Australia's unique vehicle
Page 33
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
configurations are the result of wide open spaces and, compared with the UK, low axle weights.
A B-DOUBLE is an artic with a semitrailer bogie which extends beyond the rear of the body, allowing a second fifth wheel to be fitted on top of the frame. A second semi-trailer is then attached to the first.
On a ROADTRAIN the trailers are connected using a detachable converter dolly (with two or three axles) with a fifth wheel mounted on top and a conventional A-frame drawbar coupling linking the dolly to the leading trailer. Up to three trailers can be towed depending on state laws. When it comes to road transport legislation Australia is highly fragmented. Each of the seven states does its own thing on weights, dimensions and drivers hours, as well as registration and excise duty fees. What enforcement effort there is tends to be concentrated on overloading and speeding—there's no tachograph law and, in some states, no annual testing. But there is a I 00km/h(+5km/h tolerance) speed limiter law and heavy spot fines are frequently imposed for various driving offences. Due to the urgent nature of many loads drivers in the "remote zones" can spend long hours at the wheel. While some states operate an hours law based on a logbook, others, including Western Australia, make no attempt to enforce hours at all. There are, however, moves from the Australian Government to bring in nationally binding rules on hours, weights and dimensions.
In South Australia triple roadtrains are restricted to 85km/h; double roadtrains to 95km/h and 8-doubles to 105km/h. Artics are limited to 19m overall; a B-double can go to 25m with tri-axle bogies and a triple roadtrain can be 50m long. In Western Australia triple trailer roadtrains of 100 tonnes are not uncommon.