Heavy Vehicle National Law - Multi-State Class 3 Spreader Box Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1)

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Legislation au C2019G00109 In force Gazette

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HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

Multi-State Class 3 Spreader Box Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1)

 

Purpose

  1. The purpose of this Notice is to exempt a Class 3 heavy vehicle fitted with a spreader box from the width limit stated in section 7(1) of Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (the Regulation).

 

Authorising provision

2.       This Notice is made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law as in force in each participating jurisdiction (HVNL).

 

Title

3.       This Notice may be cited as the Multi-State Class 3 Spreader Box Dimension Exemption Notice 2019.

 

Commencement

4.       This Notice commences on 10 February 2019.

 

Expiry

5.       This Notice expires on 9 February 2024.

 

Definitions

6.       Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this Notice have the same meaning as those defined in the HVNL.

7.       In this Notice

 

spreader box means an implement fitted onto the rear of a heavy vehicle used in the construction, repair or maintenance of roads, to evenly distribute aggregate or a similar material.

 

Application

8.       This Notice applies to a Class 3 heavy vehicle fitted with a spreader box, where

(a)    the spreader box when fitted to the vehicle is not wider than 2.9m; and

(b)    the vehicle to which the spreader box is fitted, excluding the spreader box, is not wider than 2.5m.

9.       This Notice applies in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania.

 

 


Exemption from prescribed mass or dimension requirements

10.   This Notice exempts a Class 3 heavy vehicle fitted with a spreader box from the width limit specified in section 7(1) of Schedule 6 of the Regulation.

 

Conditions

11.   The vehicle must have its low-beam headlights on while it is being used in the daytime.

12.   The driver and operator of the vehicle must comply with all conditions set out in the Schedule for a participating jurisdiction when the vehicle is being used in the jurisdiction to which that Schedule applies.

 

 

Peter Caprioli

Executive Director (Freight and Supply Chain Productivity)

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

 

 


SCHEDULE 1 – NEW SOUTH WALES

 

Areas or routes

  1. An eligible vehicle must only travel— 

(a)    within the area delimited by “Roadwork Ahead” signs (the work site), or

(b)    on a route between any two of the following places:

  1. the work site;or 
  2. the depot ;or 
  3. the stockpile ;or
  4. the place of overnight lodging of the sealing crew.

Conditions

2.       The vehicle must have at least one warning light attached that complies with the requirements for warning lights for a Class 1 heavy vehicle as set out in sections 35, 36, 37 and 38(1) of Schedule 8 of the Regulation.

3.       Except when operating within a radius of 1 kilometre from a road maintenance or construction site, the vehicle must have

(a)    a warning sign attached to the front of the vehicle and a warning sign attached to the rear of the spreader box, that show the word “OVERSIZE” and that comply with the requirements for warning signs for a Class 1 heavy vehicle as set out in sections 41, 42, 43, 45, 46 and 47 of Schedule 8 of the Regulation; and

(b)    a brightly coloured red, yellow, or red and yellow, flag at least 450mm long and at least 450mm wide, at each side of the spreader box.  The flags must be clearly visible at a distance of 100 metres to a person of normal vision.

 

 


SCHEDULE 2 – QUEENSLAND

 

Areas or routes

 

  1. An eligible vehicle must only travel on a route or area shown in the relevant Stated List published in the Commonwealth Gazette, according to the conditions if any for an area; and 
  2. An eligible vehicle must only travel:

(a)    within the area delimited by “Roadwork Ahead” signs (the construction site), or

(b)    on a route between any two of the following places:

(c)     the construction site;or 

(d)    the depot;or 

(e)    the stockpile;or 

(f)     the place of overnight lodging of the sealing crew. 

 

Compliance with equivalent provisions of Schedule 8 

 

3.       A vehicle must comply with the following provisions of Schedule 8 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (Schedule 8), as if it were a Class 1 Heavy Vehicle—

 

(a)    Fittings to Vehicle

  1. Section 2(1)(a) and (b) (Warning signs),
  2. Section 2(1)(c)(ii) and (3) (Warning flags),
  3. Section 3 (Delineators for projecting loads), and
  4. Section 5(1)(b), (c) and (2)  (Side markers and warning lights for oversize vehicles used at night).

