The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), in partnership with South Australia’s Department for Infrastructure and Transport, has released a suite of new notices aimed at improving freight efficiency and expanding access for higher productivity vehicles across the state.
Five updated notices target key freight segments including livestock transport, high productivity combinations, and tri-drive prime mover and rigid truck configurations. Each introduces revised criteria that increase allowable capacity and network access.
NHVR Chief Operations Officer, Paul Salvati, said the changes reflect ongoing collaboration between government and industry to deliver practical outcomes.
“This is a strong example of working closely with our partners to achieve real, on-the-ground improvements,” said Salvati.
“At a time when operators are dealing with rising costs, these reforms are focused on boosting productivity and reducing unnecessary administrative burden.”
The updated notices allow operators to move more freight per trip, improving fuel efficiency and lowering operating costs. They also streamline access by removing the need for certain permits, reducing road manager consent requests, and providing greater certainty for route planning.
Key updates include expanded eligibility for tri-axle prime movers in B-double and road train combinations, the addition of a South Australian schedule to Performance Based Standards notices, and the inclusion of Euro VI mass provisions. Changes also extend mass exemptions for road-friendly suspension vehicles and broaden livestock transport allowances to include road train combinations.
The reforms form part of a broader program of work designed to transition access from permits to notices, significantly cutting red tape for operators.
Importantly, the rollout of these notices was accelerated at the request of the South Australian Government to help ease cost pressures, particularly those linked to fuel.
Salvati said the shift to notice-based access delivers benefits across the board.
“By expanding access through notices, we’re reducing complexity, improving consistency, and helping operators stay productive,” he said.
Updated operator guides for each notice are now available through NHVR channels.
The new notices include:
- National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice 2026 (No.1) – amended to include prime movers with tri-axle groups.
- National Class 2 Road Train Authorisation Notice 2026 (No.1) – amended to include prime movers with tri-axle groups.
- National Class 2 Performance Based Standards (High Productivity) Authorisation Notice 2026 (No.1) – amended to include a South Australian schedule and the incorporation of Euro VI mass provisions.
- South Australia Class 3 Road Friendly Suspension Mass Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1) – amended to include rigid trucks and prime movers with tri-axle groups.
- South Australia Class 3 Livestock Transportation Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1) – amended to include road train combinations.
More information for industry including updated Operator’s Guides can be found here:
- National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice Operator’s Guide
- National Class 2 Road Train Authorisation Notice Operator’s Guide
- National Class 2 Performance Based Standards (High Productivity) Authorisation Notice Operator’s Guide
- South Australian Class 3 Road Friendly Suspension Mass Exemption Notice Operator’s Guide
- South Australia Class 3 Livestock Transportation Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice Operator’s Guide
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