Issued by: Ministry of Transport
AMENDMENTS TO ROAD TRAFFIC LEGISLATION
NEW MASS RESTRICTION LEVELS FOR HEAVY VEHICLES
DATE: 16 February 1996
To promote efficiency and lower costs in road freight transport and also to bring South Africa more in line with the Southern African Development Community (SADC), it has been decided by the Ministers Committee on Transport (MINCOM), consisting of the National Minister of Transport and the provincial members of the Executive Councils, to increase the South African axle mass restriction levels on heavy vehicles to the proposed levels, recommended by a Task Group in 1993.
Amendments to the Road Traffic Regulations that will come into effect early in 1996, will provide for the following amendments:
1) The wheel massloads of wheels fitted to a steering axle will remain 3 850 kilograms. 2) The wheel massloads of wheels fitted to axles other than a steering axle are increased to 4 000 kilograms. 3) The axle massloads of a single axle fitted with 2 or 3 wheels on each axle will remain 7 700 kilograms (which it is currently) if it is a steering axle but will provide for an increase to 8 000 kilograms if it is a non steering axle fitted with 2 or 3 wheels on each axle. 4) The axle massloads of each single axle fitted with 4 wheels on each will provide for an increase to 9 t (currently 8,2 t). 5) The axle massload of a dual axle unit fitted with 2 wheels on each axle will remain 15 400 kilograms in the case of a steering axle but will increasse to 16t in the case of an axle other than a steering axle. 6) The axle massload of a dual axle unit fitted with four wheels on each axle will provide for an increase to 18t (currently 16,4t). 7) The axle massload of a tridem axle unit which is a steering axle unit fitted with 2 or 3 wheels on each axle will provide for an increase to 23 100 kilograms and in the case of a non-steering axle unit fitted with 2 or 3 wheels on each axle, provision is made for an increase to 24t. NOTE: No distinction was previously made between steering axle units and non-steering axle units. 8) A tridem axle unit fitted with four wheels on each axle will provide for an increase.
The 15% weighing tolerance on individual axles or axle units that applied under the present legislation will fall away and a uniform tolerance of 5% will apply. The bridge formula changes to 18 + 2.1L. Vehicle length restrictions, however, remain unchanged and no consideration to the alteration of the length of the vehicle is envisaged. A new element is the introduction of a limit on the gross permissable vehicle mass or gross combination mass to 56t.
The nett implication of the new legislation will be small in the case of many vehicle classes. Some vehicle configurations will be permitted to carry a heavier payload than under the present legislation, while others will be restricted slightly more than before.
The main objective of the dispensation is to utilize the combination of our roads and trucks to the optimum and thereby promoting cheasper road freight transport. Transport costs contribute significantly to the cost of consumer products and should be kept to the minimum.
Law enforcement will not be relaxed. Overloading control is of vital importance to our country and steps will be taken to increase the law enforcement activities substantially.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT
ISSUED BY: Minister of Transport Pivate Bag X193 PRETORIA 0001
ENQUIRIES: Gerrie Botha (012) 290 2470 -- Heide Pienaar (012) 290 2747 Gwen Hoch (012) 328 5929
Office Hours from Monday to Friday 08:30 - 15h30.