A road train dolly is a small unpowered trailer used to connect trailers and loads. Road train transport usually has at least two if not, three trailers attached to the truck and they are attached by using a road train dolly.
These heavy duty dollies (also known as converter dollies) usually have two or three axles and a hinged drawbar and turntable for attaching to a semi-trailer. They are built tough to withstand the harsh conditions in the outback and are vital to Australia’s road train transport.
Dollies used in road trains are made from ultra-high tensile steel and have their own braking systems, as well as LED side markers and tail lights. For road safety, a double road train with a converter dolly cannot exceed 36.5 meters in length and a triple road train cannot exceed 53.5 metres.
Why do we use a road train dolly?
Without these dollies, road trains could not move as many trailers or as many loads, so quickly across Australia and the outback. These dollies are the only way to link two or three trailers together, for example lowboy trailers, step deck trailers and extendable double drop trailers.
Higher Mass Limits (HML) allow road train transport to carry heavier loads than normal trucks, but are limited to specific routes. If a road train has been approved to operate as a HML vehicle, the route maps for HML vehicles must be obtained from the Department of Transport in each state. These restrictions are to ensure the safety of all road users, as well as to protect our infrastructure from undue deterioration caused by such heavy loads.
At Forrest Logistics, as part of project managing the road train transport for oversized or heavy loads, we can arrange for any road train dollies that are needed for the trip. We have an extensive range of such equipment available and we can arrange for prime movers and a variety of trailers, as well as pilot vehicles and drivers.
Get a quote online today or call Forest Logistics on 0407 759 483 if you need help with heavy machinery transport or to discuss other transport needs.
