Principal Freight Network

The PFN is the strategic network of existing and recognised future freight places and connecting movement corridors that are of national, state or regional significance and accommodate freight of significant volume, value or importance.

The PFN provides a framework for identifying and protecting key freight routes, places and precincts in Victoria.

The PFN does not define vehicle size and mass requirements or road infrastructure standards. Trucks can use roads that are included and excluded from the PFN, subject to the relevant regulations and requirements that apply to the road network.

The Principal Freight Network (PFN) identifies and protects Victoria's key freight routes, places and precincts.

It provides a framework for transport network and land use planning and infrastructure decision-making relating to freight movements across Victoria.

The PFN identifies preferred freight routes and significant freight places and recognises the connections between freight corridors, freight precincts and supply chains.

The PFN differs from other networks, including:

• Freight Vehicle Capable Networks: such as High Productivity Freight Vehicle and B-double networks. The PFN includes only the parts of these networks that meet the criteria.
• Over Size Over Mass (OSOM) networks have been created because the movement of a particular good/commodity or particular vehicle is temporary/single use.

For more information on heavy vehicle map networks, always check the NHVR National Network Map before you travel.

The Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) developed an assessment framework to help identify the principles and criteria for selecting freight places and corridors for the PFN.

Key guiding principles and steps include:

Step 1: Determine economic significance by identifying freight places

Step 2: Determine connectivity by identifying potential freight corridors.

Step 3: Determine capacity and efficiency by refining the network of freight corridors to best meet all criteria

The PFN reflects current and planned future freight places and corridors and is aligned to the announced major projects.

Reviews of the PFN may be made in the future as new projects are committed or developed.

No, the network will not change as part of this update. However, if a new development proposal is planned along a PFN corridor, a developer will need to ensure it adequately considers freight needs.

The PFN may be used in the future to support coordination and development of freight movements along particular corridors. The inclusion of a freight place or corridor on the PFN does not reflect a commitment to funding.

Not necessarily, however, these corridors will reflect the preferred freight corridors and will be protected through the changes to the VPP from inappropriate developments, ensuring that the corridors maintain freight vehicle access.

Various changes will be needed to the PFN following the construction and opening of these new roads, including replacing some roads with incompatible land uses with the new roads. These are clearly identified on the PFN Maps as “committed future removals".

The PFN project does not include any changes to current road and rail infrastructure. Inclusion on the PFN does not imply any commitment to fund any new or upgraded corridors and places.

Local roads are only included if they are likely to be future declared roads or provide a better alternative truck route, or a suitable declared road does not exist connecting Freight Places, especially adjacent to the major gateways (ports and airports).

The TFN supports strategic planning and corridor protection by identifying Victoria’s key freight routes and places. It is published on the DTP website to help stakeholders understand the network and inform planning, development and investment decisions.