WA Road Train (RAV) Signage — What Main Roads WA Actually Requires
The short answer: no, you do not have to replace your old ROAD TRAIN or LONG VEHICLE signs. Western Australia's newer graphic-length signs are optional. Here's what Main Roads WA actually specifies, what the RAV network is, and how to size and spec signs correctly for long combinations.
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A number of online signage suppliers currently state that the older ROAD TRAIN and LONG VEHICLE text signs “must be replaced” under a Main Roads WA deadline. That is incorrect. Main Roads WA treats the newer graphic-length signs as an optional alternative, not a mandatory replacement. Legacy text signs fitted to compliant heavy vehicles remain valid.
What changed, what didn’t
Main Roads Western Australia periodically updates its heavy-vehicle signage specifications to give operators more flexibility and to align with modern retroreflective-material performance. One of those updates introduced a graphic-length sign — a vehicle silhouette with the total length shown in metres — as an alternative format to the long-standing text signs (ROAD TRAIN, LONG VEHICLE, OVERSIZE, B-DOUBLE, etc).
The critical point: this was an addition, not a replacement. Both formats are currently accepted by Main Roads WA for the heavy-combination types they apply to. Operators do not need to retrofit their fleet. The text format also remains the working standard in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, SA, NT and Tasmania under the Heavy Vehicle National Law and state equivalents.
What a RAV combination typically needs
For a long combination (road train, b-double, A-double) operating in WA, the signage fitted to the vehicle usually comprises:
- Front and rear identification signs — ROAD TRAIN, LONG VEHICLE, B-DOUBLE, OVERSIZE or the equivalent graphic-length sign, fitted at each end of the combination and at the front of the prime mover.
- Rear marker plates for heavy trailers — the yellow-and-red chevron plates fitted to the rear of trailers over prescribed gross masses.
- Side reflective contour markings where fitted to modern trailer specifications.
- Illuminated signs (some are specified as needing night visibility via retroreflection or internal/external illumination).
Exact requirements depend on the combination type and the RAV network category you are operating under. Check the permit conditions from Main Roads WA Heavy Vehicle Services before fitting out a new vehicle.
Common sizes and grades
| Sign | Typical size | Retroreflective grade |
|---|---|---|
| ROAD TRAIN (front/rear) | 1200 × 250mm | Class 1W prismatic (AS/NZS 1906.1:2017) |
| LONG VEHICLE (front/rear) | 1000 × 250mm / 1200 × 250mm | Class 1W or Class 2 engineer grade |
| B-DOUBLE | 1000 × 250mm | Class 1W or Class 2 |
| OVERSIZE / OVER DIMENSION | 1200 × 450mm | Class 1W prismatic |
| Graphic-length (WA optional) | Per Main Roads WA spec | Class 1W prismatic |
Material choice is usually aluminium composite (ACM) or 3mm polypropylene with retroreflective sheeting face-mounted. We build vehicle-signage to the Main Roads WA specifications using Australian- sourced aluminium substrate and Class 1W prismatic reflective film.
What “Class 1W” actually means
AS/NZS 1906.1:2017 — Retroreflective materials and devices for road traffic control purposes, Part 1: Retroreflective sheeting — grades retroreflective films by their performance under headlight returns. Class 1W is the high-intensity prismatic grade suitable for long-haul night visibility; Class 2 is engineer grade, acceptable for slower urban vehicles. Stick with Class 1W for any long combination that regularly operates in low light or at highway speed.
Our position
When you buy ROAD TRAIN, LONG VEHICLE, B-DOUBLE or OVERSIZE signage from us, we produce to the existing Main Roads WA specification with Class 1W prismatic retroreflective sheeting by default. We do not push the graphic-length format unless you specifically request it. If anyone tells you your current signs “must” be replaced by a Main Roads WA deadline, ask for the Main Roads WA bulletin reference — there isn’t one.
Official references
- Main Roads WA — Heavy Vehicles (authoritative source for WA heavy-vehicle signage and RAV network conditions)
- Main Roads WA — Restricted Access Vehicle (RAV) network
- National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) — applies in all states except WA and NT; relevant for interstate operators
- Standards Australia — AS/NZS 1906.1:2017 (retroreflective sheeting)
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to replace my old ROAD TRAIN or LONG VEHICLE signs in WA?
No. Main Roads Western Australia treats the newer graphic-length signs (showing the vehicle's total length in metres) as optional. Existing text signs reading ROAD TRAIN, LONG VEHICLE and similar remain valid. If your fleet has compliant text signs fitted, you are not required to change them. Operators replacing damaged signs or fitting out new vehicles may choose the new graphic format, but there is no mandatory switch-over date.
What signs does a RAV (Restricted Access Vehicle) actually need in WA?
The combination depends on vehicle configuration and the RAV network category. At minimum, most long combinations require front and rear identification signage (ROAD TRAIN, LONG VEHICLE, OVERSIZE, B-DOUBLE, or equivalent graphic-length signs), rear marker plates for heavy trailers, and side reflective contour markings where applicable. Specific configuration requirements are set by the Main Roads WA heavy-vehicle operating conditions and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) in participating states. WA is not in the national HVNL, so Main Roads WA conditions apply directly.
What size and retroreflective grade should a ROAD TRAIN sign be?
Standard ROAD TRAIN and LONG VEHICLE signs are produced at 1200 × 250mm (single-row text) or 1000 × 250mm for truck and trailer applications. Retroreflective grade should match the vehicle's operating environment — Class 1W (high-intensity prismatic) to AS/NZS 1906.1:2017 is the common specification for long-haul and night operations. Class 2 engineer grade is acceptable for lower-speed or urban duty cycles. Letter height, stroke width and colour contrast are set by the Main Roads WA vehicle-signage specifications.
What is a RAV network and does it affect my signage?
WA uses the Restricted Access Vehicle Network system — a graded network (Network 1 through Network 10+) that defines which road sections a given heavy combination can operate on. Signage requirements follow from the vehicle configuration (b-double, road train, A-double, etc.) rather than the network itself, but the network determines permissible routes and, indirectly, what signs and marker plates are typically fitted. Confirm the specific conditions of your operator permit with Main Roads WA Heavy Vehicle Services.
Are the new graphic-length signs coming to other states?
The graphic-length sign format (a silhouette of the vehicle with length in metres) originated in WA. NSW, QLD, VIC, SA, NT and TAS continue to use the traditional ROAD TRAIN / LONG VEHICLE text format as the primary requirement under the HVNL and state equivalents. If you operate across jurisdictions, stick with the text format unless you specifically need the WA graphic variant for a particular operation.
Need RAV / road-train signage?
We produce Main Roads WA-spec vehicle signage in aluminium or polypropylene with Class 1W prismatic retroreflective film. Volume pricing for fleets. Shipping Australia-wide.
Planning signage for a specific site? These interactive checklists bring together the sign families covered above alongside the rest of what the workplace typically needs.