Multi-combination theory course

PRIME MOVER

3 AXLE LOW LOADER

PRIME MOVER

PLATFORM

PRIME MOVER

LOW LOADER DOLLY

STEERABLE JINKER

PRIME MOVER

LOW LOADER DOLLY

4 AXLE LOW LOADER

TRAILERS

SKEL TRAILER

MAXIMUM AXLE WEIGHTS
AXLE WEIGHTS LIMITS FOR TRUCKS IN GENERAL USE:

On each steer axle there are two tyres, and on all others axles there are four

(excluding “super singles”).
Front steering axles:

• Any single axle fitted with two tyres 6.0 tonnes

• 
  A single axle fitted with two tyres on a Complying Bus 6.5 tonnes
  

• 
  Any single axle fitted with two “wide” tyres 6.7 tonnes
  

• 
  Any twin steer (two axle) group without “load sharing suspension” 10.0 tonnes
  

• 
  Any twin steer (two axle) group with a “load sharing suspension” 11.0 tonnes
  

Other axles:

• 
  Any single axle fitted with four tyres 9.0 tonnes
  

• 
  Any single axle fitted with four tyres on a Complying Bus 10.0 tonnes
  

• 
  Any Tandem axle group fitted with four tyres 11.0 tonnes
  

• 
  Any Tandem axle group fitted with four “wide” tyres 13.3 tonnes
  

• 
  Any Tandem axle group fitted with eight tyres 16.5 tonnes
  

• 
  Any Tandem axle group fitted with single tyres on one axle
  

and dual tyres on the other axle 13.0 tonnes

• 
  On a Complying Bus 14.0 tonnes
  

• 
  Any Tri-axle group fitted with twelve tyres 20.0 tonnes
  

• 
  Any Tri-axle group fitted with six “wide” tyres 20.0 tonnes
  

• 
  Any variation to a Tri-axle 15.0 tonnes
  

PIG TRAILERS:

• 
  Any Tandem axle fitted with eight tyres 15.0 tonnes
  

• 
  Any Tri-axle fitted with twelve tyres 18.0 tonnes
  

• 
  Any Tri-axle fitted with six “wide’ tyres 18.0 tonnes
  

PERMITS

INTRODUCTION

The Road Traffic Act 1961 specifies maximum limits for the height, width, length and mass of vehicles which may travel on public roads in South Australia. These limits are necessary to promote the free flow of traffic, to prevent damage to the community’s substantial investment in the road system and to ensure a reasonable level of safety for road users.

AUTHORITY TO ISSUE EXEMPTION

In accordance with the Road Traffic Act Amendment Act of 1986 and Section 163aa of the Road Traffic Act, the power to exempt from the requirements of the Road Traffic Act is vested in the Minister of Transport.

Exemptions for road travel outside the statutory limits outlined on pages ? are provided under the power of Exemption, Section 163aa of the Road Traffic Act. The Minister has delegated this Power of Exemption to Officers of the Department of Transport to issue exemptions subject to consideration of the following principles:

• 
  the economic benefits of the permit operation;
  

• 
  the need to protect the state’s road and bridge assets from structural damage;
  

• 
  the preservation of safety and convenience of all road users in the community;
  

• 
  the ability of the vehicle to carry the load;
  

• 
  acceptable environmental impacts; and
  

• 
  equity to all sectors and individual operators of the transport industry.
  

There are two ways of issuing an exemption:

1. 
   By Permit
   

Exemption by “Permit” means that the written authority is prepared and issued to exempt a specific vehicle to carry a specific load in excess of the statutory dimension and/or mass limits.

This written authority is known as a “permit” and details all the terms and conditions under which the exemption will apply. The permit must be carried in the vehicle when operating subject to the exemption so the driver is fully aware of all the terms, conditions and restrictions specified.

PERMITS (continued)

2. 
   By Government Gazette Notice
   

Exemption by Government Gazette Notice means that a general approval is granted for specific vehicle classes or specific commodities to be exempt from a clause or clauses of a statutory dimension and/or mass limits. The notice details all the terms and conditions under which the exemption shall apply, i.e. some notices are required to be carried for the same reasons that the permit must be carried.

PERMIT APPLICATION

Written applications for permits are made by completing an ‘Application for a permit for a vehicle to exceed the Statutory Mass/or Dimension Limits’ and lodge it at one of specified Transport SA, Customer Service Centres.

