Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia (CCAA) has welcomed upcoming changes to heavy vehicle mass and dimension rules under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), saying the reforms will improve freight productivity and reduce costs across construction materials supply chains.
The proposed changes to the Mass, Dimension and Loading (MDL) Regulations will increase mass limits, expand eligibility for more efficient vehicle configurations and allow longer truck and trailer combinations,subject to final ministerial approval and implementation in mid-2026.
CCAA Chief Executive Officer Michael Kilgariff said the changes are a practical step forward for freight efficiency.
“These changes are about getting more out of the infrastructure we already have,” Mr Kilgariff said.
“Allowing trucks to carry more means fewer trips, lower fuel use and reduced costs across the supply chain.”
Mr Kilgariff said this is particularly important for the construction materials sector, where freight efficiency directly affects project costs and supply reliability.
“For cement, concrete and aggregates, efficient freight movement is central to whether materials can be delivered where they’re needed, when they’re needed,” he said.
“Measures that improve payload capacity and vehicle productivity help keep projects moving and costs under control.”
Mr Kilgariff said the reforms also simplify the regulatory framework while supporting safer, more efficient vehicles.
“Removing unnecessary complexity makes it easier for operators to comply while maintaining strong safety outcomes,” he said.
CCAA said consistent implementation across jurisdictions will be key to ensuring the benefits are realised.
“These changes set the right baseline, but access decisions ultimately determine whether industry can use them in practice,” Mr Kilgariff said.
“There is an opportunity for governments to take a nationally consistent approach that supports more efficient freight movement.”
The reforms align with CCAA’s long-standing advocacy for practical freight improvements, including a submission earlier this year to the National Transport Commission.
“CCAA looks forward to working with governments on reforms that improve productivity, support decarbonisation and reduce the cost of delivering the construction materials Australia depends on every day,” Mr Kilgariff said.