Axle weight limits, and vehicle dimensions and mass

Avoid fines by understanding your vehicle's legal axle weight limits

How do you know how much weight you can carry on your truck? The RUCs don't mean a thing, the Certificate of Loading only gives a theoretical weight capacity, the vehicle's data plate won't give you a clue, and NZTA's website can be very confusing!

This course helps you understand how to work out NZ axle weights so that you don't get fined (the maximum fine is $10,000!) By the end of the course, you should be able to look at any truck, whether it's a two-axle tipper, a six-axle semitrailer combination or a nine-axle b-train (and anything in between) and calculate its maximum payload capacity and distribution across the axles.

Who is this course for?

• Drivers
• Supervisors and managers
• Loaders
• Company owners

What does each module contain?

• Introduction - an overview of terminology, plus the challenges of getting the correct weight for each axle set
• Certificate of loading - what each piece of information on the CoL means, and how it affects your load capacity
• Road user charges - what are RUCs, and how do you know the correct RUC weight
• Tyres and axle sets - how the weight limit permitted on axle sets varies depending on their combination and the types of tyres
• Weighing your truck - using a weighbridge, and why you do it
• High-productivity motor vehicles (HPMV) - variations for over-length permits
• Calculations and examples - multiple examples of trucks from 2 axles to 9 axles, and how you can work it out.

What are people saying about the course?

"The course was easy to understand and I would recommend it for refreshing drivers on the legal axle weight limits." Paul Anderson, Transport Manager, Isaac Construction.

FAQs

What do you get at the end of the course? A certificate of achievement

What are the advantages of doing this course? Eliminate the chance of getting a fine for being overweight, improve the handling characteristics of your truck, reduce rollover risk, reduce wear and tear on your gear, reduce damage and wear and tear in your yard.

Is any additional training required? It's advisable to also do our Heavy Vehicle Load Security course as that gives more information about load distribution and how to secure loads safely 

Does this course include a practical assessment with a trainer? No, none is required. 

Are there any relevant NZQA unit standards? There is no specific unit standard for this course, but information you will learn is incorporated in US18110

Do you need any materials for the course? You'll need a calculator. If you want to check your own truck, you may need a tape measure.

Requirements

• You will need one course licence per trainee taking the course - you can't use one licence for multiple trainees
• You will need a computer, smartphone or tablet with internet access to take the theory training.

You get access to the course for a full 6 months which means your trainee can take a couple of months to finish the modules and can come back to it as a refresher anytime until the course access expires - this is great if you need to do any remedial work with them. 

Set up is free whether you are purchasing one course licence or a hundred course licences.

Thanks to the team at TR Group who assisted with the course production.