Livestock Transport

New NSW Livestock Loading Scheme

From 1 December 2012, the NSW Government has implemented a new NSW Livestock Loading Scheme (NSWLLS) to enhance productivity and protect jobs in the NSW meat and livestock industry. The Scheme commenced on 1 December 2012.

The new Scheme was developed in consultation with meat and livestock industry stakeholders, the Local Government and Shires Associations and Transport for NSW Freight and Regional Development Division.

The new Scheme replaces the NSW Livestock Welfare Mass Management Accreditation Scheme (LWMMAS).

The new Scheme will provide increased mass limits for livestock loads, and includes measures to minimise road pavement wear, protect vulnerable bridges and reduce the incidence of livestock vehicle rollovers. An overview of the Scheme is available from the following documents:

Approved Routes

From 1 March 2013, the following routes are approved for use by Scheme vehicles:

  • Single trailer combinations, 25/26m B-doubles and road trains may operate on approved HML routes and State Roads. Maps indicating approved HML routes are available on the HML maps page. The NSWLLS Scheme Route Reference List identifies the bridges that are restricted to the Scheme vehicles and lists additional State Roads available to Scheme vehicles.
  • 19m B-doubles over 50 tonnes may operate on approved routes for 19m B-doubles over 50 tonnes. Maps indicating these routes are available on the Restricted Access Vehicle (RAV) maps page.
  • B-triples and AB-triples that have enrolled in the Intelligent Access Program (IAP) may operate on the approved GML networks for B-triples and AB-triples. Maps indicating these routes are available on the B-triple and AB-triple maps page.

It is anticipated the Scheme will be extended to other NSW roads in early 2013 subject to the completion of load limit sign-posting to protect vulnerable bridges.

Scheme enrolment

NSW Scheme enrolment application forms can be downloaded from the Heavy vehicle forms page. NSW and interstate registered vehicles may enrol in the NSW Scheme.

Vehicles registered in another State or Territory and that are participating in the livestock loading scheme of that State or Territory are not required to enrol in the NSW Scheme. However, they must comply with NSW Scheme vehicle standards, mass limits and operating conditions when operating in NSW.

Vehicles registered in NSW and enrolled in the NSW Scheme may operate under the livestock loading schemes of Victoria and Queensland.

Driver training course

Vehicle rollover crashes are more prevalent in livestock vehicles compared to other vehicles. RMS has developed a driver training course to ensure that drivers operating under the NSW Scheme can safely operate 4.6m high livestock vehicles and apply techniques to minimise the risk of rollover.

From 1 May 2013, drivers are required to have completed either:

  • The new NSWLLS Driver Training Course or
  • The Victorian Livestock Loading Scheme (VLLS) Driver Training Course.

RMS has approved suitably qualified and experienced trainers to provide the NSW Driver Training Course.

Further information about the NSW Driver Training Course, including the list of Approved Trainers, is available in this document:

The Application Form for the NSWLLS Driver Training Course can be downloaded from the Heavy Vehicle forms page.

General information about livestock transport in NSW

Reasonable allowances on axle mass limits for livestock loads

Since March 2011, eligible higher productivity vehicles have been permitted to exceed the regulated mass limits on tri-axle groups by up to one tonne, to take into account the movement of livestock within pens during transport. More information about this initiative is available from:

Livestock Loading Calculator

The Livestock Loading Calculator was developed to assist operators and their customers to comply with animal loading densities and vehicle mass limits.

The calculator also assists operators and their customers to comply with their Chain of Responsibility obligations to take reasonable steps to prevent breaches of load mass limits.
Please carefully read the instructions on use of the calculator on the introduction page of each LLC.

Currently, Livestock Loading Calculators are available for 6-axle single trailer combinations and 9-axle B-double combinations for carrying cattle or sheep. Changes will be introduced to the calculators to cover the carriage of pigs, following the successful completion of field trials. Two additional calculators will also be provided to cover the carriage of cattle and sheep in B-triples and road trains, following the successful completion of field trials.

Calculators