PBS Review and Fleet Recall Alerts

Two major developments in heavy vehicle safety and compliance are converging right now, and fleets running multi‑axle combinations or imported trailers need to act before the regulatory and product risk windows widen.

Recent recalls out of North America provide a practical reminder of hardware failure risk.

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has just opened a technical consultation on updating the high‑speed and stability standards in the Australian Performance Based Standards (PBS) system. The consultation materials were published on 23 Jan 26, and this concerns tightening the way stability performance is measured and validated for high‑speed running in PBS configurations. The review covers dynamic behaviours such as rollover thresholds, braking stability, and directional control, among other criteria, and invites industry feedback by the close of business on Friday, 23 January 2026.

This update will influence future permit conditions, engineering assessment requirements and how compliance documentation is reviewed for heavy combinations.

On the product side, several recent recalls from North America serve as a practical reminder of the risk of hardware failure, especially in load restraint and trailer attachment systems. Select Mack, Volvo and International heavy trucks have been recalled due to load‑lock clamp or fastener defects that could allow load bars or restraint hardware to become unsecured during operation. These recalls span thousands of units across model years roughly 2023–26 and include dealer replacement of the affected clamps at no charge; owner notification is scheduled in January 2026.

The issue is not limited to one brand and highlights that rear‑of‑cab load restraint components and trailer ramp fittings on imported or North American spec trailers can be potential failure points if not inspected and verified against VIN recall lists.

Together, these developments mean that fleets using A‑doubles or heavy steel consignments should revalidate their PBS permit conditions, centre‑of‑gravity documentation, and approved loading diagrams now, and ensure that any imported trailer hardware has been checked against recall portals and physically inspected, with photos, VINs, or serial numbers recorded, and defects documented for supplier follow‑up.