Truck and Dog Hire

A truck and dog is a combination of a rigid truck and a dog trailer, designed to carry large volumes of bulk materials such as gravel, sand, or grain. The dog trailer has axles at both the front and rear, giving the combination stability and high load capacity, making it ideal for construction, quarry, and agricultural work.

Key features:

• Components: Rigid truck (prime mover) + dog trailer with axle groups at each end.
• Capacity: Higher load capacity than a single truck, often fitted as a tipper for easy unloading.
• Usage: Commonly used for road building supplies, quarry materials, agricultural products, and construction debris.
• Maneuverability: Designed to operate in relatively tight spaces on construction sites.
• Variations: Sizes and axle numbers vary, including larger PBS-certified models for heavier loads.

Truck and dog hire costs vary depending on the truck’s size, whether you include an operator (wet hire) or not (dry hire), and your location. Hourly rates generally fall in the ranges below:

Typical hire rates:

Additional cost factors:

• Fuel: Charged based on usage.
• Mobilisation/demobilisation: Transporting the truck to and from site.
• Travel time: Time for the operator to reach the job site may be charged.
• Penalty rates: Extra fees for weekends, public holidays, or night work.

Larger trucks and wet hire rates are more expensive, and some suppliers have minimum hire periods, typically 3–7 hours.

The capacity of a truck and dog combination depends on its axle configuration and any special certifications. Standard combinations typically carry around 42.5 tonnes, while Performance Based Standards (PBS) certified combinations can handle significantly more.

Typical capacities:

• Standard combinations:

  • 3‑axle truck + 3‑axle dog → 42.5 t
  • 3‑axle truck + 4‑axle dog → 42.5 t
  • 4‑axle truck + 3‑axle dog → 42.5 t
  • 4‑axle truck + 4‑axle dog → 42.5 t

• PBS‑certified or higher-capacity combinations:

  • 3‑axle truck + 4‑axle dog → up to 50.5 t (Level 1) or 56 t (Level 2)
  • 4‑axle truck + 5‑axle dog → up to 67.5 t
  • 4‑axle truck + 6‑axle dog → up to 73 t

Factors affecting capacity: axle number and type, PBS certification, vehicle length, and local road regulations. Longer or specially certified combinations can carry more, but must comply with statutory limits and safety requirements.

Yes, operating a truck and dog combination in Australia requires the appropriate heavy vehicle licence, and in some cases, additional approvals depending on the vehicle’s size and weight.

Driver’s licence requirements:

• Heavy Combination (HC) Licence: Needed for most articulated vehicles, including a truck with a single trailer over 9 tonnes.
• Multi-Combination (MC) Licence: Required for larger combinations, such as some B-doubles or the largest truck and dog setups.
• Eligibility and upgrade requirements vary by state or territory, often requiring experience on lower-tier licences (e.g., MR or HR) before applying for HC or MC.

Vehicle and access considerations:

• Standard combinations within statutory limits (e.g., 19 m length, 42.5 t GVM) generally do not need special permits for road access.
• Performance-Based Standards (PBS): Required for higher payloads or longer vehicles (up to 26 m). PBS vehicles must have current PBS Vehicle Approval and may need additional accreditation (e.g., NHVAS Mass Management), specialised equipment (Road Friendly Suspension), or intelligent access tracking depending on state regulations.

For specific guidance, consult the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and your local state transport authority to ensure compliance with licensing and route requirements.

Yes, truck and dog combinations can access residential areas, provided they comply with statutory general access limits (typically 19 m in length and 42.5 t GVM) and the roads are not specifically signposted to restrict access.

Access rules:

• General Access Vehicles (GAVs): Vehicles within the general mass and dimension limits can use most roads, including residential streets, unless signage indicates otherwise.
• Restricted Access Vehicles (RAVs): Combinations exceeding standard limits must operate under a specific notice or permit and are generally restricted to gazetted routes. Access to unlisted roads, including many residential streets, requires approval from the relevant road manager via the NHVR.
• Parking restrictions: Even with legal access, stopping or parking in built-up areas is usually limited to one hour unless otherwise permitted.

How to verify access:

• Use the NHVR National Network Map to check approved routes for your vehicle type.
• Check state or territory transport websites for local road conditions and closures.
• Apply for an access permit through the NHVR Portal if the route is not on an approved network for a restricted access combination.