Performance Based Standards (PBS)
The WA Performance Based Standards (PBS) Scheme is designed to enable the transport industry to achieve higher productivity and safety through innovative and optimised vehicle design.
The WA PBS Scheme focuses on how well a vehicle behaves on the road, through a set of safety performance standards, rather than assessing a vehicle based solely on prescriptive mass and dimension limits.
The WA PBS Scheme also enables transport operators to access roads with vehicle combinations that would not otherwise be approved, such as longer PBS vehicles that are demonstrated to perform within the same envelope as shorter prescriptive vehicles.
The WA PBS Scheme may be followed if a transport operator only intends to use the PBS vehicle in WA. If the transport operator intends to use the vehicle outside of WA, the National PBS process should be followed.
Operating Conditions
All vehicles operating under a PBS permit in WA must comply with the:
WA PBS Process
The application process for PBS vehicles in WA is outlined in the:
The following sections provide further information and related documents to assist with understanding and following the PBS process in WA.
Applying for WA PBS
National PBS Process
If you are operating your vehicle across Australia, you will need to negotiate road access through each State or Territory road authority. The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) administers the National PBS Scheme, assessing and approving PBS designs on advice from the PBS Review Panel.
Once a PBS Vehicle Approval is issued by NHVR, a permit will be required from us to operate your PBS vehicle within Western Australia.
Auditing PBS Vehicles
All PBS vehicles must be maintained in such a manner to ensure that the physical characteristics are not modified from those stated in the PBS Part B form, specifically relating to each vehicle as certified. As such, we will conduct audits on the vehicle to ensure it has not been altered from the approved design.
We carry out PBS vehicle audits in accordance with the:
Approved PBS Networks
Approved WA PBS networks are available via the RAV Mapping Tool or via the road tables below: