Guidelines for the Movement of Oversize Agricultural ... · Guidelines for the Movement of Oversize Agricultural Vehicles in Victoria ... Why the increase to 25.0 metres in the Flat

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Guidelines for the Movement of Oversize Agricultural Vehicles in Victoria

Table of Contents

Background and Purpose 4

Height 5

Table 1 5

What has changed? 5

Why the height limit of 6.5 metres under permit? 5

When does an Annual Permit apply? 5

What about overhead powerlines? 5

What conditions apply under the Gazette Notice? 6

Length 7

Table 2 7

What has changed? 7

Why the increase to 25.0 metres in the Flat and Broad Acre area? 7

Why the length limit of 40 metres under permit? 7

What conditions apply? 8

Combination Length 9

Table 3 9

What has changed? 9

Why increase the allowance in the Flat area to 35.0 metres? 9

Why increase the combination length to 50 metres under permit? 9

Why limit towing to only two vehicles or implements? 9


Rear Overhang 11

Table 4 11

What has changed? 11

Why increase the rear overhang limit to 10.0 metres under Notice? 11

Why set a limit of 20.0 metres for single trip permits? 11



Width 12

Table 5 12


Why set a width limit of 9.0 metres wide under permit? 12


Pilot Vehicles 13

Table 6(a) – Combination Length 13

Table 6(b) – Width 13

Table 6(c) – Rear Overhang 13

Table 6(d) – Height 13

Table 6(e) – Towed Ratio 13


On what basis have these pilot requirements been set? 14

Mass Limits 15

Table 7(a) – individual axle group 15

Table 7(b) – overall mass limit 15


Why has the overall mass limit been set to 45.0 tonnes? 15

What if the combination exceeds 45.0 tonnes? 16

What access will be granted under Notice? 16

Do light combinations get greater access? 16

Table 7(c) – mass limits for lighter combinations 16

What about Chaser / Field Bins that can weigh 130 tonnes? 17

What about pavement wear? 17

Towed Ratio and Transporting a Load 18

Towed Ratio 18

What about implements that are fully braked? 19

Transporting a Load 19

Other Conditions That Apply 21

Night Travel 21

Table 8 – maximum width for night time travel 21

Night Travel for Spraying Machines 21


Route Restrictions 21

Other Markings 22

Schedule 8 22


Background and Purpose

It’s been more than a decade since VicRoads last reviewed the regulations and policies that apply to

the movement of oversize agricultural vehicles, machines and implements on the network. The

previous review (circa 2005) saw increases to the height, width and length limits for agricultural

machinery especially in the Broad Acre area.

Like most industries the agricultural industry has experienced pressure to be more efficient and

productive, to reduce costs both for the local logistics chain and for export to other countries. To meet

this demand agricultural equipment has grown in size and weight and based on anecdotal evidence a

good deal of this equipment does not meet the mass and dimension limits set in Victoria’s current

Gazette Notice.

In 2015 VicRoads commissioned Advantia Transport Consulting to provide a comprehensive review

of the agricultural equipment used on Victoria’s road network. The review, published in May 2015,

confirmed anecdotal evidence that the size and weight of agricultural machinery and implements

outstripped the current regulatory requirements. A subsequent technical investigation, published by

Advantia in July 2015, determined the impacts this larger machinery would have on road geometry,

bridges and pavements.1

In 2016 AustRoads commissioned a project investigating the policy challenges posed by oversize

agricultural equipment. As with the Victorian study Advantia Transport Consulting was commissioned

to undertake the research. The published AustRoads report, “Future Challenges of Changing

Agricultural Equipment” (July 2016) covered similar ground as that of the VicRoads work while also

suggesting a number of recommendations in terms of regulatory and policy reform.

This report consolidates the VicRoads study and the AustRoads project and provides VicRoads

consent and policy officer with clear guidelines when determining access for oversize and overmass

agricultural machinery and equipment.

1 Two further reports from Advantia Transport were commissioned by VicRoads to explore specific

issues around the tow-ratio of agricultural vehicles like tractors and harvesters and a deeper study into the lengths of some equipment – augers and conveyors – operating occasionally on the road network.

https://www.nhvr.gov.au/files/c2014g00167-vic-mass-and-dimension-exemption.pdf

https://www.nhvr.gov.au/files/c2014g00167-vic-mass-and-dimension-exemption.pdf


Height The following Table sets the new height limits for agricultural vehicles, machinery and implements.

