The VicRoads Transport Safety Services (TSS) group aims to improve road safety for all road users and protect roads and bridges from damage by ensuring that heavy vehicles comply with road regulations. This is done by providing industry liaison, education, accreditation and of overmass or overdimension loads (acting as escort where required). This is complemented by enforcement of road laws and legislation.

Compliance to legislation including the Road Safety Act is a key function of TSS. The legislation authorises them to intercept offending road users. While their focus is on heavy vehicle regulations, TSS officers can also exercise judgement in issuing fines for offences by any road user.

Escorts for overdimensional vehicles

As mentioned above, VicRoads TSS officers are skilled in escorting over-dimensional loads and vehicles on the road network. This involves maintaining safety for all road users, including slowing down vehicles approaching the load and managing traffic overtaking the load.

If you are driving and come across an over-dimensional vehicle, you must obey the instructions given by the TSS officer and either move to the left or pull over and stop to enable the over-dimensional vehicle and escort vehicles to pass safely.

• Intercepts approximately 51,000 heavy vehicles a year, checking them for weight, dimensions, load restraint, roadworthiness and registration. Heavy vehicle drivers are also checked for compliance with fatigue laws Conducts investigations for breaches of transport chain of responsibility and tow truck laws
  
• Works with Victoria Police on heavy vehicle and major road safety operations during long weekend and holiday periods as well as other government departments such as WorkSafe, EPA Victoria and the Sheriffs Department
  
• Conducts approximately 300 education sessions for the transport industry each year. The sessions cover a broad range of heavy vehicle related subjects, including legislation, policies, safety procedures and the formal training of certified pilot vehicle operators
  
• Facilitates the accreditation of transport operators to the mass, maintenance and fatigue modules of the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme
  
• Issues approximately 25,000 mass and dimension permits each year to allow the safe movement of large oversize and special purpose vehicles and
  
• Escorts vehicles carrying very large loads

While VicRoads Transport Safety Services are primarily concerned with matters relating to heavy vehicles, each of their tasks is aimed at ensuring road safety for all road users.

Transport Safety Services officers, located in the VicRoads regional offices, are able to assist industry by:

• B-double and higher mass limit vehicle routes
• Heavy vehicle accreditation
• Driver fatigue management requirements and
• Heavy vehicles vehicle mass and dimension limits