You will need this approval if you intend to design a heavy vehicle. A heavy vehicle is a vehicle with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) or an aggregate trailer mass (ATM) of more than 4.5 tonnes.
A design must be approved before it can be used to manufacture a heavy vehicle. The types of businesses that may consider designing heavy vehicles include:
- manufacturers
- operators
- transport associations
- road transport agencies
- freight customers / shippers.
It is recommended that you consult with an approved Performance Based Standards (PBS) assessor regarding your design options in the first instance. They can provide you with expert advice on your proposed design before you obtain this approval.
Your application must be submitted by an approved PBS assessor, where it will then be passed to a PBS review panel for consideration. Please be aware that your approved design may be restricted or denied in certain jurisdictions. You will be notified of the decisions of the review panel, including any restrictions placed on your design.
When you have built your heavy vehicle, you will then need to obtain a PBS vehicle approval that certifies you have built the vehicle in accordance with the approved design.
