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NSW’s transition to TMA and Smart OBM: What you need to know

13 July 2023

Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) is adopting the use of the Telematics Monitoring Application (TMA) and Smart On-Board Mass (OBM) for some Performance Based Standards (PBS) vehicles operating in New South Wales.

From 1 June 2024, all PBS vehicles operating in NSW that have on-board mass as a road access condition on their permits must be fitted with a TCA approved Smart OBM system.

The deadline was first announced by TfNSW on 1 December 2022.

The change will harmonise the use of Smart OBM systems in NSW with other jurisdictions.

Affected PBS vehicles will need to transition from

  • Intelligent Access Program (IAP) to the Telematics Monitoring Application (TMA); and
  • Interim OBM solution to Smart OBM system.

Smart OBM systems capture axle mass measurements as digital records. This data is shared with relevant road managers in a secure and standardised way. All Smart OBM systems are type-approved by TCA.

Who is affected?

All PBS vehicles operating under permit in NSW for whom mass monitoring is currently an agreed condition of road access.

What you need to do

Beyond 1 June 2024, all PBS vehicles that require mass monitoring as a road access condition must be fitted with a TCA-approved Smart OBM system.

Smart OBM systems also need to be paired with a TCA certified Application Service Provider (ASP) telematics device. Information about the existing pairing arrangements between ASPs and Smart OBM system suppliers is available on the TCA website.

Eligible PBS vehicles must also be enrolled in the TMA PBS Vehicle Mass Monitoring Scheme (NSW). Further information about the scheme is available in the TMA PBS Level 1–4 Vehicle Monitoring Schemes (NSW) document.

Enrolment in the IAP is not required for these vehicles from 1 June 2024.

Note: If a vehicle is already enrolled in TMA or IAP in another jurisdiction, the vehicle will still be required to separately enrol in TMA with TfNSW for travel in NSW. Enrolments are managed by ASPs.

Download our factsheet: Differences between IAP and TMA.

TCA hosted a webinar on 31 August 2023 about the changes to Smart OBM requirements in NSW and how they will affect PBS drivers travelling to and within the state. A recording of the webinar is available here.