Table 1

Legislative Instrument Height (m) Notes

Gazette Notice 4.6 Urban, Gippsland, Colac and Otway and Mountainous areas

Gazette Notice 5.0 Flat and Broad Acre areas

Annual / Seasonal Permit 5.5 Flat and Broad Acre areas

Annual / Seasonal Permit 6.5 Broad Acre only

What has changed? Increasing the height allowance for operators in the Flat Area from 4.6 metres to 5.0 metres

under Notice; and

Providing a maximum height limit of 6.5 metres under an annual / seasonal permit for

operators transporting a seeder or tiller in the Broad Acre area.

Why the height limit of 6.5 metres under permit? Advantia’s May 2015 report (page 18) and Table 26 of the Austroads report (page 31) indicates that

larger tillers and seeders operating in the Broad Acre area will have a transport height of up to 6.4

metres.

When does an Annual Permit apply? To obtain an annual or seasonal

2 permit the farmer / contractor needs to provide evidence that the

route is safe to travel on. In particular they need to show that the nominated route has no overhead

structures or overhanging vegetation that would impede transport. Evidence can come in the form of

a Google Earth / aerial map of the nominated route, or a photographic survey of the route.

If the route has features or structures that cannot be easily removed – such as a low bridge – then an

annual permit will not be granted. However, if the impediment can be easily removed, such as

vegetation, then the farmer / contractor will need to consult with either the VicRoads region (if it’s an

arterial road) or the relevant Local Government if it’s a municipal road to approve the safe removal of

vegetation.

To ensure that an annual permit can be obtained farmers and contractors will need to apply well in

advance of harvest season.

Every three years a farmer / contractor will be required to provide evidence that the route is still safe

for travel. If any change to the route occurs in that three year period it will be the responsibility of the

farmer / contractor to report that change.

What about overhead powerlines? Clause 41 of the Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1999 requires a minimum clearance

of 1.5 metres for bare overhead conductors (powerlines). For overheight vehicles that can’t meet this

clearance escorts will be required – provided by both the power company and VicRoads.

2 Permits can be 12 months in duration or cover the length of the harvest season (for example

between October and March).


While the minimum height for most powerlines on a road or road related area is 6.7 metres3 due to the

possibility of sag – especially during summer – it is recommended that overheight vehicles over 5.0

metres contact the relevant power company for a route survey to ensure safe access to the network.

What conditions apply under the Gazette Notice? Consistent with other height-related policies, farmers and contractors must carry the ‘Height

Clearance on Roads’ bulletin. This can be an electronic copy held on a mobile device.

See Pilot Vehicle requirements.

3 Clause 13 of the Electricity Safety (Network Assets) Regulations 1999 – with specific reference to

Table 13.2.


Length The following Table sets the new length limits for agricultural vehicles, machinery and implements

(not in combination).

Table 2

Legislative Instrument Length (m) Notes


Gazette Notice 25.0 Flat and Broad Acre areas

Annual / Seasonal Permit 40.0 Comb Trailers, Augers and Conveyors only / Broad Acre

What has changed? Increasing the length allowance for operators in the Flat and Broad Acre from 15.0 metres to

25.0 metres under Notice; and

Providing a maximum length limit of up to 40.0 metres under an annual permit for operators

transporting a Comb Trailer, Auger or Conveyor.

Why the increase to 25.0 metres in the Flat and Broad Acre area? According to the AustRoads’ report (page 64) longer implements such as Augers and Comb Trailers

generally operate in the Broad-Acre grain farming regions. The report states that, “The impacts

assessment showed that the road space requirements of the broad-acre combinations comprising the

worst-case examples... are generally equal to or lesser than vehicles of similar overall length allowed

under current policies. Hence, the length limits for single units in broad-acre areas could be

increased to allow any trailer up to 25 metres overall length to be towed.”

Similarly, Advantia’s technical investigation conducted on behalf of VicRoads showed that a 30.0

metre combination – including a tractor and comb trailer – has a similar swept path as a 30.0 metre B-

double combination (9.11 – PBS Level 3).4

Why the length limit of 40 metres under permit? Further research conducted by Advantia in January 2017 confirmed that on occasion augers up to

125 foot in length (38.1 metres)5 travel short distances on the road network. While the preference

would be to allow these longer augers to move under a single trip permit, this assumes that moves

are planned ahead of time, which is not always the case. Therefore, annual or seasonal permits will

be made available for augers or conveyors that exceed 25.0 metres.

