Truckers demand higher payloads

As fuel prices continue to hit record highs, Transporting NZ is calling for urgent changes to heavy vehicle regulations to allow certain trucks to carry higher payloads.

The move aims to improve efficiency across the freight sector and ease the growing financial pressures on businesses and consumers.

Transporting New Zealand chief executive Dom Kalasih says upping the payload capacity for approved operators within the existing system could reduce the number of trips required to move freight, improving fuel efficiency and lowering costs.

“Increasing allowable payloads on 50MAX vehicles and other HPMVs could reduce the diesel required to move freight, while maintaining a safe and well-regulated system.

That will put downward pressure on freight costs at a time when businesses and consumers are doing it really tough.”

Currently, approved freight operators can run HPMVs on state highways and suitable local roads at weights above the standard 44-tonne limit.

50MAX trucks, for example, can carry roughly 20% more freight while using only 10% more diesel, thanks to an additional axle that prevents extra wear on roads per tonne of freight.

This shows that heavier trucks, when properly managed, can deliver fuel savings while maintaining safety and infrastructure standards.

Kalasih has written to New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA), urging the regulator to consider how permitting rules could be amended to allow more freight to move in fewer trips.

Beyond fuel savings, using HPMVs more effectively also has environmental and safety benefits.

Fewer trips mean fewer emissions and reduced traffic congestion, which can improve road safety outcomes.

The push comes at a time when the New Zealand freight sector faces a perfect storm: rising diesel prices, growing consumer demand, and supply chain pressures.

Freight companies are balancing the cost of fuel, driver shortages, and the need to keep goods moving efficiently.

By allowing higher payloads on approved HPMVs, the industry hopes to reduce operational costs without compromising road safety, benefiting both businesses and consumers.

“Now more than ever we need a regulator that is responsive and agile in getting freight moved the best way possible.

“We’re looking forward to working constructively with NZTA to maximise the savings that the permitting system can offer.”

High Productivity Motor Vehicles (HPMVs) were introduced to move freight more efficiently while limiting road wear, and understanding their history helps explain the current push for higher payloads.

Rising diesel prices are putting extra pressure on operators and consumers, and allowing approved trucks to carry more freight per trip can reduce fuel use and overall costs.

Fewer trips also mean lower CO₂ emissions and less traffic congestion, supporting New Zealand’s climate and sustainability goals, while extra axles and strict permitting ensure that heavier trucks maintain safety and protect infrastructure.

Greater efficiency could lower transport costs, benefiting businesses and shoppers alike, with rural and remote areas potentially seeing the most noticeable savings.

The industry broadly supports the move, with trucking unions and logistics companies backing higher payloads, though local councils may have concerns about road maintenance and traffic safety.

Any amendments to HPMV regulations would require careful consultation, trials, and phased rollout, drawing on lessons from previous updates to balance efficiency and safety.

Looking ahead, innovations such as route optimisation, AI-assisted planning, and low-emission vehicles could further reduce costs and environmental impact.

New Zealand can also look to Australia and Europe for examples of best practice in managing HPMVs while maintaining safety and road quality.