Australia Needs TMSystems ADR- Beyond UNECE R141 Mandate

LSM Technologies has released a new white paper calling for a dedicated Australian Design Rule (ADR) for Tyre Monitoring Systems (ADR-TMS), warning that directly adopting Europe’s UNE CE R141 would fail to address local transport realities.

The Department of transport (DITRDCSA) are already considering the mandating of Tyre Monitoring Systems (TMS), aligning with similar international mandates already and is a signatory to UN agreements underpinning R141, which now mandates TMSystems across European fleets. But that standard was designed for shorter vehicles operating in urban corridors, not for Australia’s heavy-haul environment.

Here, Road Trains stretch up to 60 metres with up to 100 wheels, while DG tankers and low loaders (up to 190 wheels) carry extreme payloads in hot, remote regions. Operators also rely on frequent drop-and-hook trailer changes. In these conditions, accurate sequencing and per-wheel identification are critical: without them, drivers cannot quickly locate the failing tyre in a daisy- chained set of trailers.

TMSystems close this gap by continuously monitoring pressure and temperature, preventing blowouts, wheel-end fires, rollovers, and catastrophic tanker explosions. Incidents like the Angellala Creek and Bororen ammonium nitrate disasters show what is at stake.

The economic case is equally compelling. A national rollout across 5.1 million vehicles and trailers would cost $5.1 billion but deliver $31–37 billion in annual savings, returning more than $300 billion in net benefits over ten years. These findings complement LSM’s companion paper, 2025-Aug 20 – TMS Roll Out Costs + Sav – Australia – v1, which details the significant cost savings and productivity gains available to industry, government, and taxpayers.

LSM’s position is clear: Australia cannot simply “copy and paste” R141. Instead, an ADR-TMS must harmonise with global standards while mandating features essential for local fleets, including multi-trailer sequencing, in- cabin monitor, wheel mapping, fast- leak detection, and high-temperature alarms.

A dedicated Australian Design Rule (ADR-TMS) is needed to harmonise with global standards while ensuring solutions are fit-for-purpose for local operating conditions.

Together, both LSM white papers present a strong evidence base modelling depicting that TMSystems are one of the highest ROI safety and productivity interventions available to the transport sector.

With proven technology, international precedents, and quantifiable benefits, LSM Technologies is urging government, regulators, and operators to collaborate on mandating TMSystems as a critical national safety initiative.

For more information, please see the below links or contact us.

LSM (Life - Saving - Mitigation) Technologies that enhances Workplace OH&S + Equipment Damage Control + Productivity.