ASSESSMENT OF THE PERMIT APPLICATION

Over-dimensional loads require consideration of the width and alignment of the roads and intersections, traffic conditions, and the proximity of roadside and overhead obstacles. Clearly these conditions vary widely throughout the State, and therefore so will the conditions imposed on permit travel. For example, transportable classrooms may be moved on relatively open country roads, but would not physically fit along roads in the Adelaide Hills or in some suburban streets.

For excess mass loads, the strength of bridges and culverts must be assessed. Many of the State’s bridges were built at a time when design loads were considerably less than those presently in force. Road pavements and bridges and other structures do not have an indefinite life and are subject to gradual deterioration. Allowable loadings are therefore continually reviewed and may alter from time to time on a given route.

The assessment process therefore requires consideration of many factors and it may be necessary to evaluate a number of alterative routes. It should not be assumed that a permit will be assessed only on the information provided with the application, or that permit issued consists merely of producing the permit document. The production and ‘issue’ of the permit is the end result of the assessment process.

ISSUE OF PERMIT

Permit can be issued in two ways:-

1. 
   As a printed documented on special stationary; or
   
2. 
   By facsimile machine
   

The permit application (yellow form B) provides a section “Issue Instructions” for the applicant to specify how and / or where the permit is to be issued. If this section is not completed the permit will be held at the Permit Office, Regency Park for collection.

PRINTED PERMIT

Printed permits are issued for all types of permits and are prepared on high quality paper designed to withstand rigours of being in the vehicle for at least twelve months. All annual permits and permit in excess of one month are only issued by this means from the Permit Office, Regency Park, and can either be collected or posted to an address nominated by the applicant. Printed can not be issued through facsimile machines.

PERMITS (continued)

INSPECTION OF PERMIT VEHICLES AND LOADS

Permit operations may stretch the capacity of the road system to the limits. Therefore to ensure safe vehicle operating conditions and to protect the road and bridge system, inspection and weighing of permit vehicles and loads may be undertaken.

Depending on the circumstances, inspections and weighing may be undertaken during the assessment process prior to the issue of a permit, at the commencement of a permit move, or during the permit operation.

These inspections and weighing are supplementary to any mandatory inspection required elsewhere or in the course of normal on-road enforcement.

GENERAL CONDITIONS

All permits are issued subject to general conditions which are printed on the back of the permit document or for permits issued by ‘Fax’ where conditions are printed within the text of the permit.

1. 
   Acceptance of the permit by the permittee shall be deemed to be acceptance of this and all the conditions of the permit.
   
2. 
   The permit shall be carried by the driver of the vehicle at all times and be produced when requested by an Inspector appointed under the Act, or a Police Officer.
   
3. 
   The permit may be cancelled or revoked at any time.
   
4. 
   The permit is issued on the express conditions that the limitations specified shall not be exceeded.
   
5. 
   The exemption shall operate only with respect to the vehicle, loads, routes and time specified, and does not relieve the owner and/or driver of the duty to observe all the other provisions of the Road Traffic Act and Regulations.
   
6. 
   The exemption shall not operate or be deemed to operate on routes that are newly formed, constructed or repaired or have been damaged by floods, submergence, subsidence or otherwise and/or to which special limitations have been applied.
   
7. 
   The exemption shall not operate or be deemed to operate on any bridge, culvert, causeway or road ferry in respect of which a special limitation may have been fixed at any time before or after the date of the permit.
   
8. 
   The permit is issued subject to the condition that if in the course of the operation of the vehicle pursuant to the permit any damage is caused to the road or property owned or maintained by the Commissioner of Highways, by the said vehicle, its owner, driver or escort then in such an event the permittee hereby authorises and requests the Commissioner of Highways, to repair and make good such damage and agrees to pay the cost thereof as a debt due to the Commissioner of Highways for materials supplied and work done within 14 days of the service upon him of a letter setting out the cost of such repairs and materials.
   

PERMITS GENERAL CONDITIONS (continued)

9. 
   No warranty is given that the road specified on the permit, or the bridge, culverts or causeways thereon are capable of carrying the vehicle or loading stated and it shall be a condition of this permit that any journey shall be made at the permittee’s own risk absolutely.