Editing Road train (section)

===Interstate road transport registration in Australia===
[[File:Australian Road Train.jpg|thumb|300px|Versions of Australian road trains]]
In 1991, at a special [[Council of Australian Governments|Premiers' Conference]], Australian heads of government signed an inter-governmental agreement to establish a national heavy vehicle registration, regulation and charging scheme: the Federal Interstate Registration Scheme (FIRS).<ref>[http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/bd/1997-98/98bd192.htm Interstate Road Transport Charge Amendment Bill 1998 (Bills Digest 192 1997–98)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Its requirements are as follows:{{bulleted list|

If the vehicle was purchased to be used for interstate trade, no stamp duty is payable on the purchase price of the vehicle.|

The vehicle has to be subjected to an annual inspection for roadworthy standards.|

Registration requires the first letter of the six-digit to identify the home state or territory: A,&nbsp;Australian Capital Territory; N,&nbsp;New South Wales; C,&nbsp;Northern Territory Q,&nbsp;Queensland; S,&nbsp;South Australia; T,&nbsp;Tasmania; V,&nbsp;Victoria; and W,&nbsp;Western Australia.}}

Due to the "eastern" and "western" mass limits in Australia, two different categories of registration were enacted. The second digit of the registration plate showed what mass limit was allowed for that vehicle. If a vehicle had a 'V' as the second letter, its mass limits were in line with the eastern states mass limits, which were:

* Steer axle, 1 axle, 2 tyres: {{convert|5.40|t|LT ST|abbr=on|lk=on}}
* Steer axle, 2 axles, 2 tyres per axle: Non load sharing suspension {{convert|9.00|t|LT ST|abbr=on}}
** Load sharing suspension {{convert|10.00|t|LT ST|abbr=on}}
* Single axle, dual tyres: {{convert|8.50|t|LT ST|abbr=on}}
* Tandem axle, dual tyres: {{convert|15.00|t|LT ST|abbr=on}}
* Tri-axle, dual tyres or 'super single' tyres: {{convert|18.00|t|LT ST|abbr=on}}
* Gross combination mass on a 6-axle vehicle not to exceed {{convert|38|t|LT ST|abbr=on}}

If a vehicle had an ''X'' as the second letter, its mass limits were in line with the western states mass limits, which were:
* Steer axle, 1 axle, 2 tyres: {{convert|6.00|t|LT ST|abbr=on}}
* Steer axle, 2 axles, 2 tyres per axle
** Non load sharing suspension {{convert|10.00|t|LT ST|abbr=on}}: Load sharing suspension {{convert|11.00|t|LT ST|abbr=on}}
* Single axle, dual tyres: {{convert|9.00|t|LT ST|abbr=on}}
* Tandem axle, dual tyres: {{convert|16.50|t|LT ST|abbr=on}}
* Tri-axle, dual tyres or "super single" tyres: {{convert|20.00|t|LT ST|abbr=on}}
* Gross combination mass on a 6-axle vehicle not to exceed {{convert|42.50|t|LT ST|abbr=on|lk=on}}

The second digit of the registration being a ''T'' designates a trailer.

One of the main criteria of the registration is that intrastate operation is not permitted. The load has to come from one state or territory and be delivered to another. Many grain carriers were reported and prosecuted for cartage from the paddock to the silos. However, if the load went to a port silo, they were given the benefit of the doubt, as that grain was more than likely to be going overseas.