(b)    Visibility

  1. Section 8 (No travelling if low visibility)

(c)     Use of lights

  1. Section 6 (Headlights)

(d)    Assessing Routes

  1. Section 11 (Assessing route prior to travel).

 


Enhanced visibility requirements

 

4.       Any part of a spreader box that protrudes past the body line of the vehicle must be a highly visible colour such as yellow, orange or red.

5.       A protrusion past the body line of the vehicle that is less than 500mm high when viewed from the front must have a delineator fixed to it. The delineator must meet the requirements of section 3(3) of Schedule 8, other than width. The delineator must be of the same width as the forward facing protrusion.

6.       The extremities of any protruding part of the spreader box not already fitted with delineators, side markers or lights, must be fitted with reflectors or reflective tape.

7.       The operator of a vehicle must ensure that warning devices and markings are clean and visible to other road users before the vehicle travels on a road.

 

Compliance with temporary road closures or restrictions

 

8.       Prior to travel along a route, the operator of a vehicle must also ascertain whether the Department of Transport and Main Roads has imposed any temporary restrictions or closures to that route, and must comply with any conditions or restrictions that have been imposed.”  


SCHEDULE 3 – SOUTH AUSTRALIA

 

Areas or routes

  1. An eligible vehicle must only travel— 

(a)    within the area delimited by “Roadwork Ahead” signs (the work site), or

(b)    on a route between any two of the following places:

  1. the work site;or 
  2. the depot;or
  3. the stockpile; or
  4. the place of overnight lodging of the sealing crew.

 

Conditions

2.       An eligible vehicle must have at least one warning light attached that complies with the requirements for warning lights for a Class 1 heavy vehicle as set out in sections 35, 36, 37 and 38(1) of Schedule 8 of the Regulation.

3.       Except when operating within a radius of 1km from a road maintenance or construction site, an eligible vehicle must have–

(a)    a warning sign attached to the front of the vehicle and a warning sign attached to the rear of the vehicle, that show the word “OVERSIZE” and that comply with the requirements for warning signs for a Class 1 heavy vehicle as set out in sections 2, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46 and 47 of Schedule 8 of the Regulation; and

(b)    A brightly coloured red, yellow or red and yellow, flag at least 450mm long and at least 450mm wide, at each side of the spreader box.  The flags must be clearly visible at a distance of 100 metres to a person of normal vision.

  1. An eligible vehicle must not travel during periods of low visibility.
  2. An eligible vehicle must not travel in the Adelaide Metropolitan Area between the hours of 7.00am to 9.00am and 4.00pm and 6.00pm, Monday to Friday inclusive.
  3. For the purposes of this Schedule, the Adelaide Metropolitan Area means the area defined in the map titled ‘Adelaide Metropolitan Area’ published on the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure website.

 

Note: the Adelaide Metropolitan Area Map is maintained by the South Australia Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, and is published on its website.

 


SCHEDULE 4 – TASMANIA

 

Areas or routes

 

  1. Subject to clause 2 of this Schedule, the vehicle may use all roads in Tasmania.

 

2.       The vehicle may not be used on the Bridgewater Bridge if the spreader box when fitted to the vehicle is wider than 2.5m.

 

Conditions

3.       The vehicle may not be used in daylight if visibility is less than 250 metres or at night if the headlights of a vehicle approaching within 250 metres cannot be seen.

 

4.       If the vehicle is being used at night, it must comply with the requirements for side markers and rear markers for a Class 1 heavy vehicle as set out in section of Schedule 8 of the Regulation.

