Huge 30 and 36.5 metre trucks will soon be on the move on Victoria’s major freeways as the state government aims to boost freight productivity.
The B-doubles will be able to use all of Melbourne’s major roads including the Monash, West Gate, Ring Road, Citylink and East link.
The trucks will initially be capped to a speed limit of 90km/h and have GPS tracking devices installed to ensure they are staying on approves routes, The Age reported.
Roads minister Terry Mulder said the move would increase productivity but came with strict safety measures.
"These longer vehicles won't be able to exceed 68.5 tonnes so they will be ideal for moving lightweight bulky goods between the ports, rail terminals and key regional centres," Mulder said.
Mulder said the move was "imperative, because we know the amount of freight is set to double in coming years".
Head of Australia’s Logistics Council, Michael Kilgariff said the move would ease congestion.
"The reality of growing congestion in our cities underscores why industry supports the use of high productivity vehicles to play a greater role meeting Australia's rising freight task," he said.
"Despite some misconceptions, HPVs are safer, more reliable and cleaner than normal semi-trailers and B-doubles."
However, Labor’s shadow transport minister Luke Donnellan said the big trucks would cause damage to roads.
"At the time the Brumby government ran trials, the Premier indicated that he didn't support these trucks on our roads due to his belief that the maintenance on our roads wasn't up to scratch," Donnellan said.
"Since then road maintenance funding has been reduced by between 30 to 40 per cent across Victoria."
Donellan also accused the government of approving the use of the big trucks without proper public consultation.
The first B-doubles are expected to hit the road within two months, pending permit grants.
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