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Goods Vehicles Exceeding 10 Tonnes GVM Only Road Sign – R124

The Goods Vehicles Exceeding 10 Tonnes GVM Only road sign, designated R124, is a South African regulatory command sign used to indicate that goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes GVM/GCM must use the designated road, lane or portion of road where the command applies.

R124 forms part of the South African road traffic sign system used to manage traffic according to vehicle type and mass. It is specifically intended for goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes and should not be confused with the broader heavy-vehicle command sign R102.

What Does the R124 Road Sign Mean?

The R124 sign means that all goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes GVM/GCM must use the designated road or portion of the road where the command applies.

The official South African Road Traffic Signs Manual describes R124 as:

“All goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes (GVM/GCM) only/must.”

This makes R124 a mandatory command sign. It communicates a requirement to qualifying goods vehicles rather than simply providing general information about heavy vehicles.

What Is GVM and GCM?

GVM means Gross Vehicle Mass, while GCM means Gross Combination Mass.

For the South African regulatory road-sign framework, masses expressed in tonnes are equivalent to the applicable GVM or GCM. The relevant vehicle documentation should therefore be used when determining whether a vehicle falls within the mass category indicated by the sign.

The 10-tonne threshold should not be treated as an estimate of the vehicle's current load. It relates to the applicable vehicle mass classification used by the road-sign system.

Which Vehicles Does R124 Apply To?

R124 specifically applies to goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes GVM/GCM.

The South African Road Traffic Signs Manual distinguishes goods vehicles from the wider category of heavy vehicles. It states that goods vehicles over 10 tonnes include goods vehicles exceeding the indicated mass but exclude buses.

This distinction is important when selecting the correct regulatory road sign for a traffic-management requirement.

R124 as a Mandatory Command Sign

R124 belongs to the mandatory command category of regulatory road signs.

Where a mandatory command sign is applied to a lane, the SARTSM states that the lane shall only be used by the class of vehicle displayed. Therefore, where R124 is used as a lane-use command, it identifies the lane as being for qualifying goods vehicles.

The exact application of the sign depends on the road layout and traffic-management arrangement.

Where Are R124 Signs Used?

R124 may be used where goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes need to follow a designated road or portion of a road.

Potential applications can include:

• Designated heavy goods-vehicle routes
• Industrial areas
• Logistics and distribution routes
• Warehouse access routes
• Factory and manufacturing areas
• Freight routes
• Commercial vehicle routes
• Designated heavy-goods-vehicle lanes
• Traffic-management schemes
• Routes where qualifying goods vehicles are required to follow a particular roadway

The actual use of R124 on a public road should be determined by the responsible road authority and the applicable traffic-management requirements.

R124 and Heavy Goods Vehicle Routing

Large goods vehicles can have different traffic-management requirements from passenger vehicles and other road users. A vehicle-specific command sign can communicate which vehicles are required to use a particular road, lane or route.

R124 is specifically concerned with goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes. It should therefore be selected when the traffic instruction relates to that vehicle category and mass threshold.

R124 Compared With R123

R123 and R124 are related but apply to different mass thresholds.

• R123: All goods vehicles exceeding 3,500 kg GVM/GCM only/must.
• R124: All goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes GVM/GCM only/must.

The Department of Transport lists both signs separately because they control different categories based on the applicable mass threshold.

R124 Compared With R102

R124 should also be distinguished from R102.

• R102: All heavy vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes GVM/GCM only/must.
• R124: All goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes GVM/GCM only/must.

The difference is the vehicle category covered by the command. The SARTSM specifically notes that all heavy vehicles over 10 tonnes includes buses over 10 tonnes, whereas goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes exclude buses.

This distinction is important when determining which sign is appropriate for a particular traffic-management requirement.

R124 Compared With R230

R124 is a command sign, while R230 is a prohibition sign.

R124 requires qualifying goods vehicles to use the designated roadway or portion of road. R230 communicates that goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes are not permitted on the affected roadway. The SARTSM lists these signs separately within the regulatory signing framework.

The two signs therefore communicate different traffic instructions and should not be used interchangeably.

R124 and Goods Vehicle Parking

R124 should not automatically be interpreted as a goods vehicle parking sign.

The sign is a command sign for goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes and is used to control the use of a road or portion of a road.

Where a parking area specifically needs to be reserved for goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes, the SARTSM identifies a separate parking reservation sign, R314-P.

R124 Road Sign Design

R124 is a circular South African mandatory command sign displaying a goods-vehicle symbol together with the 10-tonne mass indication.

The official road-sign specifications use the standard blue-and-white appearance associated with permanent mandatory command signs. The Department of Transport's SARTSM examples show R124 with a blue background and white goods-vehicle symbol and mass indication.

For public-road applications, the sign should be manufactured according to the applicable South African road-sign specifications, including the required dimensions, materials and retroreflective performance.

