Performance-Based Standards (PBS)
What is PBS?
Performance-Based Standards (PBS) offers an alternative regulatory system which allows heavy vehicle combinations to achieve higher productivity and safety through innovative and optimised vehicle designs.
As stated by the National Heavy Vehicle Register (NHVR), “PBS approved vehicles are designed to perform their tasks as productively, safely and sustainably as possible, and to operate on networks that are appropriate for their level of performance. The basic principle of PBS is matching the right vehicles to the right tasks”.
Under PBS vehicles are assessed according to 16 minimum vehicle performance standards to ensure they are stable on the road and can turn and stop safely. Additionally, there are four infrastructure protection standards.
Some of the benefits offered by PBS
- Increased gross combination mass
- Increased cubic capacity
- Improved productivity and freight efficiency
- Innovative and optimised vehicle designs for specific applications
- More flexible combination and vehicle design rules
- Improved safety
- More sustainable transportation task
Advantages of PBS
- Flexible design rules
- Design based on a set route decided by the transport operator and approved by road authorities along the route
- Design based on making the truck and trailer combination perform safely on that route while carrying larger payloads
- Design considers things like acceleration, braking, roll stability, tail swing, cornering
- Truck and Trailer(s) combination are approved as a set
Process of ordering a PBS vehicle
- Consult with your MaxiTRANS trailer dealer to discuss what you wish to achieve
- Specify product, route and designated prime mover
- Work with your MaxiTRANS dealer to create a preliminary concept
- MaxiTRANS Engineering will provide you with a concept drawing
- Using this concept drawing, the operator then approaches the relevant road authorities to seek ‘in principal’ approval, before formal applications commence. "In principle" approval will only be required for PBS combinations that don't use PBS networks
- MaxiTRANS will quote you the trailer(s) and the cost of obtaining PBS approval
- Order the trailer(s)
- MaxiTRANS designs and builds the PBS trailer(s), liaising with NHVR for approvals
- MaxiTRANS arranges for inspection and certification of the completed prime mover & trailer combination by PBS assessor
- Operator uses supplied PBS documentation to apply for a PBS permit (Some combinations may not require this step)
Important things to consider when ordering PBS
- PBS approvals cover the entire combination. This includes all prime movers and trailers along with their specifications. All changes or additions to your PBS combination must comply with your PBS documentation or will require a new or amended PBS approval
- Some PBS approvals are for a specific route only, while others may be for certain networks, thus allowing wider usage. This usually depends on the type of PBS units proposed
- Consider the working life of the trailers – if you are considering selling them at the end of their life, they must continue to be used with the PBS-specified prime mover on the PBS specified route(s)
- It is possible to include more than one truck or tyre make and model in one PBS application – giving the operator more flexibility in the service life of the trailer.
MaxiTRANS continues to be the single biggest producer of PBS approved trailer combinations for our customers.
So don’t hesitate to contact us and see how our in-house PBS experts can help you.