As with all annual / seasonal permits the farmer / contractor will need to provide evidence that the

route is safe to travel on. To ensure that an annual permit can be obtained farmers and contractors

will need to apply well in advance of harvest season.




4 Access for agricultural implements and machines is based on the currently published Oversize

Overmass (OSOM) network which accommodates combinations that are up to 30.0 metres long, 5.0 metres wide and 5.0 metres high. 5 The length of these augers is necessitated by the growing height of silos, which on larger farms may

be up to 80 feet (24.4 metres).


What conditions apply? See Pilot Vehicle requirements.


Combination Length The following Table sets the new combination length limits for agricultural vehicles, machinery and

implements.

Table 3

Legislative Instrument Combination Length (m) Notes


Gazette Notice 35.0 Flat and Broad Acre – with a maximum tow of two vehicles / implements

Annual / Seasonal Permit 50.0 Broad Acre only – with a maximum tow of two vehicles / implements

What has changed? Increasing the overall combination length allowance in the Flat Area to 35.0 metres under

Notice; and

Setting a maximum length of 50.0 metres in the Broad Acre area under an annual / seasonal

permit with a maximum tow of two vehicles / implements.

Why increase the allowance in the Flat area to 35.0 metres? With the permitted length for a single implement increasing to 25.0 metres under Notice the overall

length was expanded to 35.0 metres to accommodate a towing vehicle of up to 10.0 metres.6 The

increase in length though does appreciably increase the swept path of the combination. Depending

on the implement being towed the swept path can range from 10.0 metres to 13.0 metres (PBS Level

3 and 4)7. This is less of an issue in the Broad Acre area where Road-Trains and B-Triples up to 36.5

metres operate under a permit in the North West of the Victoria. In the Flat Area, though, parts of the

network are not as accommodating as the Broad Acre region, therefore the increase in length under

Notice will require a pilot vehicle where the length exceeds 30.0 metres (see Pilot Vehicle

requirements).

Why increase the combination length to 50 metres under permit? As noted above, further work conducted by Advantia Transport determined that on occasion augers

up to 125 foot or 38.0 metres in length operate on the network. The increase to 50.0 metres

accommodates a towing vehicle of up to 10.0 metres.

As with all annual / seasonal permits the farmer / contractor will need to provide evidence that the

route is safe to travel on. To ensure that an annual permit can be obtained farmers and contractors

will need to apply well in advance of harvest season.




Why limit towing to only two vehicles or implements? During the consultation process VicRoads received anecdotal evidence that farmers and contractors

were towing up to three or four implements. This raises concerns about the stability of the

combination, but more importantly whether the towing vehicle – the tractor or combine harvester – is

6 Nearly all makes and models of tractors and combine harvesters fit within this length limit.

7 As indicated in the AustRoads report.


rated to tow implements that may be up to 75 tonnes mass in combination. Moreover, even if the

tractor or harvester is rated accordingly, it’s near certain that it will exceed the towed ratio

requirements (see section Towed Ratio and Transporting a Load). While it might be enough to simply

state that the towed vehicle cannot exceed its manufacturer’s ratings when towing implements, to

ensure that the risk is minimised the maximum limit of towed implements has been restricted to two.

What conditions apply? See Pilot Vehicle requirements.


Rear Overhang The following Table sets the new rear overhang limits for agricultural vehicles, machinery and

implements.

Table 4

Legislative Instrument Rear Overhang (m) Notes

Gazette Notice 4.5 All areas.

Gazette Notice 6.5 Field Bins,8 Harvesters and Comb Trailers in the Flat

and Broad Acre area

Gazette Notice 10.0 Augers / Conveyors in the Flat and Broad Acre area

Annual / Seasonal Permit 20.0 Augers / Conveyors in the Broad Acre area

What has changed? Allowing Field Bins fitted with an auger discharge pipe to operate under Notice rather than

under permit;

Increasing the rear overhang limit in the Flat and Broad Acre areas for Field Bins (with an

auger), Harvesters and Comb Trailers to 6.5 metres (from 4.5 metres);

Increasing the rear overhang limit for Augers and Conveyors in the Broad Acre and Flat Area

to 10.0 metres under Notice; and

Setting a maximum rear overhang limit of 20.0 metres under an annual / seasonal permit.

