The new HPMV permits come out of the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Dimensions and Mass Amendment 2010, which the Minister of Transport signed in April. Currently the maximum mass limit for a truck carrying a divisible load without a permit is 44 tonnes. HPMVs will be able to go over that limit on specified routes and some will be able to be longer than current trucks. They cannot be any wider or higher.
New Zealand’s demand for freight is forecast to increase by 70 to 75 percent over the next 25 years. Increasing weights and lengths that trucks can operate under is expected to boost productivity by reducing the growth in the number of trips needed to carry that freight. Reduced freight movements also have the potential to benefit road safety.
Most road users should notice little difference as a result of the change as most HPMVs are expected to be the same trucks we have on the roads now. They will have to carry an ‘H’ sign to show they are operating under a permit. Only trucks that have the capability to handle higher weights safely, and meet the appropriate safety standards, will be given permits. There may be some slight design changes over time as longer trucks get built.
Not all roads can support higher weights, so the NZTA is working with the freight industry and local authorities to identify which routes will be suitable and most productive for HPMVs.
For more information, including how to apply for a permit, see the High productivity motor vehicle permits page in the Your vehicle section.
