Consultation on Phase 3 of the Vehicle Dimensions and Mass (VDAM) Rule review is now open. We need your responses by 27 November so we can meet the 30 November submission deadline – time is short. 

What is it? The VDAM Rule covers changes to vehicle requirements, mass limits, permitting and over dimension vehicles. Phase 3 is part of the Ministry of Transport’s work to make the freight task more efficient.

NZTA are consulting on 28 proposed changes to heavy vehicle rules to cut red tape, reduce costs and help keep New Zealand moving.

NRC believe that there there are 6 key reforms that will improve efficiency, maintain safety, and address concerns raised by members through ongoing discussions with officials:

More flexibility for agricultural vehicles – exemptions from existing weight limits for rigid agricultural vehicles, with safeguards to protect critical infrastructure. Increased maximum intervehicle spacing from 4m to 5m. Removing restrictions and prohibitions on drawbars and draw beams for full trailers. Easier rules for specialist trucks – making it simpler for crane trucks, fire trucks and sucker trucks to operate. More flexibility for oversized loads – giving operators greater choice about when and where they can travel, including on motorways and toll roads. Increased mass limits for single drive combinations, car carriers and A trains. 

Why it matters - These rules directly affect how efficiently you can move freight. If they’re right, operators can make fewer trips, pay less and deal with less red tape. If they’re wrong, constraints can stay in place for years. NRC has been advocating on VDAM for members, and our early review shows that several issues we pushed for are among the proposals. That’s encouraging, but the detail matters. Officials need to hear from operators about how the changes would work in practice. 

What NRC is doing - We are working through the material now. Next week we’ll send members a plain-English summary of the key proposals, NRC’s view on each one, and guidance on the points worth raising in your own response.

How to respond - Please submit your Feedback is submitted through our online consultation link. You only need to comment on proposals relevant to your business, and brief, practical examples are valuable. We encourage you to respond directly and also share your views with your name and contact details so NRC’s submission reflects members’ real-world experience.