Heavy vehicles & (COI) Certificate of inspection

By Lisa Cockerill

A Certificate of Inspection is required for Heavy Vehicles when renewing, transferring or newly registering the vehicle.

A Heavy Vehicle by the standard set by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads is a vehicle that has a GVM (Gross Vehicle Mass) over 4.5 Tonne and under 16 Tonne.

Typically these vehicles will be trucks and motorhomes.

Trucks are required to have a Certificate of Inspection every 12 months to make sure that the vehicle is roadworthy unlike a light vehicle (under 4.5 Tonne) which is only required when the vehicle is being newly registered or transferred with a Safety Certificate.

Heavy Vehicle Safety

With 20% of the road fatalities on the Queensland roads being caused by Heavy Vehicles, it is vital to the safety of all road users that Heavy Vehicles are regularly checked and regulated.

One of the main targeted areas for keeping everyone safe on the road when it comes to Heavy vehicles is to make sure that the load is balanced. Heavy vehicles tipping over and losing their load that the vehicle was carrying cause many accidents. Not only is the whole vehicle a danger to motorists in the immediate area but depending on what the heavy vehicle is carrying the goods being transported could also be a hazard. Liquids can catch on fire, toxic or hazardous material can affect both motorists and the environment.

Many truck drivers will tell you that their greatest fear is to be in an accident with any vehicle especially light vehicles as the risk of there being a fatality is very high for the other drivers and passengers of the light vehicles. That truck driver will have to live with that regardless of whether the accident was preventable on his/her part or not.

Qualified Examiners

Only Approved Inspection Stations with qualified heavy vehicle inspectors are accredited to conduct Certificate of Inspections. To find the closest to your location you can contact the Queensland Transport Department or search for Certificate of Inspection and your location on Google.

Any vehicle that is over 16 Tonne is required to go directly to the Transport Department for inspection. Private companies accredited to conduct Certificate of Inspections cannot inspect these vehicles.

There are minor modifications that are do not affect the roadworthiness of the vehicle or its Gross Vehicle Mass and therefore are acceptable by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR)

There are

Additional lighting

Aerials
Air conditioning
Alarm Systems
Plastic Shields for lamps and windscreens
Manufacturers wheels and tyre options (as long as they are not affecting the GVM)

These modifications are required to be still within the manufacturer’s specifications and comply with the heavy vehicle standards.

All other modifications will require a modification plate.

See below for Modifications Codes:

A1 – Engine Substitution

A2 – Air Cleaner Substitution or Additional Fitting

A3 – Turbocharger Installation

A4 – Exhaust System Alteration

A5 – Road Speed Limiter Installation

B1 – Transmission Substitution or Additional Fitting

C1 – Tailshaft Alterations

D1 – Rear Axles(s) Installation

D2 – Differential Substitution

E1 – Front Axle(s) Installation

E2 – Steering Alteration

F1 – Suspension Substitution

F2 – Trailer Suspension Modifications

G1 – Air Brake System – Relocation of Air Brake Components

G2 – Installation of Trailer Brake Controls – Air Brakes

G3 – Trailer Brake System Upgrading

G4 – Brake System Certification

G5 – Auxiliary Brakes – Engine, Exhaust or Retarder Tyre

G6 – Air Operated Accessories

G7 – Brake System Substitution or Wheelbase Extension – Powered Vehicles

G8 – Trailer Brake System Upgrading Approved Design Certification

H1 – Trailers Wheelbase Extension Outside the First Manufacturer’s Option

H2 – Wheelbase Reduction Less than First Manufacturer’s Option

H3 – Wheelbase Alteration within First Manufacturer’s Option

H4 – Chassis Frame Alteration

H5 – Trailer Chasses Frame Modification

J1 – Body Mounting

K1 – Seating Capacity Alteration and Seat Belt Installation

K2 – Seat Anchorage Certification and Seat Belt Anchorage Certification

K3 – Cabin Conversion

K5 – Wheelchair Occupant Restraint System Installation

M1 – Fuel System Alterations

P1 – Tow Coupling Installation – Vehicles over 4.5t GVM

P2 – Fifth Wheel and King Pin Installation

Q1 – Installation of Truck Mounted Lifting Systems – Slewing

R1 – Goods Loading Device Installation

R2 – Wheelchair Loader Installation

S1 – Gross Vehicle and Gross Combination Mass Rating to S2 or S3 Approved Design or within manufacturer’s specifications

S2 – Gross Vehicle Mass Rating Approved Design Certification for Non-Standard vehicles or Special Vehicles

S3 – Gross Combination Mass Ratig Approved Design Certification for Non-Standard Vehicles

S7 – Aggregate Trailer Mass Rating to S12 Approved Design or within Manufacturer’s Specification

S8 – Road Train Prime Mover Rating

S9 – B-Double Prime Mover Rating

S11 – Road Train Trailer Rating

S12 – Aggregate Trailer Mass Rating Approved Design Certification for Non-Standard Trailers

T1 – Construction of Tow Trucks

T2 – Design of Tow Trucks

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