PBS A-doubles in Victoria – What you wish they would just tell you

A user guide to understanding the required vehicle dimensions for A-doubles and gaining access to the pre-approved networks in Victoria.

Key learnings:

• Short and compact combinations with many axles (i.e. 91t tri-dolly 30m A-double) leads to a more restrictive mass allowance on routes crossing many bridges
• Having more generous spacings between axle groups allows for better bridge loading and gives generally better mass over bridges, with vehicles like the 36.5m A-double being able to operate on many routes at full mass.

Hi, I’m Saizo, one of the Performance Based Standards (PBS) experts at Advantia. At Advantia we’re always trying to assist our industry (that’s you) to be as productive, effective and as safe as possible.

Since PBS A-doubles have made in-roads into our key metropolitan areas they have really been lauded as a game changer, with productivity boosts of up to 100 per cent per trip¹.

We’ve previously written about how one of our clients Gooden Ag switched from a B-double to an A-double last year and saw their productivity go up about $1,000 a day on that one combination (https://www.advantia.com.au/project/gooden-ag-and-their-a-double-success/).

However, as I did mention in that article, if you don’t go through the process carefully (or get our help) you can end up with a shiny new A-double carting around at B-double weights or worse, parked up.

Out of the steps in this process, ensuring you have access that gets you where you want to go but also at a mass which makes the operation profitable is possibly the most important step to take. Depending on how you play your cards you might be able to operate at 85.5t or you might be brought back to 68.5t.

To help you out, we’ve done our homework and looked at some of the key freight routes in Victoria and mapped out how much weight you should be able to get on each route when you are on the network.

Why Victoria? Victoria is well and truly leading the pack with 85.5t PBS A-doubles in Australia, and credit to the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning, they have put the networks out, knowing full well its going to expose them to complaints, but industry has really embraced it. Since then, other states have followed suit, such as New South Wales recently publishing their 30m network which picks up the same reference vehicles for network connectivity, and we’ll publish data on that one soon too.

The key to Victoria’s success with A-doubles has been their pre-approved networks which can be accessed via gazette (no NHVR permit required if on the network). When using this network, access needs to be checked against existing limits on structures, roads, and then last mile needs to be checked for approval from the local council and other asset owners.

To use this guide, the first step will be to check which reference vehicle you are planning to use. The reference vehicles are a set of vehicle dimensions which must be met in order to get access to the pre-approved networks and to operate under the NHVR PBS High Productivity Notice². Meeting these reference vehicle dimensions makes the access process much easier for operators. If you don’t meet the reference vehicles you might still be able to get access to the network, but expect to be paying out of your own pocket for bridge assessments (likely 3-5 figure costs) and added delays while they assess your vehicle, without knowing what mass you will get. In short, always try and meet the reference vehicles.

To make this as easy as possible, we’ve broken this guide up into two sections:

• 30m combinations which meet PBS Level 2
• 36.5m combinations which meet PBS Level 3

Each of these vehicles has a number of reference vehicles, detailed below.

 

Reference vehicle dimensions

Reference vehicle dimensions have been broken down into combinations up to 30m long which meet PBS Level 2 and combinations up to 36.5m long which meet PBS Level 3.

 

30m combinations which meet PBS Level 2 and PBS Level 3

There are seven 30m A-double reference vehicles. Reference vehicles 1-3 use tandem axle dollies with a GCM up to 85.5t at PBS Level 2, while reference vehicles 4-7 use triaxle dollies with a GCM up to 91t at PBS Level 3. Images are sourced directly from the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning.

30m reference vehicle 1

30m reference vehicle 2

30m Reference vehicle 3

30m Reference vehicle 4

30m Reference vehicle 5

30m Reference vehicle 6

30m Reference vehicle 7

 

36.5m combinations which meet PBS Level 3

There are four 36.5m A-double reference vehicles. Reference vehicles 1 & 3 use tandem axle dollies, while reference vehicles 2 & 4 use triaxle dollies (tandem weights) all up to a GCM of 85.5t. Images are sourced directly from the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning.

