22 March 2023 | MTA WA News
Light at the end of the tunnel in the GCM upgrade saga
The MTA WA's persistent advocacy for the Department of Transport WA (DoT) to implement an accountable engineering-based process to upgrade the Gross Combination Mass (GCM) of in-service vehicles, has finally overcome years of bureaucratic inertia - stirring positive action.
For those who don’t know, GCM is the maximum allowed combined mass of a loaded vehicle and any caravan/trailer it is towing. The GCM of a vehicle is nominated by the manufacturer at the time of first registration. In almost every Australian state other than WA, government regulators have a process to allow vehicle owners to make engineered modifications to a vehicle, that increases the maximum allowable combined mass.
Despite Western Australian legislation providing a pathway for DoT to consider GCM applications, the Department has rejected the notion of an increase since December 2018.
While it is unfortunate that so much time and energy was required to prompt a review of such an arbitrary and problematic process, the MTA WA is pleased to report at least one of the test case applications is now being actively ‘reconsidered on its merits.’
As well as disadvantaging WA motorists and industry, the MTA had concerns that the department’s denial of a scientific process to manage GCM increase would foreseeably compromise road safety and compliance.
In light of the post-COVID upsurge in domestic tourism - and especially in caravanning – the MTA WA stepped up its advocacy for the DoT to address the anomaly.
We are therefore cautiously hopeful that the next edition of Engine Room will include confirmation of a scientific and accountable process that enables GCM upgrades to in-service vehicles.
Share your experiences and feedback about GCM upgrades with us:
membership@mtawa.com.au
