Telematics

Class 1 heavy vehicles telematics

The Queensland Government has collaborated with Austroads, formally Transport Certification Australia (TCA), to embed certified Telematics Monitoring Application (TMA) into the new Class 1 Heavy Vehicle Access Regime, together with Smart On-board Mass Management (Smart OBM).

The following Class 1 heavy vehicles will require telematics as part of the new access regime.

Class 1 heavy vehicles	Mandatory telematics
Load platform combinations with trailers made up of modules with steerable, load sharing axles, with 5 or more axles	TMA and Smart OBM
Low loader combinations with trailers with a loading deck no more than 1m above the ground, with up to 5 axles	TMA and Smart OBM
Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) starting with mobile cranes	TMA

Telematic requirements

Travel on the state-controlled network under a NAAS Notice or permit will only be available for vehicles that are fitted with the required TMA and Smart OBM—there will be a transition period for installation.

Agreed telematics data will be supplied to Austroads and the Queensland Government for assurance, asset and access management, and investment purposes. Since April 2024, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has been responsible for all enforcement in Queensland (no longer the Queensland Government).

Under the NHVRs Chain of Responsibility industry operators are obligated to provide a safe working environment for everyone involved in the supply chain. Smart OBM can help industry operators meet these obligations by providing an exact measurement of the gross vehicle mass in real-time.

Telematic certified service providers

Under future access arrangement, telematics, which is the installation of Transportation Certification Australia (TCA) approved devices under the Telematics Monitoring Application (TMA), will be mandatory for oversize overmass (OSOM) vehicles and mobile cranes operating under the new access regime. Initially, this will involve TMA telematics, with the provision of Smart OnBoard Mass at a later stage, this requirement will apply to all movements in the new regime, regardless of whether they are operating under the NAAS notice or a permit.

The Queensland Government's principal objective for managing access of Class 1 heavy vehicles is to maintain a road network that is safe and sustainable for all road users. To help achieve this, visibility of Class 1 heavy vehicle movements is essential to monitor and assess road network asset impacts.

With the implementation of the Class 1 heavy vehicle access regime, provision of telematics data to will become mandatory for OSOM vehicles and mobile cranes seeking access to state roads under the new regime. Twelve calendar months’ notice will be provided before the mandatory telematics condition applies.

The following applies when the new mandatory requirement becomes effective for Class 1 low loaders:

• To access the state-contolled road network, vehicles must be enrolled in the Queensland OSOM Load Carrying Vehicle Scheme and have fully operational telematics devices installed.
• Data collected under this scheme will be provided to the Queensland Government for asset management activities only.

The scheme sets out the data to be collected.

Implementation dates are yet to be announced.

This does not apply to low loaders operating under the National Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle Dimension Exemption Notice 2025 (No. 2) and National Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle Mass Exemption Notice 2025 (No. 1), to this stage.

More information can be found at Transport Certification Australia (TCA) | Austroads.

Austroads is a national organisation that provides assurance services relating to transport technologies and data to enable improved public purpose outcomes from road transport.

A certified service provider offers applications of the National Telematics Framework higher than Level 1 assurance, such as the Telematics Monitoring Application.

Visit the TCA website for a list of telematic certified service providers.

Fitting telematic equipment

Twelve months’ notice will be provided for industry operators to fit certified telematic equipment to OSOM load carrying vehicles. We recognise that certified Smart OBM systems are not yet available for hydraulic suspension systems. Once they become available, industry operators will be given adequate time to install the Smart OBM systems.

We are continuing to consult with Austroads and certified service providers of TMA and Smart OBM. More information will be provided when available. If your current service provider is not certified to provide TMA, refer them to Austroads (TCA) to discuss how to become a certified service provider.

Visit the TCA website for more information.

When to have TMA and Smart OBM installed

Class 1 low loaders and load platforms greater than 59.5 tonnes will require TMA to be fitted to operate in the new access regime under our mandatory Telematic Policy. We will provide 12 months' notice for industry operators to fit certified telematic equipment. We recognise that certified Smart OBM systems are not yet available for hydraulic suspension systems. Once they become available, industry operators will be given adequate time to install the Smart OBM systems.

Class 1 SPV mobile cranes, currently operate under the mandatory Telematics Policy and the Intelligent Access Program (IAP). It is intended to transition these vehicles from IAP to TMA with a new mandatory Telematics Policy prior to the new regime. The existing IAP equipment will seamlessly transition to TMA. Class 1 SPVs, including mobile cranes, will not require Smart OBM.

We are committed to collaborating with service and equipment providers, as well as transport operators, to ensure sufficient time is provided for the implementation of the required telematics devices. We are also actively consulting with Austroads and certified service providers of TMA and Smart OBM and will share further information as it becomes available.

Number of vehicles requiring TMA and Smart OBM

Based on the 2024-25 NHVR GO Portal data, these are the estimated number of Class 1 heavy vehicles that will need TMA and Smart OBM installed.

Types of vehicles	Number of vehicles
Prime movers	1,885
Dollies	476
Load platform trailers	465
Low loaders trailers	1,048
Special purpose vehicles	507

Case scenarios for the new access regime

There are many similarities between how the new access regime will benefit small and large operators as well as road managers. The scale of the benefits will vary based on the size of the operator, the fleet size, the ability to scale equipment and operations, the level of influence over the consignor and the available capital to have the most suitable equipment.