 

5.       A  warning sign attached to the front of the vehicle and a warning sign attached to the rear of the vehicle, that show the word “OVERSIZE” and that comply with the requirements for warning signs for a Class 1 heavy vehicle as set out in sections 41, 42, 43, 45, 46 and 47 of Schedule 8 of the Regulation; and

 

6.       Flags that comply with and that are fixed in accordance with the requirements of section 2(1)(c) Schedule 8 of the Regulation

 

 

 

Overview

The Multi-State Class 3 Spreader Box Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1) was introduced to address the issue of the width limitations on Class 3 heavy vehicles fitted with a spreader box, as specified in section 7(1) of Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation. The Notice was made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law as in force in each participating jurisdiction. This exemption aims to facilitate the movement of construction and maintenance vehicles while ensuring road safety by imposing specific conditions and requirements on the use of these vehicles. The Notice applies in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Tasmania and exempts eligible vehicles from the width limit, provided that certain conditions are met. These conditions include having low-beam headlights on during daytime use, complying with all conditions set out in the relevant Schedule for each participating jurisdiction, and ensuring that warning devices and markings are clean and visible to other road users.

Scope and Application

The Multi-State Class 3 Spreader Box Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1) is a legislative instrument under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) designed to exempt certain Class 3 heavy vehicles equipped with spreader boxes from specific width limitations outlined in Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation. This Notice applies to Class 3 heavy vehicles fitted with spreader boxes that adhere to specific dimensional constraints: the spreader box must not exceed 2.9 metres in width when fitted, and the vehicle itself, excluding the spreader box, must not exceed 2.5 metres in width. The Notice is effective in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Tasmania. It exempts these vehicles from the width limit specified in section 7(1) of Schedule 6 of the Regulation but stipulates that vehicles must be equipped with low-beam headlights while in operation during daylight hours. Additionally, drivers and operators must adhere to conditions outlined in the Schedule for the respective jurisdiction in which the vehicle is used, such as the requirement to display warning signs and flags to indicate the vehicle's oversize status and to ensure enhanced visibility of the spreader box. The Notice will remain in effect until 9 February 2024.

Key Provisions

The Multi-State Class 3 Spreader Box Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No. 1) provides a specific exemption from the width limit for Class 3 heavy vehicles fitted with a spreader box, as outlined in section 7(1) of Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (the Regulation). This exemption is valid for vehicles in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Tasmania, provided the spreader box is not wider than 2.9m and the vehicle itself, excluding the spreader box, is not wider than 2.5m (sections 8 and 9). The Notice applies from 10 February 2019 until 9 February 2024 (sections 4 and 5). The Notice is made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (section 2). For vehicles to qualify for this exemption, they must adhere to several conditions, including having their low-beam headlights on during daylight hours and complying with conditions specified in the Schedule for the jurisdiction in which they are operating (sections 11 and 12). For New South Wales, the vehicle must travel within areas delimited by "Roadwork Ahead" signs or on routes between specified locations. It must also have at least one warning light and warning signs on the vehicle and spreader box, and brightly coloured flags at each side of the spreader box when not operating within 1 kilometre of a road maintenance or construction site (Schedule 1). In Queensland, eligible vehicles must travel within areas delimited by "Roadwork Ahead" signs or on routes between specified locations. The vehicle must also comply with certain provisions of Schedule 8 of the Regulation, such as fitting warning signs and flags, ensuring enhanced visibility for protruding parts of the spreader box, and ensuring that warning devices and markings are clean and visible (Schedule 2). For South Australia, the vehicle must travel within areas delimited by "Roadwork Ahead" signs or on routes between specified locations, and it must not travel during periods of low visibility or within the Adelaide Metropolitan Area between specified hours on weekdays. It must have at least one warning light, warning signs on the vehicle and spreader box, and brightly coloured flags at each side of the spreader box when not operating within 1 kilometre of a road maintenance or construction site (Schedule 3). In Tasmania, the vehicle may use all roads except the Bridgewater Bridge if the spreader box is wider than 2.5m. It must not be used if visibility is less than 250 metres in daylight or if approaching headlights cannot be seen at night. It must comply with requirements for side markers and rear markers if used at night, and have warning signs and flags as specified (Schedule 4). Failure to comply with the conditions set out in this Notice may result in penalties under the relevant state or territory laws. These penalties may include fines, impoundment of the vehicle, or other sanctions as prescribed by the law. The exact penalties will depend on the jurisdiction and the nature of the breach.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.