36.5m Reference vehicle 1

36.5m Reference vehicle 2

36.5m Reference vehicle 3

36.5m Reference vehicle 4

 

36.5m combinations which meet PBS Level 3

There are four 36.5m A-double reference vehicles. Reference vehicles 1 & 3 use tandem axle dollies, while reference vehicles 2 & 4 use triaxle dollies (tandem weights) all up to a GCM of 85.5t. Images are sourced directly from the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning.

 

GCM (t) on each route

Once you have figured out which reference vehicle you want to use, you can check out the tables below for how much mass you should expect to get on each key Victorian freight route (data as at end of 2023). Alternatively, complete the exercise in reverse, and check the below tables for which combination will best suit the GCM for your transport task! If your route isn’t on here, fret not. Reach out to Advantia and we will be happy to assist you to ensure you are making the most out of your investment. Intentionally the routes are those that link to interstate destinations from the M80 Ring Rd or Monash Freeway. As there are a range of currently funded works underway on the M80 Ring Rd, the masses on certain bridges on the M80 Ring Rd will change in the next 1-2 years to be approved to 85.5t or 91t GCM. In the below tables the same traffic light colour scheme as the Victorian maps has been used, whereby full mass is green, B-Double restricted mass of 68.5t is red and anything in-between is amber.

 

30m combinations which meet PBS Level 2

 

Ring Rd and SA border via Western Freeway (incl Ballarat/Horsham)

Leg	30m A-double reference vehicle
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Exiting Ring Rd to Ballarat	85.5t	82.5t	82.5t	81.4t	79.9t	79.0t	76.3t
Ballarat/Horsham	81.0t	74.5t	75.0t	76.0t	76.3t	71.5t	68.5t
Horsham/SA border	73.0t	72.0t	73.0t	68.5t	68.5t	68.5t	68.5t

 

On the Ballarat/Horsham leg, the critical structure is the road over rail at Buangor (SN0058) with the next minimum mass across all other structures ranging from 73.9t to 83.0t depending on the reference vehicle.

On the Horsham/SA border leg, the critical structure is currently the Dimboola Bridge (SN8743) with all other structures ranging from 79.9t to 85.5t depending on the reference vehicle.

 

Eastlink and Traralgon via Princes Freeway

Leg	30m A-double reference vehicle
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Exiting Eastlink/Traralgon	85.5t	80.5t	83.5t	73.3t (WB) 78.4t (EB)	73.9t (WB) 79.0t (EB)	68.5t (WB) 76.3t (EB)	68.5t (WB) 75.4t (EB)

 

On this leg, the critical structure for reference vehicle 4-7 is the west bound bridge over Moe River (SN8362). 

 

Ring Rd and SA border via Princes Fwy (incl Geelong/Portland)

Leg	30m A-double reference vehicle
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Exiting Ring Rd/Geelong	85.5t	85.5t	85.5t	73.3t (EB) 81.4 (WB)	81.4t	76.9t	73.9t (EB) 77.8t (WB)
Geelong/Portland	68.5t	68.5t	68.5t	68.5t	68.5t	68.5t	68.5t
Portland/SA Border	81.5t	82.0t	82.0t	79.9t	79.9t	73.9t	73.9t

 

On the Geelong/Portland leg the currently limiting structure for most reference vehicles is the bridge over Surrey River just east of Portland (SN2754). The next lowest structure mass ranged from 68.5t to 75.5t depending on the reference vehicle, with reference vehicle 6 and 7 in particular being limited to 68.5t also on multiple other structures.

On the Portland/SA border leg, the currently limiting structure for most of the reference vehicles is the crossing of the Glenelg River outside Dartmoor (SN2773). 

 

Ring Rd and NSW border via Hume Hwy (incl Seymour)

Leg	30m A-double reference vehicle
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Exiting Ring Rd/Seymour	85.5t	85.5t	85.5t	78.4t	79.9t	73.9t	73.9t
Seymour/NSW border	85.5t	79.5t (NB) 83.0t (SB)	79.5t (NB) 83.0t (SB)	68.5t	68.5t	68.5t	68.5t

 

On the Ring Rd/Seymour leg, the critical bridges are in Beveridge affecting both the northbound (SN0521) and the southbound (SN1058) direction of travel for reference vehicle 4-7. The next lowest bridge mass for these vehicles is 77.5t to 82.5t depending on which reference vehicle is used.

