New heavy vehicle weighing system in force

04/07/06
Roadside enforcement officers in Western Australia are using a new weighing method for heavy vehicle inspections.
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the Measurement Adjustment System had been adopted by all States and Territories from July 1.
"Better compliance by heavy vehicles with mass limits has road safety benefits for all road users and will help protect road infrastructure," Ms MacTiernan said.
"The new system provides very clear boundaries to ensure heavy vehicles comply with the applicable mass limits.
"It means an adjustment will be applied to each weighing step, or each movement of the vehicle on to the scales.
"The number of weighing steps is determined by the size of the vehicle being weighed and the length of the weighbridge, or the number of portable scales in use.
"More accurate weighing devices have enabled us to end the old practice of applying a tolerance to all heavy vehicle mass weighing to account for variances in the weighing process."
The Minister said the new arrangements would complement the chain of responsibility requirements under another key national transport reform - the proposed Compliance and Enforcement legislation.
"Under the chain of responsibility, all parties involved in the transport chain - from the consignor to the packer to the loader to the consignee, as well as the heavy vehicle operator - must take steps to prevent a breach of the road transport mass, dimension and load restraint laws, or be held legally accountable," Ms MacTiernan said.
More information about the Measurement Adjustment System is available from http://www.mainroads.wa.gov.au/Internet/Heavy_Vehicles/hvoUpdates/HVO2006_40.asp
Minister's office: (08) 9213 6400