State road transport authorities say they were caught off guard by new limits on prime mover lengths.

A new road train notice has been issued in South Australia, which prohibits a prime mover and trailer from exceeding 19 metres.

The quick introduction of the limit has caused a stir in the transport industry, and the South Australian Road Transport Association (SARTA) says it was not consulted.

SARTA Executive Director Steve Shearer says while the new length appears to make sense on the eastern seaboard, it will not work in South Australia.

Mr Shearer says that in SA, long-wheel base prime movers are more common, which could be in breach of the new stipulation.

“The class 2 Road Train notice which has replaced the precious SA gazettes requires that the prime mover and first trailer combination not exceed 19 metres, even when part of a road train configuration,” he says.

“This requirement never existed previously in South Australia and the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure have advised us that they were unaware of the inclusion of this requirement in the new national notice.

“We now understand from South Australia Police that they had previously raised the issue but none the less this requirement was still included in the notice.”