Visibility and Retroreflective Materials

Regulatory road signs used outdoors need to remain identifiable under the conditions in which they are intended to operate.

Factors such as viewing distance, daylight, night-time conditions, vehicle headlights, weather and the surrounding environment should be considered when specifying the sign.

For official public-road signage, the applicable South African road-sign specifications should be followed for the sign face, retroreflective materials, construction and installation.

R124 Signs in Industrial and Commercial Areas

Goods-vehicle routing can be particularly important in areas with regular freight and heavy-vehicle movements, including:

• Industrial parks
• Warehouses
• Distribution centres
• Factories
• Logistics facilities
• Freight terminals
• Commercial developments
• Construction and industrial areas

On private property, businesses may also need traffic signs to organise internal vehicle movements. However, an official R124 regulatory sign should be distinguished from a privately designed traffic-management sign. The appropriate signage depends on the site's requirements and the traffic-control arrangement.

R124 Sign Placement

The sign should be positioned where approaching drivers have an appropriate opportunity to see and understand the instruction before reaching the roadway, lane or route to which the command applies.

Placement can depend on the road layout, traffic conditions, junctions, lane configuration, visibility and the purpose of the sign.

For public-road applications, the responsible road authority should determine the appropriate placement, mounting arrangement and sign size according to the applicable South African road-sign requirements.

R124 and Lane Use

Where R124 is used to control the use of a particular lane, the lane should be clearly identifiable to approaching drivers.

The SARTSM notes that applying a mandatory command sign to a lane means that the lane shall only be used by the class of vehicle displayed. Appropriate road markings and supporting signs may therefore be required as part of the overall traffic-management arrangement.

R124 on Private Property

Industrial properties, warehouses, logistics facilities and other commercial sites may use goods-vehicle signage to organise internal traffic and delivery movements.

Where a sign is intended to operate as an official public-road regulatory sign, the relevant road authority and applicable road-sign requirements should be considered.

For private sites, the property owner or site manager should also consider internal traffic flow, vehicle access, loading requirements, pedestrian movements, property-management rules and other applicable requirements.

Benefits of Clear R124 Signage

• Clearly communicates the applicable goods-vehicle command.
• Identifies routes or lanes intended for qualifying goods vehicles.
• Communicates the 10-tonne GVM/GCM threshold.
• Can form part of a wider heavy-vehicle traffic-management system.
• Can help organise freight and commercial vehicle movements.
• Can be used together with appropriate road markings and supporting regulatory signs.

Frequently Asked Questions About R124

What does the R124 road sign mean?

R124 means all goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes GVM/GCM only/must. It is a mandatory command sign used to identify the applicable road or portion of road for qualifying goods vehicles.

What does GVM mean?

GVM means Gross Vehicle Mass. In the South African road-sign framework, the indicated mass may relate to GVM or GCM, with masses expressed in tonnes being equivalent to the applicable GVM or GCM.

Does R124 apply to all vehicles over 10 tonnes?

No. R124 specifically applies to goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes GVM/GCM. The broader R102 command sign applies to all heavy vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes and therefore covers a wider vehicle category.

Does R124 apply to buses?

R124 is specifically for goods vehicles. The SARTSM distinguishes goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes from all heavy vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes, with the latter category including buses over 10 tonnes.

What is the difference between R123 and R124?

R123 applies to goods vehicles exceeding 3,500 kg GVM/GCM, while R124 applies to goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes GVM/GCM.

What is the difference between R102 and R124?

R102 applies to all heavy vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes GVM/GCM, while R124 specifically applies to goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes GVM/GCM.

Is R124 a command road sign?

Yes. R124 is listed under the mandatory command signs in the South African Road Traffic Signs Manual.

Is R124 a goods vehicle parking sign?

No. R124 is a command sign for qualifying goods vehicles. A separate sign, R314-P, is identified for parking reserved for goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes GVM/GCM.

What sign prohibits goods vehicles over 10 tonnes?

R230 is the prohibition sign for goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes GVM/GCM. R124 and R230 have different purposes: R124 is a command sign, while R230 prohibits the relevant goods vehicles from using the affected road.

Can R124 be used in industrial areas?

Goods-vehicle routing can be relevant in industrial and commercial areas. For official public-road applications, the appropriate road authority and applicable South African road-sign requirements should be considered.

Can Signs4SA supply R124 signs?

Yes. Signs4SA can assist with Goods Vehicles Exceeding 10 Tonnes GVM Only – R124 signs and other road and safety signage. Provide the required sign code, dimensions, quantity and installation requirements when requesting a quotation.

Order Goods Vehicles Exceeding 10 Tonnes GVM Only – R124

Need Goods Vehicles Exceeding 10 Tonnes GVM Only – R124 road signs for a heavy-goods-vehicle route, industrial area, logistics facility or controlled traffic environment?

Contact Signs4SA to discuss your R124 signage requirements, provide your specifications and request a quotation.

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More About Goods vehicles exceeding 10 tonnes GVM only

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