Why increase the rear overhang limit to 10.0 metres under Notice? In line with the AustRoads report (page 64) the rear overhang in broad-acre farming regions can be

increased to up to 10.0 metres and still be managed from a safety and infrastructure perspective. As

Victoria has also included the Flat Area, a pilot at the rear of the combination will be required where

the rear overhang exceeds 6.5 metres (see Pilot Vehicle requirements).

Why set a limit of 20.0 metres for single trip permits? As noted above augers up to 125 foot do, occasionally, operate on the network. These augers will

have a rear overhang of up to 20.0 metres. A rear overhang this large does pose a road safety risk

which is why farmers and contractors will need to provide evidence that the route is safe to travel on

in the process of obtaining an annual or seasonal permit. To ensure that an annual permit can be

obtained farmers and contractors will need to apply well in advance of harvest season.




What conditions apply? See Pilot Vehicle requirements (Table 6(c)) on page 10.

8 Including Field Bins fitted with an auger discharge pipe.


Width The following Table sets the new width limits for agricultural vehicles, machinery and implements.

Table 5

Legislative Instrument Width (m) Notes

Gazette Notice 2.5 Otway and Mountainous Areas

Gazette Notice 3.0 Gippsland Ranges / Colac Surf Coast

Gazette Notice 3.5 Urban Area (Melbourne and Geelong)

Gazette Notice 3.5 Exempt Roads

Gazette Notice 6.5 Flat and Broad Acre Area

Annual / Seasonal Permit 9.0 Air Seeders only / Broad Acre Area

What has changed? The maximum width in the Flat area has been increased from 6.0 to 6.5 metres; and

The provision to allow air seeders at 9.0 metres wide to operate under a single trip permit.

Why set a width limit of 9.0 metres wide under permit? Advantia’s Stage 1 report indicated that the largest air seeders operating on Victorian roads were 8.0

metres wide. However, following consultation with the Victorian Farmers Federation it was pointed

out that there are a handful of air-seeders, when folded for transport, have a width of 9.0 metres.

Consequently, to accommodate these air-seeders the width limit has been increased accordingly.

Notwithstanding this, as made clear in the Austroads report, once the width limit of an implement

exceeds 6.5 metres the risk to other road users and infrastructure significantlyThan increases.

Therefore, as with all annual / seasonal permits the farmer / contractor will need to provide evidence

that the route is safe to travel on. To ensure that an annual permit can be obtained farmers and

contractors will need to apply well in advance of harvest season.




What conditions apply? The consent officer will need to liaise with VicRoads regions and Local Council to ascertain

whether there are issue in regard to overhanging vegetation on the route.

See Pilot Vehicle requirements.


Pilot Vehicles The following Table sets the new limits when an agricultural machine or implement needs to be

accompanied by a pilot vehicle. Pilot vehicles are only required in the Flat and Broad Acre areas.

Table 6(a) – Combination Length

Legislative Instrument Where Length exceeds... No of Pilots Positioning

Gazette Notice 30.0 metres in the Flat Area only 2 pilots9 Front and Rear

Annual / Seasonal Permit 35.0 metres 2 pilots Front and Rear

Annual / Seasonal Permit 40.0 metres 2 certified pilots

Front and Rear

Table 6(b) – Width

Legislative Instrument Where Width exceeds... No of Pilots Positioning

Gazette Notice 5.0 metres 2 pilots Front and Rear

Annual / Seasonal Permit 6.5 metres 2 certified pilots

Front and Rear

Table 6(c) – Rear Overhang

Legislative Instrument Where Rear Overhang exceeds...

No of Pilots Positioning

Gazette Notice 6.5 metres 1 pilot Rear

Annual / Seasonal Permit 10.0 metres 1 certified pilot

Rear

Table 6(d) – Height10

Legislative Instrument Where Height exceeds... No of Pilots Positioning

Gazette Notice / Annual Season Permit

5.0 metres 1 or 2 Escorts

11

Front

Table 6(e) – Towed Ratio

Legislative Instrument Where the Towed Ratio exceeds...

No of Pilots Positioning

Gazette Notice / Annual Season Permit

1: 1.2 in an 80 km/h zone or above

1 Pilot Rear

9 Pilot as defined in Schedule 8 of the Heavy Vehicle Mass Dimension Loading National Regulations

10 These requirements only apply where the combination will be travelling under powerlines. In cases

where travel under a powerline is not required, the 5.0 metre limit does not apply – that is no pilots or escorts are required (for height). 11

Depending on a route survey this is likely to include a VicRoads escort and an escort provided by the power company.


