NZTA advise on drawbar chain fitment
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Following considerable internal and external consultation the NZ Transport Agency has published a note on using safety chains between heavy trucks and heavy trailers in combination. The document can be found on the Agency’s Heavy Vehicle Servicing page. The links are below.
As we understand it the Agency has released this information in response to requests for information on methods of improving safety and avoiding accidental trailer breakaways-whether through catastrophic component failure or operator oversight to ensure couplings are securely engaged and appropriately locked.
We do not think the provision of this advice is a precursor for mandatory fitment of chains between combination vehicle’s. We perceive the question has been asked of the regulator and they are obligated to provide a reliable answer and inform industry as a whole of those recognised safety designs/procedures.
The Heavy Vehicle Servicing page can be found here:
The document can be found here:
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