Heavy vehicle checking stations are part of Roads and Maritime Services' (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) heavy vehicle enforcement program, which include Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) mobile enforcement and the Safe-T-Cam network across New South Wales.
Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) uses heavy vehicle checking stations to intercept and inspect heavy vehicles which may be operating illegally or in an unsafe manner on NSW roads and which therefore pose significant risk to road users, the road infrastructure and the environment.
There are 8 heavy vehicle checking stations located at:
- Mt White (northbound and southbound on the F3 freeway)
- Mt Boyce (Great Western Highway)
- Marulan (northbound and southbound on the Hume Highway)
- Bell (Bells Line of Road)
- Kankool (New England Highway)
- Chinderah (Pacific Highway)
- Pine Creek (Pacific Highway)
- Twelve Mile Creek (Pacific Highway)
All heavy vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) greater than eight tonnes are required to enter a heavy vehicle checking station (except Chinderah and Pine Creek 4.5 tonnes). These vehicles must enter a heavy vehicle checking station to ensure the vehicle meets safety and roadworthiness standards and that their drivers are complying with road transport laws.
Failing to enter a heavy vehicle checking station when directed and/or disobeying a ‘Trucks must enter’ sign may result in a fine.
Certain vehicles are considered to create, or be exposed to, unacceptable risks if required to enter a heavy vehicle checking station. These vehicles, with a GVM greater than 8 tonnes, include:
- Department of Corrective Services vehicles bearing the Department’s insignia and transporting inmates.
- Cash in transit vehicles, although these vehicles are still required to enter the screening lane.
- Emergency vehicles during a declared emergency.
These vehicles are exempt from entering HVCS.
The benefits of using heavy vehicle checking stations include:
- Effective monitoring of heavy vehicle traffic for fatigue management which includes a detailed work diary check.
- Checking for valid registration and driver licences.
- Checking for outstanding defects.
- Checking for permit compliance.
- Checking for overloading of vehicles.
- Checking to ensure relevant load restraint guidelines have been followed.
- Performing detailed mechanical, steering and suspension inspections.
Technology
Heavy vehicle checking stations are equipped with various types of electronic technology such as Safe-T-Cam, TruckScan and weigh-plates technology.
Safe-T-Cam detects and provides data on heavy vehicle incidents relating to:
- Driver fatigue.
- Registration.
- Fail to enter heavy vehicle checking station.
At automated heavy vehicle checking stations a number of checks are carried out as a heavy vehicle passes through the screening lane. If a vehicle is detected exceeding mass or dimension limits or is suspected of breaching fatigue laws, the driver may be directed to proceed to the heavy vehicle checking station for a compliance check.
Complying vehicles may be directed to return to the highway without stopping for a compliance check. Safe-T-Cam technology can also be used to detect vehicles that fail to enter the heavy vehicle checking station when directed.
Heavy vehicle checking stations use risk-based screening templates which are aimed at progressively targeting and intercepting more potentially severe offences as the station becomes busier. In this way Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) targets higher safety risks so that we use our enforcement resources more effectively.