Maximum Overhang of Loads on Vehicles

15 Aug Blog

Dimensional restrictions on road vehicles are put in place to guarantee that they can manoeuvre through traffic and are compatible with other road users and infrastructure.

It is prohibited to operate a vehicle or trailer with a load that is not securely fastened, makes the vehicle or trailer unstable, or projects in a fashion that might be hazardous or create an impediment.

A load on a vehicle may not extend more than 150 millimetres from its side or more than 1.2 metres in front of the vehicle. The maximum vehicle width, including the load, is 2.5 metres.

A warning signal must be attached to the rear of the load in daytime if it:

• projects more than 1.2m behind the vehicle
• overhangs the rear of the vehicle so that the end of the load cannot be seen easily from behind
• is on a pole type trailer

A brightly coloured flag or piece of cloth with each side at least 300mm long must be used as the warning signal. A red light that can be seen for 200 metres must be used as the warning signal at night.

Even if all dimension and warning standards are followed, a load on a vehicle must not project in a way that is hazardous to any person or likely to result in property damage.

Any motor vehicle’s maximum mass (or weight), including passengers, cannot be greater than the Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) that the vehicle’s manufacturer has stipulated.

If the rear overhang, including the load, is greater than 60% of the wheelbase or 3.7 metres, the vehicle must be over 4.5 tonnes GVM or less. You need a permission from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator if the size of the vehicle or the vehicle with load exceeds the permitted length.

A rigid vehicle may not exceed 12.5 metres in length, including any overhanging loads in the front or the back. An articulated or heavy trailer combination vehicle may not exceed 19 metres in length, including any overhanging loads.

These instructions match the requirements of the Heavy Vehicle Driver Handbook Page 94 https://www.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-08/heavy-vehicle-driver-handbook.pdf