RTA Special Permits Unit

INFORMATION SHEET

Low Loader Mass & Spacing Limits

This document sets out the mass limits available under a Class 1 Permit for common low loader and
dolly configurations, and the required axle spacings that are necessary for proper mass distribution.
This does not describe mass limits for low loaders with more than 5 axles. An axle on a low loader is taken
to mean one or more shafts positioned in a line across a vehicle, on which one or more wheels intended to support the
vehicle turn.

This is not an Information Sheet for the purposes of Clause 73 of Part 7 of the Road Transport (Mass,
Loading and Access) Regulation 2005.
Essential reference - Vehicle Standards Information 45.
Low Loader Mass Limits
Low Loaders fitted with 8 wheels per axle
Axle Quadaxle
Triaxle Triaxle Quadaxle 5 axles
ground 1.2/2.4/1.2
1.2m spacings 1.8m spacings 1.2m spacings 1.2m spacings
contact spacings
OOO OOO OOOO OOOOO
width OO OO
2.5 25 27 30 35 35
2.6 26 29 31 36 36
2.7 27 31 33 37 37
2.8 28 33 34 39 39
2.9 29 34 35 40 40
3.0 30 36 36 41 41
3.1 31 37 37 42 42
3.2 32 39 39 43 43
3.3 33 40 40 44 44
3.4 34 41 41 46 46
3.5 35 42 42 47 47
3.6 36 43 43 48 48
3.7 37 44 44 49 49
3.8 38 45 45 50 50
3.9 39 46 46 51 51
4.0 40 47 47 52 52
4.1 40 48 48 53 53
4.2 40 48 49 54 54

RTA Special Permits Unit, Glen Innes NSW 2370

PO Box 97 Glen Innes NSW 2370 T 1300 656371 | F 1300 361570 | E special_permits_unit@rta.nsw.gov.au May 2009
www.rta.nsw.gov.au | 13 22 13
 Low loaders fitted with four (4) wheels per axle
Quadaxle
Axle ground Triaxle Triaxle Quadaxle 5 axles
1.2/2.4/1.2
contact width 1.2m spacings 1.8m spacings 1.2m spacings 1.2m spacings
spacings
2.50 25.0 27.0 30.0 35.0 35.0

Low Loader Dolly Mass Limits

Axle ground contact 1 Axle - 4 tyres per 2 Axles – 4 tyres per 1 Axle – 8 tyres per 2 Axles – 8 tyres per
width axle (tonnes axle (tonnes) axle (tonnes) axle (tonnes)
2.5 9.0 18.0 12.0 21
2.6 9.0 18.0 13.0 21
2.8 9.0 18.0 14.0 22
3.0 9.0 18.0 16.0 24
3.2 9.0 18.0 17.0 26
3.4 9.0 18.0 18.0 27
3.6 9.0 18.0 18.0 28
3.8 9.0 18.0 18.0 30
4.0 9.0 18.0 18.0 31

Prime mover mass limits

Prime Mover mass limits under a Class 1 Permit
Axle Group Mass Limit Conditions
Single steer 6.0 tonnes 254mm tyres or larger must be fitted.
Twin steer 11.0 tonnes Must be load sharing suspension.
Dual drive 14.0 - 18.5 tonnes Must be 4 tyres per axle and not be less than 14 tonnes
when a low loader dolly is used in the combination and the
combination is loaded to overmass limits.
Note - None of these limits will apply if they exceed a design limit for the vehicle or if the vehicle doesn’t meet the
minimum spacings.

Class 1 load carrying combination minimum axle spacing requirements.

• These are the minimum spacings required for the application of the mass limits in the preceding
tables. Any reduction in these spacings will result in the application being refused, however if the
spacings are exceeded no extra mass is allowed.
• Travel empty is allowed with the trailer reduced to minimum width (2.7m for 8 tyred axles, 2.5m for 4
tyred axles) and dolly removed from the combination. Normal night travel restrictions apply when
wider than 2.5 metres.
• It is acceptable to carry a dolly and other equipment used in the transport (pilot vehicle, tools, load
restraints etc) provided the combination is at it’s most compact form and the items do not cause a
dimension limit to be exceeded, or cause a general access mass limit to be exceeded.

Prime mover (bogie drive)

• 3.2 metres from centre of steer axle to centre of leading drive axle
• 1.2 metres between drive axles.

INFORMATION SHEET 2
Prime mover + Dolly (2x4)
• 2.6 metres from centre of rear drive axle to centre of leading dolly axle.

Prime mover + Dolly (2x8)

• 3.2 metres from centre of rear drive axle to centre of leading dolly axle.

Low loader or platform

• 6.0 metres from centre of rear dolly / drive axle (as applicable) to centre of leading trailing group axle.

Acceptable Low Loaders

• The RTA publication Vehicle Standards Information 45 defines a Low Loader. A Low Loader must not
have load space that is higher than 1 metre from the ground. The Low Loader must superimpose on the
towing prime mover by means of a kingpin and turntable coupling device.

END OF CONDITIONS.

INFORMATION SHEET 3