The New Zealand Trucking Association (NTA) is calling on the Government to fast-track a comprehensive review of the Vehicle Dimensions and Mass (VDAM) Rule 2016, arguing modern limits on heavy-vehicle height, width, length and axle loads would improve safety and efficiency across the freight network.
With freight demand rising and operators under cost pressure, the NTA says prescriptive settings are holding back adoption of Performance-Based Standards (PBS) vehicles and modern pro-forma designs.
“New Zealand has an opportunity right now to unlock major efficiency and safety benefits by updating our VDAM settings and accelerating the introduction of PBS and modern vehicle combinations,” New Zealand Trucking Association chief executive David Boyce says.
“These changes would reduce unnecessary compliance burden, improve productivity, and support the transition to future-fit freight systems.”
The association points to Australia’s PBS framework, which it says has enabled “advanced configurations”, including PBS-approved A-Double combinations operating at up to 30 metres in length and 85,000kg gross weight, delivering gains in freight efficiency, reduced congestion and lower emissions per tonne moved.
The NTA says revising VDAM to enable wider PBS uptake and updated pro-forma templates would:
- increase transport productivity by moving more freight with fewer trips
- reduce compliance complexity through clearer approval pathways for modern vehicle designs
- improve safety via enhanced stability, braking and vehicle technology
- support economic growth by strengthening supply chains and encouraging investment.
“Transport operators across New Zealand are ready to invest in modern, efficient equipment that lifts productivity and safety,” Boyce says.
“To unlock that future, we need a regulatory system that encourages innovation, not one that delays it.”
The NTA is urging Government agencies and industry partners to collaborate on a fast-tracked VDAM review that enables wider use of PBS vehicles, introduces updated heavy-vehicle templates, streamlines approvals and aligns with global best practice.
“With freight demand rising and decarbonisation targets in front of us, now is the time to act. Modernising VDAM settings isn’t just about trucks, it’s about building a more productive, resilient, and sustainable economy for New Zealand.”
