Look up and look out

Every heavy vehicle driver and operator understands all too well how easy it is for the pressure to build this time of year.

Freight volumes go through the roof, deadlines tighten, traffic ramps up and there’s always one more job to squeeze in before Christmas.

Those same pressures – fatigue, tight schedules, and busy city routes – can create the perfect storm for mistakes.

One of the costliest errors the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator sees still happening far too often on our road networks is an over-height truck driving on a road it shouldn’t be and colliding with a bridge or tunnel.

It may not seem much, but just a few extra centimetres can be the difference between a safe run and a strike that brings stops traffic, damages public infrastructure, and puts lives at risk.

In New South Wales, there are more low-clearance bridges and tunnels under 4.6m than anywhere else in the country, with Sydney’s tunnel network historically proving to be a hot-spot for over-height incidents.

Queensland too has faced its own challenges this year, with a run of over-height trucks striking rail bridges and causing significant damage.

These high-profile crashes are not only likely to end up with a driver and their company truck on the nightly news but are headache-inducing events for potentially thousands of rail commuters – not to mention the danger posed to the driver and other motorists.

It’s why the NHVR has been working closely with our state jurisdictional partners and police services to help turn those numbers around.

In NSW, Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW­) have boosted the fine to $5,500 for over-height trucks who ignore low clearance signage, with drivers also able to be issued with 12 demerit points.

TfNSW also has the power to suspend a driver’s licence for up to six months and can issue a registration suspension for trucks for up to six months.

In Queensland, drivers who hit rail bridges can face fines starting at $1,290 and four demerit points, rising to $12,900 if the case goes to court.

Queensland Rail alongside the NHVR and the Queensland Police Service have deployed a number of operations to enforce and educate heavy vehicle drivers on avoiding these incidents.

At the NHVR, we boosted education messages to industry through dedicated advertising on social media, radio and online, and developed a brochure translated into three different languages to further inform drivers on what steps they can take to ensure incidents are avoided.

Of course, the heavy vehicle industry has also played a critical role in the reduction of these crashes, and we thank all of you for your ongoing support in training drivers and ensuring their routes are appropriately managed and planned.

The encouraging news is that our joint efforts with state jurisdictions and industry to bring the number of incidents down is seeing results.

Since 2023, over-height incidents in NSW tunnels have dropped almost 49 per cent.

It’s a positive achievement, but we can’t let our guard down – not when every incident has the potential to cause traffic chaos, bring the city to a standstill, damage infrastructure, and lead to dangerous conditions for all road users.

A small increase in incidents this year compared with 2024, along with the rush leading into Christmas, is a reminder that complacency is the real danger.

Every over-height incident that is prevented saves time, money, and your reputation, so make sure you are doing these crucial steps before every time you hit the road.

Know your height

Measure your truck and load every single time. This is a critical part of starting your journey – even if you think you already know the height.

Heavy vehicles higher than 4.3 metres have restricted travel conditions and must use only approved road networks. Also, check your load and restraints, as a load that shifts while travelling can suddenly put you at risk of an over-height strike.

Plan your route

Mapping your journey – before you depart for your trip ­– is essential to ensure you are only travelling on roads, through tunnels and under bridges where permitted and where your truck’s height is appropriate.

Use the NHVR Route Planner to check where you can and can’t go.

If you’re travelling through Sydney, remember the ‘usual suspects’ and their restrictions – Sydney Harbour Tunnel (4.4 m), M5 East Main Tunnel (4.6 m) and the Airport Tunnel (4.4 m).

Every trip you complete safely keeps freight moving and protects the reputation of the entire heavy vehicle industry, and avoiding preventable over-height incidents is one of the simplest and most effective ways we can boost our shared goal of improving heavy vehicle safety.

By double-checking load heights, planning routes carefully, and staying alert in transit, we can ensure that our network of tunnels and bridges remain safe.

We’ve proven what collaboration and professionalism can achieve – so let’s continue to work towards eliminating over-height incidents entirely.