DGVM & Bridge Limits - How do they work?

Hi everyone,

I am not a trucker, but I have a trucking question that I hope someone can help me with.

The Qld law regarding Safe Load limits on bridges states...

103 Load limit signs
(1) A driver must not drive past a bridge load limit (gross mass)
sign or gross load limit sign if the total of the gross mass (in
tonnes) of the driver’s vehicle, and any vehicle connected to
it, is more than the gross mass indicated by the sign.

1: Does this mean that a TARE 12.5t truck with a DGVM of 22.5t cannot cross a bridge signed 16t?

2: Or does it mean that it can cross, provided that the driver is fully aware that his GVM at that particular moment does not exceed 16t?

To explain, our garbage truck is crossing our rickety wooden 16t bridge as part of his round. He is NOT empty, as the crossing happens some time into his run after picking up many bins.

If #2 applies.... Do garbage trucks keep track of their own load weight and relay this to the driver, or does the driver just make his best guess that he is still under the limit?

Thanks for your help.

Rusty

 

Thanks tirednaz, I have just reposted this on the aussie forum (I missed it the first time around). I will be interested to see how the aussie garbage trucks work and if they do in fact relay weight information to the driver. Without that, it's all guess work.