What is a road train in Australia?
A road train is a very long truck made up of a prime mover pulling two or more trailers, used to carry goods, fuel and livestock across remote parts of Australia. Some are over 50 metres long.
Road trains are essential in the outback, where distances are huge and railways are limited. They carry cattle from stations to ports, fuel to remote communities and supplies to mines.
In the Northern Territory and parts of Western Australia, road trains with up to four trailers, reaching about 53.5 metres in length, are allowed on certain highways. They are not permitted in city centres.
Sharing the road
Drivers on outback highways need to take care when overtaking road trains, which can take a long distance to pass. Road trains also kick up dust and stones on unsealed roads, and they cannot stop quickly.
Signs saying road train ahead or long vehicle warn other drivers. Truck stops and roadhouses provide places for road train drivers to rest on long journeys.
The first road trains in Australia were developed in the 1930s and 1940s. Alice Springs has a Road Transport Hall of Fame that celebrates their history.
Did You Know?
A single road train can carry more than 100 head of cattle in multi-deck trailers.