Heavy Vehicle Mass Enforcement

Local councils in NSW can nominate staff to become enforcement officers under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) to undertake activities that ensure heavy vehicles comply with mass enforcement on local roads for the protection of their asset. Authorisation under the Road Transport Act 2013 extends the HVNL authorisation to the enforcement of mass offences for light vehicles.

Under the HVNL, authorised enforcement officers have the powers to issue formal warnings and infringement notices for minor and substantial mass breaches to offending heavy vehicles. In instances where a severe mass breach is detected, enforcement officers are expected to issue a Court Attendance Notice (CAN).

Authorised officers have the powers under the HNVL to:

• Stop a heavy vehicle
• Issue directions to move a heavy vehicle
• Enter and inspect a heavy vehicle
• Issue directions to reduce and adjust
• Issue formal warnings and infringements.

Enforcement officers will also be authorised for vehicle mass enforcement under the Road Transport Act 2013 as Class 14 Officers to monitor and enforce:

• Mass requirements on roads and bridges
• Load limit signs
• No trucks and no buses signs.

To report operational safety issues relating to heavy vehicle transport activities, please contact the Heavy Vehicle Confidential Reporting Line on 1800 931 785. Any issues that pose an immediate safety risk to a person should be referred to the police (e.g. a traffic crash involving a heavy vehicle, or a heavy vehicle losing its load or swerving over the road).