Geotab has expanded its Australian heavy vehicle compliance offering by adding Smart On-Board Mass capability through a certified integration with Airtec Corporation, allowing heavy haulage operators to manage telematics and mass data through a single platform.
The certification means Geotab can now support Telematics Monitoring Application schemes both with and without Smart OBM requirements, as well as Road Infrastructure Management schemes.
For fleets operating under Higher Mass Limits, Performance Based Standards or other restricted-access arrangements, the change removes a gap that previously required some operators to use separate telematics and mass management systems.
Geotab says the integration combines its GO9-LTM telematics device, including Hardware variants D, E and F, with Airtec’s AXS Series Smart OBM system. Both systems are TCA type approved.
For Fleet Managers, the practical benefit is the ability to bring vehicle location, identification and certified mass information together rather than managing separate systems for different compliance requirements.
Andrew Hintz, Associate Vice President, Heavy Transport APAC at Geotab, said the expanded certification removes a longstanding limitation for heavy haulage customers.
“This approval completes Geotab’s Australian compliance suite and removes one of the most significant barriers our heavy haulage customers have faced,” Hintz said.
“Operators no longer need to compromise or manage multiple vendors to meet regulatory Smart OBM requirements.”
Mass data becomes part of the telematics picture
Smart OBM systems use sensors to measure axle-group and gross vehicle mass and provide that information electronically for approved heavy vehicle access and compliance schemes.
When paired with certified telematics, the data can support road access arrangements where authorities require verified information about vehicle location and mass.
For operators, that can help provide access to networks operating under Higher Mass Limits and Performance Based Standards while giving drivers and transport managers greater visibility of vehicle weights before trucks leave the yard.
That has implications beyond regulatory reporting. Accurate mass information can help fleets make better use of allowable payload while reducing the risk of inadvertent overloading.
Hintz said the integration creates a more complete operational data set.
“With Smart OBM now fully integrated, Geotab can provide a single source of truth for vehicle location, identity and certified mass data – delivering regulatory confidence, operational efficiency and real productivity gains.”
Potential role in Chain of Responsibility
Mass management is also an important consideration under Chain of Responsibility obligations.
For transport operators, consignors, loaders and other parties in the transport task, access to reliable mass information can form part of the controls used to identify and manage the risk of overloaded vehicles entering the road network.
The value for fleets is therefore not simply whether a system satisfies a particular access scheme, but whether its data can be incorporated into broader operating procedures, driver processes and compliance reporting.
Geotab says combining mass, telematics, maintenance and safety information can also reduce the administrative workload associated with running separate systems.
Airtec integration brings certified mass data
Airtec General Manager Jacinta Lane said the integration was designed to make certified mass data easier for operators to use in day-to-day fleet management.
“Airtec’s Smart OBM technology has been designed to deliver accurate, reliable and regulator-ready mass data in real time,” Lane said.
“By pairing with Geotab, we’re enabling fleets to simplify compliance, prevent overloading and unlock road access without added complexity.”
The development is particularly relevant for heavy haulage operators running vehicles across multiple access schemes, where telematics and mass monitoring requirements can add another layer of complexity to fleet management.
For these operators, the more significant change may be consolidation: using one fleet management environment for operational telematics while also meeting certified mass-monitoring requirements.
Building a broader compliance ecosystem
Geotab is also positioning the Smart OBM integration as part of a broader heavy vehicle compliance offering.
Its Marketplace includes providers such as Prodrive Compliance, which can assist operators with areas including NHVR audit preparation, driver work diary reviews and Notice to Produce requests.
For Fleet Managers and transport operators, this reflects a wider shift in telematics from simple vehicle tracking towards platforms that combine operational data, safety, maintenance and regulatory compliance.
The Smart OBM certification is another step in that direction, particularly for fleets where road access and payload management are central to productivity.
The key question for operators will be how effectively these systems integrate with existing loading procedures, driver workflows and compliance processes. For fleets already using Geotab, however, the ability to add certified mass management without introducing another standalone telematics platform could significantly simplify the technology stack.