Find out what the new access regime means for a:

• small operator
• large operator.

What the new access regime means for small operators

Case scenario

A small operator with 2 prime movers, 2 dollies and 2 trailers runs a family business with a couple of additional drivers who service local companies and undertakes a variety of work.

Work task

Work is generally of an ad hoc nature and often done on short notice. For the operator to compete for work in a compliant manner, they need to have timely access to the network with clear visibility of their travel conditions.

Costs

The National Automated Access System (NAAS) is free to use. The cost to fit Telematics Monitoring Application (TMA) and Smart On-board Mass management (Smart OBM), will depend on the supplier. It's estimated the cost will be $6,990 for each prime mover, $4,650 for each dolly and $11,990 for each trailer which is a total estimated cost of $47,260 to fit the 2 class 1 heavy vehicles combinations with the required telematics.

The installation and ongoing annual service cost of TMA and Smart OBM will be offset by the reduction in required permits and administrative costs. The costs will be further offset through the industry operators' business not missing out on work while waiting for a permit, and through improved assurance from telematics. Our cost benefit economic analysis has shown the return on investment for this small operator business is within 1 year.

Main benefits

The small operator will gain immediate certainly and visibility of the available road network and access conditions for their Class 1 vehicles without needing to request a permit, provided the NAAS entry conditions are met.

Their administrative costs and workload will be reduced because dynamic access under notice will allow them to plan for access decisions quickly and confidently and schedule in a larger amount of moves under notice without having to apply for permits.

Where conditions and restrictions change, they'll be able to see changes in the NAAS via Queensland maps, providing greater transparency and access certainty. The NAAS maps will show all restricted bridges and roads so the operator can explore options to facilitate Notice access such as reducing the load mass, changing vehicle configuration by adding additional axles, or finding an alternative route, all within the system. This removes the need for the operator to check multiple systems to find the access conditions and restrictions.

If a customer phones to undertake a work task, an operator can check the access provisions and conditions while talking to the customer in real time using the NAAS. Before quoting, the operator can discuss with their customer how the requested task can be undertaken, including alternative masses, routes, configurations and pilot-escort requirements.

If these options do not produce a viable route for the journey under notice, a NHVR Permit will be required through the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) GO Portal. The permit and access conditions will be individualised to align to the duration, frequency, and specifics of the work task.

Additionally, the small operator will have the ability to see the same access information in NAAS maps as their competitors (large or small) giving them a level playing field to plan and compete for work.

What the new access regime means for a large operator

Case scenario

Large operator has 16 Class 1 heavy vehicles which includes prime mover, heavy load platform and dolly combinations. The operator has several sites in key locations throughout Queensland and services the mining and resources sectors as primary contractors.

Work task

To service their customers daily and have contractual requirements which need to be met. They need to move regularly across the network and will often have a schedule of work to plan their moves. On occasion, they'll be asked to move a load at short notice.

Costs

The NAAS system is free to use. The cost of installing telematics, however, may require a large investment. Additional planning for telematics installations will be required to limit the impact to operations.

The cost to fit TMA and Smart OBM is estimated to be $6,990 for each prime mover, $4,650 for each dolly and $11,990 for each trailer. This totals $378,080 to fit the large operator's fleet of 16 Class 1 heavy vehicle combinations with the required telematics.

Our cost benefit analysis has shown installation and ongoing yearly service costs of TMA and Smart OBM is offset by the reduction in required permits and administrative costs. The return on investment for the large operator is within three years.

Main benefits

The large operator will gain immediate certainly and visibility of the available road network and access conditions for their Class 1 vehicles without needing to request a permit, provided the NAAS entry conditions are met. This certainty will enable them to better manage their large fleet movements and schedule work with confidence.

NAAS will allow the operator to plan and coordinate movements across the road network in real time. Within minutes they will know if a movement can occur under notice. If the movement cannot occur under notice, they'll have the opportunity to explore options within the system to gain access under notice such as reducing the load mass, changing vehicle configuration (adding additional axles to spread the load) or finding an alternative route.

The operator will also be able to visualise access conditions on the generated NAAS map for a specific vehicle. These conditions may include dimensional and mass constraints, pilot and escort requirements, and specific travel conditions over bridges. The benefit to the operator is that this information removes the need for them to check multiple systems to ascertain the access conditions and restrictions.

Like a small operator, if a customer phones to undertake a work task, the large operator, while talking to the customer, may check the access provisions and conditions in real time using the NAAS. Before quoting, the operator can discuss with their customer how the requested task can be undertaken, including alternative masses, routes, configurations and pilot-escort requirements.

Having Smart OBM telematics fitted will provide the operator with real time loaded mass data and assist them in meeting Chain of Responsibility (CoR) obligations because they will know the masses are correct before their vehicle moves on the network. If a permit is required, the new approach aligns the permit duration and conditions to the specifics of the task. For example, some large operators move a high frequency of identical loads, using the same equipment on the same routes. If a permit application is granted, an operator will have one permit to cover the full activity for the duration of the task. This will reduce the overall permit and administrative costs required to complete the task.

Contact us

To speak with the team, email [email protected]