Road Damage Charges are additional contributions paid by operators of heavy vehicles whose weight, axle configuration and frequency of use accelerate the deterioration of road pavements.
Why Road Damage Charges?
Empirical engineering studies show that road wear increases with the fourth power of axle load. A vehicle twice as heavy causes sixteen times the damage. To recover these higher costs and ensure equitable funding, the Fund applies a Road Damage Charge on heavy vehicles.
Who Pays?
- Heavy goods vehicles with gross vehicle mass above prescribed thresholds.
- Public motor vehicles operating over long-distance corridors.
- Mining and resource sector haulage on declared public roads.
How Much?
Charges are scaled by gross vehicle weight, axle configuration and kilometres travelled. The current schedule is gazetted under the Road (Management and Fund) Act 2020. See the Downloads section for the latest schedule.