The world’s longest road train

The world’s longest road train recognized by Guinness World Records was assembled and driven in Clifton, Queensland, Australia, on 18 February 2006: a Mack Titan prime mover piloted by John Atkinson towed 112 semi‑trailers for a total length of 1,474.3 meters (4,836 feet). This remains the benchmark record acknowledged by Guinness as of 2025.

What qualifies as the “longest road train”

In record terms, a road train is measured by the number of trailers and the overall length safely hauled by a single prime mover under controlled conditions. Guinness World Records verifies such attempts with strict criteria, including configuration safety, measurement accuracy, the distance moved, and independent adjudication. Many large “stunt” pulls are demonstrated globally, but only those that meet these standards are listed by Guinness as the official longest road train.

The 2006 Clifton record — by the numbers

Below are the key facts that define the officially recognized longest road train to date, as recorded by Guinness World Records.

• Date and location: 18 February 2006, Clifton, Queensland, Australia
• Prime mover: Mack Titan
• Driver: John Atkinson
• Number of trailers: 112 semi‑trailers
• Total measured length: 1,474.3 meters (4,836 feet)
• Verification: Independent measurement and adjudication under controlled conditions

Together, these details establish the Clifton run as the definitive, independently verified benchmark for the longest road train, a record that has endured for years amid numerous high‑profile demonstrations.

Why Australia dominates road‑train records

Australia’s vast distances, sparse populations in remote regions, and heavy industry—especially mining and pastoral operations—create practical demand for multi‑trailer combinations. Jurisdictions such as Western Australia, the Northern Territory, and parts of Queensland have regulatory frameworks, road geometry, and outback corridors suited to longer and heavier combinations. While everyday operations commonly involve double, triple, or quad setups on designated routes, record attempts are confined to controlled environments designed to ensure safety and accurate measurement.

Other notable feats and context

While the Clifton achievement is the accepted record for “longest road train,” several related feats are often cited for context in the heavy‑haul and demonstration categories.

• Heaviest multi‑trailer demonstration pulls: Truck makers have staged short, controlled pulls with production tractors towing very heavy, multi‑trailer consists (for example, Volvo FH16 demonstrations hauling roughly 20 trailers totaling about 750 tonnes). These events highlight powertrain capability but are not classified as the “longest road train.”
• Commercial practice: In routine operations, Australian road trains most commonly run as doubles and triples, with quads permitted on certain routes. Even longer combinations may be used under special permits or in private mine‑site conditions, but they are distinct from official “longest road train” record attempts.
• Unofficial claims: From time to time, larger demonstrations are reported, but unless independently measured and adjudicated to Guinness standards, they are not recognized as the official longest road train.

These examples illustrate the difference between publicity or engineering demonstrations, normal commercial configurations, and a rigorously verified world record.

Summary

As officially recognized by Guinness World Records, the world’s longest road train was driven in Clifton, Queensland, on 18 February 2006: a Mack Titan hauling 112 trailers for a measured length of 1,474.3 meters. Australia’s unique operating conditions and regulatory environment make it the natural home for both everyday multi‑trailer operations and record‑setting demonstrations, but only rigorously verified attempts like the Clifton run stand as the definitive global record.

How long is the pocket road train in WA?

27.5m
Pocket Road Train: A Western Australian term to describe an ‘A-double’ designed to operate in the 27.5m length allowed for B-doubles in Western Australia.

What is the longest route train in the world?

The Trans–Siberian Railway (TSR) is a railway network that connects Western Russia and Russia’s Far East. With a length of almost 9,289 kilometres (5,772 miles), it is the world’s longest railway line, stretching from Moscow, Europe’s largest city, to Vladivostok, on the Pacific Ocean.

What is the longest road train in the world?

The longest road train ever recorded was 1,474.3 meters (4,836 ft 11 in) long, consisting of 113 trailers and pulled by a single Mack Titan prime mover on February 18, 2006, in Clifton, Queensland, Australia. The driver was John Atkinson, and this record-breaking event was sponsored by Hogs Breath Café. 
Key details: 

• Driver: John Atkinson
• Vehicle: A single Mack Titan prime mover
• Trailers: 113 trailers
• Length: 1,474.3 meters (4,836 ft 11 in)
• Date: February 18, 2006
• Location: Clifton, Queensland, Australia

What is the longest trailer allowed on the road?

Length: 53′ semi-trailer and 74′ overall length on Interstate and designated highways; 48′ trailer and 69′ overall length on other highways. “The maximum legal length of vehicles and loads traveling more than 1 mile beyond the National Network is 74′.”