New Australian guideline paves way for powered trailer trials in road freight

Australia’s road freight industry is moving closer to low-emissions transport following the release of the HVIA Guideline for On-road Trials of Powered Trailers, enabling on-road trials of powered trailer technology.

Developed by Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA), the guideline sets out a clear framework to help manufacturers, fleet operators, regulators and road managers trial trailers and dollies fitted with motive power axles (e-axles).

Other axles, such as regenerative energy axles, capture energy during braking to power equipment like refrigeration and are already legal on Australian roads, including SAF‑Holland TRAKr units on McDonald’s refrigerated trailers.

However, axles that provide propulsion, including powered dollies such as the EHAULA units for Australia’s A-double truck combinations, are not yet approved for general use.

The document comes at a time when governments and industry agree that decarbonising road freight will not be solved by a single technology. Battery electric trucks, hydrogen, low-carbon fuels, and hybrid systems all have a role to play, depending on task and location, with powered trailers equipped with motive power axles emerging as a promising near-term option.