On the Seymour/NSW border leg, the critical bridge is in Avenel affecting both the northbound (SN0782) and the southbound (SN1325) direction of travel for reference vehicle 4-7. Although reference vehicle 7 is notably limited to 68.5t on a significant number of other bridges. For reference vehicle 2 & 3, the limiting bridge is the Hume Hwy over Black Dog Creek before Chiltern (SN0925) for northbound traffic only. The route is otherwise limited to 82.5t (NB) and 83.0t (SB) for reference vehicle 2 & 3.

 

Seymour and NSW border via Goulburn Valley Highway

Leg	30m A-double reference vehicle
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Seymour/NSW border	85.5t	85.5t	85.5t	70.3t	71.8t	68.8t	68.5t

 

When taking the Goulburn Valley Highway, there are three bridges affecting reference vehicles 4-7, these are the bridges over Four Mile Creek (SN9280), Hughes Creek (SN9283/SN9284), and the Broken River crossing (SN8841). Fixing these bridges would bring the minimum mass for reference vehicles 4-7 up a little to 70.9t to 73.9t depending on the reference vehicle.

 

36.5m combinations which meet PBS Level 3

 

Ring Rd and SA border via Western Freeway (incl Ballarat/Horsham)

Leg	36.5m A-double reference vehicle
	1	2	3	4
Exiting Ring Rd/Ballarat	85.5t	85.5t	80.0t	84.0t
Ballarat/Horsham	81.5t	81.5t	74.5t	78.0t
Horsham/SA border	76.0t	79.0t	75.5t	78.5t

 

On the Ballarat/Horsham leg, the critical structure is the road over rail at Buangor (SN0058) with minimum mass across all other structures ranging from 78.5t (reference vehicle 3) to 82.0t (all other reference vehicles).

On the Horsham/SA border leg, the critical structure is currently the Dimboola Bridge (SN8743) with minimum mass over all other structures 85.5t.

 

Eastlink and Traralgon via Princes Freeway

Leg	36.5m A-double reference vehicle
	1	2	3	4
Exiting Eastlink/Traralgon	85.5t	85.5t	78.0t	81.0t

 

For reference vehicle 3 & 4, currently the critical bridges are the bridges at Drouin (SN2844 & SN3024) and the bridges at Warragul (SN6594 & SN3026). All other bridges are allowed at 85.5t.

 

Ring Rd and SA border via Princes Fwy (incl Geelong/Portland)

Leg	36.5m A-double reference vehicle
	1	2	3	4
Exiting Ring Rd/Geelong	85.5t	85.5t	85.5t (WB) 80.0t (EB)	85.5t (WB) 84.5t (EB)
Geelong/Portland	68.5t	68.5t	68.5t	68.5t
Portland/SA Border	85.5t	85.5t	83.0t	85.5t

 

On the Ring Rd/Geelong leg, the limiting structure for eastbound traffic is the crossing of Little River (SN2796). All other structures on this leg are allowed at 85.5t.

On the Geelong/Portland leg the currently limiting structure is the bridge over Surrey River just east of Portland (SN2754) to 68.5t. The next lowest structure mass ranged from 73.5t to 83.0t depending on the reference vehicle.

 

Ring Rd and NSW border via Hume Hwy (incl Seymour)

Leg	36.5m A-double reference vehicle
	1	2	3	4
Exiting Ring Rd/Seymour	85.5t	85.5t	85.5t	85.5t
Seymour/NSW border	85.5t	85.5t	81.0t (NB) 85.5t (SB)	85.5t

 

On the Seymour/NSW border leg, the critical bridges for reference vehicle 3 are the northbound bridges between Spring Hurst and Chiltern (SN0910/SN0914/SN0925). All other structures on the route are allowed at 85.5t.

 

Seymour and NSW border via Goulburn Valley Highway

Leg	36.5m A-double reference vehicle
	1	2	3	4
Seymour/NSW border	85.5t	85.5t	85.5t	85.5t

 

If you would like to discuss any other last mile or specific route access questions with us, please feel free to contact us. Happy and safe travels.

 

¹ For B-double operators carting heavy 20’ or longer 40’ containers moving from a semi-trailer to a 26m B-double doesn’t actually let them carry two containers, while the A-double can.

² https://www.nhvr.gov.au/C2022G01196