What has changed? Everything. This is a complete overhaul of the pilot requirements for agricultural implements.

On what basis have these pilot requirements been set? Pilot vehicles are a means of mitigating the road safety risk posed by oversize vehicles. Both the

AustRoads report and the work commissioned by VicRoads clearly shows that the larger the

agricultural implement or combination the higher the road safety risk. To determine whether a pilot

vehicle or a certified pilot was required a risk management approach was taken. As a rule of thumb, if

the combination exceeded the PBS Level 4 requirements or failed the Tail Swing requirements12

then

a certified pilot was required. Otherwise a pilot vehicle is deemed sufficient noting that the longer and

wider combinations will be restricted to the broad-acre region of the State where traffic numbers are

lower and the risk posed to other road users is reduced.

12

As defined under the Performance-Based Standards Guidelines and Rules.

https://www.nhvr.gov.au/files/resources/0020-pbsstdsvehassrules.pdf


Mass Limits The following Table sets the individual axle group and overall mass limits for agricultural machines

and implements.

Table 7(a) – individual axle group

Legislative Instrument Axle Mass (t) Notes

Gazette Notice With Single Tyres 9.0

Gazette Notice With Single Tyres 10.0 Tyre width less than 16 inches

Gazette Notice With Single Tyres 12.0 Tyre Width 16 inches or more

Gazette Notice With Dual Tyres 9.0 Ground contact width 2.51 metres

Gazette Notice With Dual Tyres 10.5 Ground contact width 2.51 to 3.5 metres

Table 7(b) – overall mass limit


Gazette Notice Tandem Axle Group with 10.0 tonnes per axle

20.0

Gazette Notice Tri-axle / Tridem Axle Group with 10.0 tonnes per axle (single tyres)

13

27.0 This is a capped limit

Gazette Notice Tandem Axle Group with 12.0 tonnes per axle (single tyres)

24.0 Tandem Axle only

Gazette Notice Overall 45.0 Must meet towed ratio exemption (see page 14)

What has changed? The inclusion of individual mass limits for single tyres at up to 12.0 tonnes;

The inclusion of overall mass limits that take into account the mass towed ratio exemption

(see section Towed Ratio and Transporting a Load).

Why has the overall mass limit been set to 45.0 tonnes? In setting the overall mass limit, consideration has been given to the heaviest tractors and silage

trailers currently being sold in Victoria and the towed ratio exemption.

The VicRoads Stage 1 report found that 18.0 tonnes is the heaviest tractor that is commercially

available. The Austroads research was broader and identified that tractors weighing up to 25.0

tonnes are available (refer to Table 4). But the industry indicated that those tractors do not move

often on the road network, if at all. Of all the machine and implements on the network in Victoria

silage trailers are the heaviest and the largest of those is 31.0 tonnes.14

In line with a towed ratio of

1:1.5 an 18.0 tonne tractor can tow a 27.0 tonne silage trailer equalling an overall mass of 45.0

tonnes. This is why the tri-axle group mass limit is capped at 27.0 tonnes.

13

This cap also applies to trailers with more than three axles. 14

The Austroads research did identify chaser bins with a 45.0 tonne capacity and above (see section below).


What if the combination exceeds 45.0 tonnes? If the combination exceeds 45.0 tonnes and meets the 1:1.5 towed ratio – for example a 20.0 tonne

tractor towing a 30.0 tonne silage trailer – than access can be granted subject to a bridge

assessment. This combination will be required to operate under an annual / seasonal permit.

As with the route surveys noted above, farmers and contractors will need to apply for a bridge

assessment well in advance of harvest season.

What access will be granted under Notice? According to Advantia’s Stage 2 report (page 4 and page 25) a tractor towing a fully loaded silage

trailer at 49.85 tonnes gross combination mass is no worse in terms of its impact on bridges than a

100.0 tonne low loader / dolly combination. As a consequence agricultural machines and implements

covered under these Guidelines will have access to a network based on the current OSOM map

published on the VicRoads website.

Do light combinations get greater access? Yes, if the combination complies with the mass limits below then it can operate over those bridges

that are marked by a black dots on the map.

