr.gov.au
