Carriage of indivisible items.

What is an indivisible item?

The Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) define indivisible items as items that exceed the regulated Mass or Dimensions that cannot be reduced in size or weight without extreme effort, cost or damage.

Typical “OverMass” (very heavy) indivisible items are earthmoving machinery, bulldozers and bridge beams.

Typical “OverSize” (high and wide) indivisible items are water tanks, silos, relocatable buildings and tilt panels.  

An indivisible item can be both OverMass and OverSize.

What roads can be accessed when operating an OverMass/OverSize vehicle?

Different rules apply to the transport of indivisible items as it is unreasonable to reduce these item in size and weight and there are generally limited movements of these types of loads.

The conditions of transporting these loads are contained in various government “Gazettes” and “Notices” which contain the conditions, limitations and limited approved routes “Networks” available to these loads.

Generally the main road and freeway networks are approved for use under the Notice with detailed and strict conditions regarding signage, pilot vehicles and travel time restrictions.

Generally the Notice permits loads up to 30 metres long, 5 metres wide and 5 metres high however some state only permit lesser sizes

OverMass loads of up to 100 tonnes are covered under the Notices however some states only permit lighter loads    

Some states also have published various “codes of practice” and operators guides with additional conditions.

Travel off the approved networks, generally the “first and last mile” require an individual access permit           

In summary, the movement of OverSize and OverMass loads is highly regulated and complex, operators must fully read the applicable Notices and Guides, ensure they comply with the conditions and restrictions before any movements take place.