Road train operators can now access the entire length of the Newell Highway, unlocking big efficiency gains for the movement of freight from border to border.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said providing end-to-end access for all eligible vehicles up to 36.5m long and Performance Based Standards (PBS) Level 3 vehicles on the Newell was a huge win for the freight industry.
“This is a game changer for people moving product along one of our State’s most important freight corridors,” Mr Toole said.
“We trialled this expanded road train ac-cess through the drought and through last year’s bumper grain harvest and we know it provides significant productivity and safety gains, potentially reducing truck movements by as much as 40 per cent.”
Gazetted access would now be available to all eligible vehicles up to 36.5 metres long along more than 1000 kilometres of highway including through Parkes, irrespective of the cargo carried.
“Parkes was the last section of the Newell where road trains were restricted but the trials we did with road trains to move fodder through drought and last year’s harvest has guided this change,” Mr Toole said.
“By granting road trains permanent access to the last remaining section of the highway without the need for a permit, it will improve the efficiency, sustainability and safety of freight transport in the region which is developing into an important freight hub.
“Higher productivity vehicles are able to move 63 percent more freight per trip than a 26m B-Double heavy vehicle, which means less trucks on our roads, greater efficiency and reduced costs.”
For more information go to nswroads.work/ravmap