Queensland are the first state to ditch the laborious heavy haulage permit system, making Smart OBM mandatory for Over Dimensional loads.

Elphinstone Smart OBM

“Queensland Transport and Main Roads (TMR) Revised Class 1 Heavy Vehicle Access Regime represents a critical step forward in improving the safety, efficiency, and compliance of heavy haulage operations in Australia,” Grant Elphinstone, Technical Director of Elphinstone Weighing Systems, told Trucksales.

For five decades, Elphinstone Engineering’s onboard scales have revolutionised load management in the heavy transport sector. Now, with their recent type approval as a Smart OBM (On-Board Mass) system by Transport Certification Australia they are perfectly positioned to meet the requirements of the new Class-1 heavy vehicle access regime developed by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR).

Central to this system is the integration of telematics, which allows for real-time monitoring of vehicle mass and performance. Melbourne-based Elphinstone Weighing Systems, through its Easyweigh solution, plays a pivotal role in meeting these requirements, offering a certified and innovative approach to Smart Onboard Mass Management (Smart OBM). This technology meets the Transport Certification Australia (TCA) standards and delivers significant operational benefits for heavy haulage operators, helping them navigate the complexities of modern road transport regulations.

Elphinstone Heavy Duty Loadcell

 “With the recent approval of our Easyweigh system for smart on-board mass we find ourselves currently the only onboard board weighing system which meets the OBM requirements to weigh heavy haulage vehicles fitted with conventional spring suspensions, Grant explains. “This is due to our system utilising fifth wheel loadcells to accurately weigh the prime mover rather than other systems which will only work with air suspensions.”

Limitations of the current heavy vehicle access regime

The current QLD Class-1 vehicle access regime is very dated; it was initially introduced in 1987 and, like most states, based on allowable mass tables developed using 1970s engineering. The exponential evolution of heavy haulage vehicle designs and configurations over this time is nothing short of significant. As a result, many Class 1 vehicles operating today did not exist in the 1980s or were very rare and only made infrequent trips when TMR introduced the current access regime that was first developed four decades ago.

Today, however, demand for movements of large loads in Queensland is growing significantly in the mining sector and renewable energy infrastructure projects. In many cases, Class-1 vehicles are not operated over bridges as designed (such as in-lane travel instead of centre-line travel) and indivisible loads are not made genuinely indivisible.

The current permit application and approval processes are laboriously time intensive, impacting permit approval timeframes and business opportunities for industry operators. The aging access regime provides limited certainty and visibility of access and mass limits, which inhibits industry operators’ ability to plan movements confidently and lacks network usage visibility (vehicles, mass, and structure crossings) to inform asset and access management and investment decisions. Additionally, (according to a recent TMR report) access conditions and restrictions on the road network can be inconsistent throughout Queensland and not easily accessible or understood by industry operators.

Elphinstone Easyweigh multi reader

Data-Driven Decision Making

“We are hearing that Heavy Haulage operators have welcomed the new Revised Class 1 Heavy Vehicle Access Regime,” Grant said. “The TMR has collaborated with Transport Certification Australia (TCA) to embed certified Telematics Monitoring Application (TMA) into the Revised Class 1 Heavy Vehicle Access Regime, together with Smart Onboard Mass Management (Smart OBM). The current labour-intensive permit system will be phased out when the new digital system is introduced.”

The revised Class 1 Heavy Vehicle Access Regime paper informs that Class-1 load platforms and low loaders greater than 59.5 tonnes will be the first vehicle fleet to transition to the new Class-1 access regime. They will require TMA to be fitted to operate in the new access regime under TMR’s new mandatory Telematic Policy. The system will be operational by the fourth quarter of 2024. These vehicles must have Smart OBM installed within 12–18 months from the start of our mandatory Telematic Policy.

Elphinstone Easy Weigh remote

Elphinstone Weighing Systems introduced the first on-vehicle weighing systems to the Australian transport industry in 1976 and developed Elphinstone Easyweigh in 1989. It was the first on-vehicle weighing system in the world to store calibration data in each individual truck and trailer. This feature allows trucks and trailers to be interchangeable without requiring any adjustments or identification of trailers. The system automatically detects the trailers during the power-up and displays them in the correct order, providing a seamless and efficient operation for heavy haulage operators.

By integrating with telematics systems, Easyweigh provides valuable data that operators can use to improve their logistics and transport strategies. This data can inform decisions about route planning, load optimisation, and fleet management, leading to better overall performance and reduced operational costs. The efficiency of the Easyweigh system gives operators the confidence to make informed decisions that positively impact their operations.

The Easyweigh system allows communication with an optional RF (radio frequency) remote, which enables the display to be carried in hand or positioned in a suitable location while the combination is being loaded.

Elphinstone Easyweigh Multi Reader

Future-Proofing Operations

As the transport industry moves toward greater digitalisation and regulation, systems like Easyweigh help operators stay ahead of the curve. By adopting TCA-certified Smart OBM systems, companies can future-proof their operations against evolving regulatory requirements, ensuring they can continue to operate efficiently and legally as rules change.

For More Information Contact: Elphinstone Weighing Systems: 1800 030 019 or info@elph.com.au