Heavy Vehicle Productivity Project

• Download the Heavy Vehicles Survey report September 2008 (PDF v7.0 561kb)
• Download the 50-tonne Braking Test report March 2009 (PDF v7.0, 449kb)
• Download the Noise and Vibration report (PDF v7.0, 3mb)
• Download the Emissions Summary report March 2009 (PDF v7.0, 306kb)

The Ministry of Transport-led Heavy Vehicle Productivity Project was re-established in 2008 to develop a permit system for heavy vehicles carrying loads outside the current mass and dimension limits.

The objectives of developing such a system are to improve efficiency in the use of heavy vehicles, reduce the rate of increase in heavy vehicle movements, boost long term economic growth and productivity, and reduce congestion and fuel use.

Truck from participating trial company Canterbury Waste Services Ltd.

About the trials

Road transport companies took part in a trial during 2008 and into early 2009, carrying loads greater than the current statutory 44 tonnes limit.

The trials were an important step toward investigating greater efficiency in the way road freight is moved. Overall a permit system allowing vehicles to operate at heavier weights has the potential to reduce the number of vehicle movements required to distribute the same amount of freight.

This will reduce fuel consumption and contribute to the government’s economic productivity objectives.

All trucks that took part in the trials:

• complied with existing safety legislation and  went through the standard overweight permit process
• operated on approved routes only.

There has been a high level of support from across the road transport industry for the project and a broad range of industry representatives took part in the trials. 

Trial goals 

• Measure the productivity benefits from a controlled permit system for overweight vehicles.
• Ability for the same amount of freight to be moved by fewer trucks.
• Less road congestion, lower emissions and a generally safer road environment in the long term.
• The trials also offered an opportunity to monitor and manage many of the impacts of implementing a controlled heavy vehicle permit system - from road maintenance and wear and tear to environmental and safety implications.

Read commonly asked questions and answers on the trials here.

Current status and next steps

Proposed  changes to the Vehicle Dimension and Mass Rule are due for public consultation from  the end of June 2009

Subject to this process, a rule Amendment could be signed off by the Minister of Transport by early 2010 with implementation of a new permit system in place by 1 April 2010.

Key facts

• New Zealand’s total freight movement around the country is expected to double over the next 20 years. Seventy percent of all freight that moves around the country is carried on our roads.
• A number of vehicles operating on New Zealand roads already have the capacity to move more than the current statutory 44 tonnes.  An increase in the mass and dimension limits to around 50 tonnes is expected to improve vehicle productivity by consolidating loads and reducing the number of vehicle movements required to distribute the same amount of freight.
• The trials were an important step toward investigating efficiency gains.
• There is a high level of support from across the transport industry for the trials. A broad range of industry representatives took part in the trials - from the milk and forestry industries through to fuel and waste management.  
• All trucks that took part in the trials complied with safety legislation and went through the standard overweight permit process.
• Trucks participating in the trial operated only on approved routes.