Factsheet 53 – August 2009

General operating requirements that apply to all overdimension vehicles

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If you're the driver of an overdimension vehicle, you should be sure your vehicle can fit along the proposed route before starting out. Drive along the route in daylight in a standard-sized vehicle first, checking for places where the overdimension vehicle may find it difficult to pass. If you intend to carry a high load, look out for overhead wires, signs, lights, trees, bridges and tunnels.

Damage

An overdimension vehicle must not interfere with or damage any traffic control device, bridge, tunnel or other structure (including wires, cables, banners or any other lawful construction). It must not damage trees or other foliage without the permission of the owner. If a traffic sign has to be moved so the vehicle can safely pass, the sign must be correctly replaced immediately afterwards. The operator of the overdimension vehicle is responsible for any damage.

Consideration for other road users

An overdimension vehicle must be operated with due consideration for other road users. Other road users must be allowed to pass the vehicle at the earliest safe opportunity.

Overdimension requirements for excess height

If your vehicle or load exceeds 4.25 metres in height, you must comply with these conditions.

Height (m)	Operating conditions
4.25–5.0	Need written permission from owner of any overhead obstruction that the vehicle can't clear safely. Need written approval from relevant rail service operator, if the vehicle travels over a railway level crossing that doesn't cross a state highway, and the vehicle exceeds the height shown on an electrified railway safe height sign. For loads over 4.8 metres, must use a vehicle with a deck height less than 1.3 metres above the road.
Over 5–6.5	Need to meet all of the above operating conditions. Need a permit from OPIA*. A vehicle with a deck height less than 1.3 metres above the road must be used. Need written permission from the owner of overhead wires or cables that the vehicle travels under.
Over 6.5	Need written approval from the the NZ Transport Agency. Apply to OPIA*.

* To contact OPIA's Helpdesk, 0800 683 774 or fax 06 953 6313.

The operator is responsible for making sure there are enough pilots to deal with the excess height. This will depend on what traffic management (if any) is needed to get around overhead obstructions.

Lighting during the day

During daylight hours, overdimension vehicles must travel with their headlights on low beam.

Overdimension vehicles must display a flashing amber light if they're more than 3.7 metres wide.

Overdimension vehicles must display a flashing amber light if they're being piloted by a pilot vehicle.

Lighting during the hours of darkness

During the hours of darkness, all overdimension vehicles must be clearly visible (in clear weather) from at least 200 metres away.

Overdimension vehicles must display a flashing amber light.

If a load is being carried, there must be steady white or amber lights at the front and steady red or amber lights at the rear. These lights must have an area of at least 50 square centimetres and be positioned so approaching traffic can determine the size of the load and safely get past it. If the load overhangs the deck of the vehicle sideways, these lights must be spaced approximately one metre apart across the lowest part of the load and at the widest parts of the load.

Overdimension vehicles must have side marker lamps spaced approximately 3 metres apart – amber colour to the front and red to the rear.

Visibility

An overdimension vehicle must not travel on a road if fog, heavy rain, hail or other factors restrict visibility to less than 500 metres. If visibility reduces to less than 500 metres after the journey starts, the vehicle must stop clear of moving traffic as soon as possible, and stay there until visibility improves (ie more than 500 metres).

Alerting emergency services

The operator of an overdimension vehicle must notify local emergency service personnel in any area where the vehicle or its load is likely to restrict a route in a way that would significantly delay emergency services.

Route restrictions

An overdimension vehicle must:

• where available, use a route designated by a road controlling authority as suitable for overdimension vehicles, and
• comply with the following specific route restrictions and any other route restrictions that apply to the route the vehicle takes. (Some road controlling authorities have bylaws which restrict the use of some roads by overdimension vehicles. Contact NZTA or the local Council for more information.)

Auckland Harbour Bridge

If your overdimension vehicle is 4.8 metres or higher, and wider than 3.1 metres, contact the Police Communications Centre.

Any load exceeding 3.1 metres wide travelling over the Auckland Harbour Bridge must be accompanied by a Bridge Control Officer.

Any load over 4.8 metres high or 6.2 metres wide won't fit across the bridge, and alternative route arrangements will have to be made.

Auckland motorway

If your overdimension vehicle is wider than 3.1 metres or higher than 4.25 metres, you can't travel on the Auckland motorway (including the northern, north western, and southern motorways). Loads over 4.7 metres high may not fit under bridges on this section of the motorway. However, loads that exceed 4.7 metres high can travel from the Ramarama Interchange to the south end of Auckland's southern motorway.

Wellington motorway

The maximum height for travelling on the Wellington motorway is 4.8 metres, and the maximum width is 3.7 metres. However, an overdimension vehicle exceeding 3.7 metres wide may travel on the Wellington motorway if it complies with the road controlling authority's conditions.

McKays Crossing/SH1 Paekakariki

Loads or vehicles exceeding 4.6 metres high require permission from the rail operator to cross under the wires.

Lyttelton Tunnel

The maximum height is 4.27 metres, maximum width is 2.6 metres, maximum length for a tractor/semi-trailer combination is 21 metres, maximum front or rear overhang is 2 metres. Overdimension vehicles exceeding the above maximums may travel if the following conditions are met:

• The operator of the overdimension vehicle must obtain permission from the road controlling authority's agent (Tunnel Control).
• The operator of the overdimension vehicle must comply with any piloting or travel time restrictions required by the road controlling authority's agent (Tunnel Control).

Overdimension requirements for excess length

The operator of a vehicle over 25 metres long has to get written permission from the rail service operator if the vehicle is going to travel over a level crossing.

If the overdimension vehicle is transporting a load over 30 metres in length, it has to have a rear steering facility.

If an overdimension vehicle has an operated steering jinker or a pole trailer, the rear overhang is measured between the centre of the rear turntable load support and the rearmost part of the load.

If the vehicle combination includes a load-sharing trailer, the load-sharing trailer does not have to be included in forward-distance calculations if the forward distance is 3.5 metres or less. If the forward distance exceeds 3.5 metres, this distance must be added to the forward distance of the main trailer, less 3.5 metres.

If the vehicle combination includes an operated steering jinker, the forward distance used for determining the overdimension operating requirements is half the distance between the two turntables supporting the load.