Trucks and heavy vehicles

On some roads and freeways in Victoria, trucks over 4.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass (GVM) are restricted from the right lane. 'No Truck' signs on the freeway and at entry points indicate where this restriction is in place. The sign may apply 24 hours a day or may be time-based.

There are several exceptions where trucks can pass the sign including:

• if they are loading or unloading goods to a location that can only be reached by passing the sign
• emergency vehicles
• garbage vehicles
• cars towing a caravan
• buses
• trucks with a VicRoads permit,
• vehicles under VicRoads or police escort.

Restricting trucks from the right lane on multi-lane freeways is aimed at improving safety and encouraging better road sharing, while also creating a more efficient driving environment.

Other drivers are also reminded to keep left unless overtaking to improve traffic flow on our roads and reduce driver frustration.

For more information see the Victorian Road Safety Road Rules 2017 rule 104.

Load limit signs are used to prevent damage to a road or structure, for example a bridge. A load limit bans any vehicle above the weight limit shown on the sign from passing the sign. There are no exceptions to this rule.

For more information see the Road Safety (Vehicles) Regulations, regulation 252.

The driver of a heavy or long vehicle (7.5 metres long or longer), but not a bus, can stop on a road in a built-up area for longer than one hour provided the driver is dropping off or picking up goods.

Otherwise the driver is only permitted to stop for up to one hour, unless parking signs indicate otherwise.

For more information see the Victorian Road Safety Road Rules 2017 rule 200.

In Victoria, heavy vehicles are restricted to 100km/h, even if this is less than the posted speed limit.

For more information see rule 21 of the Victorian Road Safety Road Rules 2017.