Q. What are the new fees?
A. The 2009 heavy vehicle registration fees can be viewed on our Heavy vehicle fees page. Further detail is also available on the NTC’s (National Transport Commission) website in a document entitled National Heavy Vehicle Dimensions, Mass Limits & Registration Charges July 2009.
Q. When do the new fees apply?
A. The new fees apply to all heavy vehicle and trailer registrations from 1 July 2009.
Q. Will the new fees be on my next registration renewal certificate?
A. In most instances the adjusted fees will appear on your 2009/10 registration renewal notice.
However, if you operate B-double lead or B-triple lead and/or middle trailer combinations (A Trailers), your trailer renewal notice will not display the adjusted fees.
This is because VicRoads currently records lead and middle trailers as semi trailers.
Q. What if I have already paid my registration renewal at the lower rate?
A. If you have already paid your renewal the adjusted fees will apply on your next renewal.
Q. What other changes are occurring?
A. The NTC has requested that all road authorities improve their recording systems to identify trailer categories.
As VicRoads records do not currently include a description of trailer categories, VicRoads is unable to identify Lead trailers, Dog trailers, etc.
As such, VicRoads will be mailing an advice notice and a heavy trailer nomination form to all heavy trailer operators, asking them to advise VicRoads of their trailer/s category and axle configuration.
New Heavy trailer categories are outlined below:
| New Heavy Trailer Categories |
New Registration Rate Code |
Old Registration Rate Code |
Semi trailer
 |
TS |
HT |
B-Double lead trailer of B-Triple middle trailer
(A trailers)
 |
TL |
HT |
Low loader dolly
 |
TY |
HT |
Converter dolly
 |
TY |
HT |
Pig trailer
 |
TP |
HT |
Dog trailer
 |
TD |
HT |
Heavy trailer axle configurations include single axle (1), tandem axle (2), tri-axle (3), quad-axle (4) and above (5, etc).
Q. Does every trailer operator need to send in a nomination form?
A. Operators of Pig trailers and Semi trailers will not need to send a nomination form into VicRoads.
In preparation for the changes to record trailer categories VicRoads has applied a default registration code of Pig trailer (Registration rate code TP) for all rigid trailers and Semi trailer (Registration rate code TS) for all articulated trailers.
However, as VicRoads is currently unable to identify operators of Semi trailers and Pig trailers you will still receive an advice notice and nomination form in the mail. Please read the advice notice and if you operate only Semi trailers and/or Pig trailers disregard the nomination form.
Q. What do I have to do?
A. All operators of heavy trailers (Other than operators of Pig trailers and Semi trailers) are required to complete a heavy trailer nomination form and return it to VicRoads. This will enable VicRoads to update its records to accurately identity trailer categories and, where relevant, charge the adjusted fees for 2009/10, where fees remain unpaid.
The heavy trailer nomination form is also available on our Registration forms page.
There must be at least one nomination form completed for each category of trailer and axle combination operated. Nomination forms may be downloaded from VicRoads website or photocopied as required, however all nominations must contain an original signature of the registered operator or agent.
Until operators have nominated a trailer category and axle configuration VicRoads’ records and vehicle labels will show rigid trailers as Pig trailers (Registration rate code TP) and articulated trailers as semi trailers (registration rate code TS).
Once a nomination is received and the information updated on VicRoad’s records, an updated registration certificate and vehicle label will be mailed to operators showing the correct registration rate code for their trailer category.
Q. Who do I have to contact at VicRoads and what are the contact details?
A. Trailer nominations cannot be received by telephone or over the Internet.
The nomination form (Additional copies available online) mailed to you by VicRoads is to be completed and mailed back in the prepaid envelop supplied.
Clearly written or typed nominations, which include:
• The registered operators name and telephone number
• Trailer registration number/s
• Applicable trailer categories and number of axles for each trailer
• The signature of the registered operator
may be posted to VicRoads.
Heavy Trailer Nomination
PO Box 1644
MELBOURNE, VIC, 3001.
Q. What happens if I don’t send in a heavy trailer nomination?
A. If you fail to advise VicRoads of your trailer/s configurations (Except Pig and Semi trailer operators) and you are found to be operating a trailer on the road network that is incorrectly registered (from the time of its next renewal) VicRoads will take appropriate action to ensure that all unpaid fees are recovered and a penalty may be imposed.
The trailer operator will also be required to complete a heavy trailer nomination form and submit it to VicRoads, before VicRoads allows the trailers registration renewal certificate and label to be mailed out in future.
If you are travelling interstate you may also incur penalties from interstate authorities.
Q. What happens if I have already paid for my registration since 1 July 2009?
A. If you have paid a heavy trailer registration since 1 July 2009, and you subsequently complete a nomination form, VicRoads will mail an updated registration certificate and vehicle label to you upon receipt of the nomination form. Any adjusted fees will apply from your next registration renewal.
Q. Why have charges for B-doubles increased significantly?
A. In 2000, when B-doubles were a new class of vehicle, their charges were ‘capped’ to prevent substitution by less safe road trains. This policy has prevented charges for B-doubles from recovering their full cost of road use.
The number of B-doubles has increased significantly since 2000, and they are increasingly used on urban arterial roads and into ports. B-doubles have benefited significantly from higher road spending; particularly improved access around ports, urban arterials, grain silos, sale yards etc.
Governments will have little incentive to further extend the B-double network if they don’t pay their way and contribute to building better and safer roads for higher productivity (that is, larger and longer travelling) truck access (eg; B-double routes).
Q. Why do the fees change annually?
A. The annual fee adjustment helps keep pace with road spending and ensures continued cost recovery of heavy vehicles’ share of road expenditure.
This year’s adjustment also takes a further step in removing the cross-subsidisation of charges between vehicle and trailer types.
Spending on better and safer roads plays a major role in improving heavy vehicle productivity and reducing road trauma. Road upgrades can improve heavy vehicle access, relieve congestion, improve trip times and inflict less wear and tear on vehicles.
Ensuring charges keep pace with the growing road-building program is also essential to support ongoing national productivity reforms; including the development of road networks for the ‘next generation’ of SMART trucks, quad axle group semi-trailers, B-doubles and, over time, B-triples.
Investment in better roads is essential to manage the growing freight task safely.
Q. How is the annual fee adjustment calculated?
A. The NTC is responsible for regularly reviewing the level of heavy vehicle registration charges. Details of the calculations used to adjust the 2009 charges can be viewed on the NTC’s website in a document entitled Heavy Vehicle Road Transport Charges 2009 Annual Adjustment to Registration Charges.
In essence, the 3.2% adjustment in 2009 reflects the recovery of road use by heavy vehicles after taking into account rural and urban arterial road expenditure, as well as local government expenditure, in real terms over a seven year period adjusted by the inflation index related to road construction.