The requirement for on board mass measuring equipment (OBM) in the Intelligent Access Program (IAP) in NSW has been accepted by Transport Certification Australia (TCA).
“TCA has been informed by Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) that some Performance Based Standards (PBS) ‘A-Double’ combinations and all Higher Mass Limits (HML) Quad Axle B Double combinations operating in New South Wales must have an OBM system linked to the IAP as a condition of permit,” said TCA CEO, Chris Koniditsiotis. “TCA nationally administers the use of OBM systems linked to the IAP, allowing road managers such as RMS to grant access to routes that may have previously been unavailable for these vehicle types, due to identified infrastructure risks.
“Access demands and productivity considerations are at the core of this development, benefitting road managers and transport operators alike. OBM systems linked to the IAP are allowing road managers to unlock significant productivity gains for transport operators, without necessitating capital intensive infrastructure upgrades.
“The Department of Transport and Main Roads in Queensland has shown leadership in this area, having been able to open up access for a new generation of substantially more productive and environmentally friendly Performance Based Standards (PBS) 2B vehicles.”
Use of OBM linked to IAP and PBS have seen productivity improvements on the Toowoomba to Port of Brisbane route with a virtual 100 per cent increase in productivity, a 40 per cent reduction in environmental emissions and a 50 per cent reduction in the number of truck trips required for the same freight task.
“TCA’s operational findings indicate that an OBM system properly installed and correctly calibrated is able to determine a heavy vehicle’s total combination mass within 2 per cent for 95 per cent of the time, when compared to a correctly operating and calibrated weighbridge, this is consistent with the original findings,” said Koniditsiotis.
“The use of OBM systems linked to the IAP has been recognised with several local and international awards, the most recent being the ITS Asia Pacific Industry Award at the 20th ITS World Congress in Tokyo Japan, in October 2013.”