Table 7(c) – mass limits for lighter combinations


Gazette Notice With Single Tyres 9.0

Gazette Notice With Dual Tyres 9.0 Ground contact width 2.51 metres

Gazette Notice With Dual Tyres 10.5 Ground contact width 2.51 to 3.5 metres


What about Chaser / Field Bins that can weigh 130 tonnes? While Field Bins of that size can carry a load (see page 15 in regard to the Load Carrying Exemption)

they will be limited to the mass limits above.

As an example take the tractor / field bin combination below:

According to the Table above each axle on the Field Bin – when transporting a load – could be up to

9.0 tonnes per single axle. With 10 single axles that’s a total of 90.0 tonnes. However, the overall

mass limits (as per Table 7(b)) is capped at 27.0 tonnes. Therefore if the Tractor was 18.0 tonnes

than the maximum mass of the above combination, including the capped limit, would be 45.0 tonnes.

What about pavement wear? While the heaviest silage trailer does cause more pavement wear than a freight vehicle, it causes

considerably less pavement wear than a 2-axle crane or, more importantly, a 100.0 tonne low

loader.15

15

See page 9 of Advantia’s Stage 2 report.


Towed Ratio and Transporting a Load The following section discusses two exemptions to the Mass Dimension and Loading Regulations.

Towed Ratio Schedule 1, Part 1, Section 2 (4) of the Mass Dimension and Loading Regulations states:

In a combination, the mass of a dog trailer or pig trailer must not be more than the mass of the

towing vehicle.

Agricultural implements and trailers, such as comb trailers, augers and silage trailers have axle

groups that comply with the definition of a dog or a pig trailer. Consequently, under the Law an

agricultural machine towing an agricultural implement or trailer must have a 1:1 ratio – the mass of

machine cannot be less than the mass of the implement or trailer.

However farmers and contractors map opt to use tractors that are lighter than the trailer or implement

that is being towed, for practical reasons. The ratio will vary but anecdotally in can be as much as 1:2

or 1:2.5. In other words a 4.0 tonne tractor towing an 8.0 or 10.0 tonne implement.

When the mass of the towed implement or trailer exceeds the towed vehicle the safety concerns

mostly relate to the towed vehicle’s braking performance and whether the combination will meet the

Australian Design Rules (ADR) for braking. Given this, VicRoads commissioned Advantia Transport

Consulting to investigate whether the towed ratio for agricultural combinations could be increased and

still meet the relevant ADR.

In determining an ADR compliant towed ratio for agricultural implements and equipment, Advantia

physically tested a silage trailer and tiller / seeder towed by a tractor.16

As shown in the chart above, at a speed of 35 kilometres per hour the tractor / silage trailer / seeder

combination struggle to meet the ADR regulated stopping distance of 16.5 metres when the towed

ration exceeds 1:1.

However, when the speed is dropped by 10 kilometres --

16

The specific details can be found in Advantia’s Stage 3 report.


-- the tractor / silage trailer / seeder combination meets the stopping distance requirement at a towed

ratio of up to 1: 1.5

Consequently, the Stage 3 report concluded that:

The towed mass ratio could be increased to 1:1.2 where the manufacturer of the vehicle had

not specified a maximum mass for the towed equipment; and

The towed mass ratio could be increased to 1:1.5 provided that these combinations were

limited to a travel speed of 25 km/h.

Therefore, based on the Stage 3 reports’ findings the mass ratio in Victoria can be increased to 1:1.2

for agricultural combinations with unbraked implements provided:

The manufacturer’s ratings on all vehicles and components are not exceeded. This includes

the towed ratio recommended by the manufacturer

In addition the mass ratio in Victoria can be increased to 1:1.5 for agricultural combinations provided

The manufacturer’s ratings on all vehicles and components are not exceeded. This includes

the towed ratio recommended by the manufacturer; and

The speed limit does not exceed 25 km/h

What about implements that are fully braked?17 If the implement or trailer is fully braked – that is complies with ADR 38 - then the towed ratio can

increase to 1: 3.0 provided the manufacturer doesn’t specify a lower towed ratio.

In cases where the trailer has brakes that do not comply with ADR 38 then the towed ratio can exceed

1:1.5 in line with the manufacturer’s rating. If the manufacturer is silent on towed ratio then the ratios

noted above (without brakes) apply.

Transporting a Load Schedule 8, Section 23 of the Mass Dimension and Loading Regulations states:

An agricultural implement must not carry goods or passengers.

17

That is comply with ADR38 or the European equivalent.


