New road train signage rules in WA will cost industry 'millions', as truckies warn they won't make roads saferThe WA haulage industry says it was blindsided by new road train signage rules that came into effect on July 1.Trucking companies have a grace period of six months to update their vehicle signage before the new regulations are enforced from January 1, 2025.
The new signage laws, which came into effect on July 1, are designed to alert motorists to the length of road trains, some of which stretch to 50 meters or more, so they can make safer overtaking decisions. Mr Dumesny said since the announcement last week, truck drivers had called transport signage providers, who were also unaware of the changes.A Main Roads WA press release last week said the existing "long vehicle" and "road train" signs gave little information to motorists on the length of a road train."There was great feedback following the successful trial last year and I look forward to the rollout in coming months," he said.
Ms Jones said money could be better spent on advertising campaigns targeting city motorists travelling in regional areas on how to overtake road trains.Livestock and Rural Transport Association of WA president Darran Bairstow said it was a financial burden on the industry during already tough times."I know it'll cost me about $14,000 to change all my trailers over to meet the new signage requirements … for my business that means I need to turn over more than $200,000," he said.