Heavy haulage can seem like an intimidating concept when you first hear about it, but it’s not so different from regular transportation. This article will guide you through the industry, and how it works, and give you in-depth knowledge regarding it. Let’s get started!
The purpose
In recent years, there has been an increase in heavy haulage in Australia. This guide offers a brief overview of what heavy haulage is and how it affects different industries within Australia.
What is heavy haulage?
The term heavy haulage is one of many names used for heavy transport by road. In a loose sense, it can be used to describe any transport of overweight/oversized or hazardous cargo. However, often there is an assumption that it refers only to oversize loads, which are carried on specialist equipment and require special licences and permits.
Is it really necessary?
The concept of using heavy haulage trucks seems like a no-brainer, but if you’re taking a trip or planning on moving locally, why not use light vehicles and save money? Well, there are several reasons why heavy haulage may be preferable to traditional light vehicles and one critical reason is heavy haulage is generally much safer than light vehicles because they’re usually fitted with special suspension systems and can carry heavier loads without getting damaged. While some accidents happen regardless of whether it’s a large truck or small car driving on our roads, they do tend to be more common when driving smaller cars; hence, why most people choose larger trucks over smaller ones.
How does it affect your truck?
The heavy haul licence is a great thing for truck owners but does pose risks. For example, your insurance will be affected if you have a serious accident while using a licence not suited to your vehicle. The Federal Department of Infrastructure and Transport (DOT) will determine whether or not your truck qualifies for one based on weight, axle configuration, and under-body height. So make sure you know what you’re doing when outfitting your truck with heavier cargo.
What about our roads?
Heavy haulages, trucks, and large vehicles pose serious threats to our roads. Millions of tonnes of freight are carried over roadways by heavy haulages and other commercial vehicles, so it’s understandable that all Australian drivers take safety precautions whenever they share a roadway with these kinds of vehicles. Heavy haulage accidents can cause severe damage to both property and people on a scale unlike most other types of accidents; hence why it’s important for every driver in Australia to be fully aware of the issues surrounding heavy vehicle accidents.
Why are there fines?
Under Road Safety legislation, heavy vehicle drivers can be fined and even lose their licence if they exceed work hours. Heavy haulage fines also apply if drivers exceed height and mass limits imposed on trucks as well as going over posted speed limits. These rules are designed for several reasons, but one of them is road safety. By understanding some of these rules, you’ll have a much better grasp of what’s safe and what isn’t when it comes to trucking and heavy haulages in Australia.