This means that agricultural implements and machines must be unladen when operating on the

network. However, in practice this is not the case, Field Bins, Silage Trailers and Boom Sprayers are

all designed to carry a load and anecdotally they are used for this purpose on the road network. In

considering whether agricultural implements should carry a load VicRoads asked Advantia to consider

the rollover stability of a fully loaded silage trailer – as noted the heaviest implement / trailer operating

on the network. The Stage 2 report (page 16) showed that a fully laden silage trailer significantly

exceeds the minimum level Static Rollover Threshold (SRT) of 0.35g set by PBS freight vehicles. In

other words, stability is not an issue.

Consequently, any Notice or Permit issued under these Guidelines exempts a load carrying

agricultural implement or trailer from Schedule 8, Section 23 of the Law.


Other Conditions That Apply Aside from what stated is above a number of conditions continue to apply to agricultural machines,

implements and trailers. These are stated below.

Night Travel The maximum length of an agricultural combination travelling at night is 25.0 metres.

In the Melbourne and Geelong Urban Area, a harvester wider than 3.1 metres or longer than 22.0

metres must be accompanied by a pilot vehicle.

Where possible augers and conveyors should not travel at night due to their large rear overhang and

the difficulty other motorists may have seeing them.

Table 8 – maximum width for night time travel

Area of operation Agricultural harvesters Other agricultural vehicles

Otway and Mountainous Areas 2.5 metres 2.5 metres

Gippsland Ranges / Colac Surf Coast

3.0 metres 3.0 metres

Exempt Roads 3.5 metres 3.5 metres

Melbourne and Geelong 3.5 metres 3.1 metres

Flat Area 4.0 metres 3.1 metres

Broad Acre Area 4.0 metres 3.1 metres

Night Travel for Spraying Machines To take advantage of optimum spraying conditions, a self propelled or towed spray machine (an

agricultural vehicle with a collapsed or folded boom spray) up to 3.5 metres wide may travel at night in

the Flat Area or Broad Acre Area, subject to:

Travel is not on a major road or freeway;

Rear projecting boom sprays that project more than 2 metres from the body of the vehicle

must have a delineator affixed to the rear of each projection consisting of a rigid yellow

material that;

o is at least 300 millimetres long and at least 300 millimetres wide; and

o confirms with class 1 or 2 of the Australian Standard AS 1906 Retro-reflective

Materials and Devices for Road Traffic Control Purposes;

The rear projecting boom sprays do not project more than 4.5 metres from the centre of the

rear/axle group of the vehicle; and

If the boom projects to the rear more than 1.2 metres past the stop, turn and brake lights, an

additional red light can be seen from at least 200 metres must be affixed to the end of each

boom.

Route Restrictions18 Oversize agricultural vehicles must not travel or attempt to travel:

On a Freeway (except the Princes Freeway at Orbost); or

On a road or bridge where a posted mass or dimension limit would be exceeded; or

18

These route restrictions will be clearly marked on the Oversize Agricultural Vehicle map


Beneath a bridge or overhead structure that carries a sign with the words “LOW

CLEARANCE” or “CLEARANCE” if the height of the vehicle or combination is equal to or

greater than the height shown on the sign; or

Beneath any other overhead structures, bridges, cables, wires or trees unless there is at least

200mm clearance to the highest point of the vehicle.

Oversize agricultural vehicles must not travel at any time on the following roads:

Hamilton Highway (Deviation Road) between Hyland Street and Minerva Road, Fyansford;

Great Ocean Road between Anglesea and Port Campbell;

Gellibrand River Road and Gellibrand-Carlisle Road between Great Ocean Road and

Gellibrand;

Silverband Road, Grampians National Park;

Northern Grampians Road, Grampians National Park; and

Wartook Road, Grampains National Park.

Other Markings19 Field bins, chaser bins and mother bins:

20

Are exempt from having a warning light on the bin provided it is travelling in day time and is

being towed by a vehicle that has a yellow rotating warning light; and

Must have an OVERSIZE sign attached to the rear.

Schedule 8 All the conditions stated in Schedule 8, such as those dealing with warning devices and lighting, apply

unless otherwise exempted in these Guidelines.

19

This in addition to what’s already mandated under Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulations 20

The prohibition from carrying a load has been removed consistent with page 14 of these Guidelines.

Documents

Guidelines for the Movement of Oversize Agricultural ... · Guidelines for the Movement of Oversize Agricultural Vehicles in Victoria ... Why the increase to 25.0 metres in the Flat