Overweight and overdimension vehicles

The Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass 2002 (the VDAM Rule) specifies requirements for dimension and mass limits for vehicles operating on New Zealand roads. The VDAM Rule put in place a regulatory system to ensure that heavy and large vehicles, particularly truck and trailer combinations, are operated safely.

The NZ Transport Agency administers the VDAM Rule and is responsible for considering applications for overweight and overdimension permits to operate on State highways.  Local road controlling authorities are responsible for considering applications for overweight and overdimension permits to operate on local roads.

The High Productivity Motor Vehicles Project was a joint Ministry of Transport and NZ Transport Agency initiative that changed the rules about vehicle weight and dimensions to enable heavier, and longer, vehicles to be permitted to operate on New Zealand roads, provided they meet certain requirements.

Please refer to the NZ Transport Agency’s website for information about:

• overweight and overdimension permits
• the High Productivity Motor Vehicles Project