Heavy Vehicle National Law - National Class 2 4.6m High and/or 25m Long Vehicle Carrier Authorisation Notice 2019 (No.1)

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HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

National Class 2 4.6m high and/or 25m Long Vehicle Carrier Authorisation Notice 2019 (No.1)

 

Purpose

 

  1. The purpose of this notice is —

(a)    To authorise the use of Vehicle Carriers from 4.3 metres to 4.6 metres in height, or from 19 metres to 25 metres in length, or both, in stated areas or on stated routes, during stated hours of stated days; and

(b)   To state the conditions under which these Vehicle Carriers may be used.

 

Note: The Heavy Vehicle National Law provides that a Vehicle Carrier (as defined in this notice) is a class 2 heavy vehicle.  That means that a Vehicle Carrier is a restricted access vehicle and the operator requires an authorisation from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator before the vehicle may be used on public roads.  This instrument is an authorisation that declares the routes on which Vehicle Carriers may be used, subject to compliance with certain conditions. This instrument does not exempt the Vehicle Carrier from other requirements of the Heavy Vehicle National Law including, but not limited to, mass and dimension requirements.

 

Authorising Provision

 

2.      This notice is made under section 138 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law as in force in each state or territory (HVNL).

 

Title

 

3.      This notice may be cited as the National Class 2 4.6m High and/or 25m Long Vehicle Carrier Authorisation Notice 2019.

 

Commencement

 

4.       This notice commences on 10 February 2019.

 

Expiry

 

5.       This notice expires on 9 February 2024.

 

Definition

 

6.      Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this notice have the same meanings as in the HVNL or regulations made under the HVNL.

 

7.       In this notice—

 

‘National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice’ means the current national notice of that name providing access to Class 2 B-Doubles.

 

‘National Class 2 Road Train Authorisation Notice’ means the current national notice of that name providing access to Class 2 Road Trains.

 

 ‘Vehicle Carrier’ means a heavy vehicle that is a combination designed and built to carry vehicles on more than one deck that, together with its load is longer than 19m but not longer than 25m, or higher than 4.3m but not higher than 4.6m, or both.

 

Note: Under section 3(1)(d) of Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation a vehicle carrier may only be up to 25m long if it is designed to carry vehicles on 2 or more partly or completely overlapping decks.

 

‘Stated areas or routes’ means the stated areas or routes set out in the Schedules.

 

‘Stated hours of stated days’ means the stated hours of stated days set out in the Schedules.
 

Application

 

8.      This notice applies to a Vehicle Carrier as specified in Schedules 1 to 5.

 

9.      This notice applies in all participating jurisdictions other than the Australian Capital Territory.

 

Conditions

 

10.   The driver and operator of the Vehicle Carrier 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.

 

Note: The National Class 2 Road Train Authorisation Notice authorises a road train that is, or has a component vehicle in the combination, designed to carry vehicles on 2 or more partly on completely overlapping decks on the routes and in the circumstances stated for road trains in each Schedule of that Notice.

 

The National Class 3 Heavy Vehicle, Vehicle Carrier Exemption Notice 2019 authorises the use of vehicle carriers that are over 25m in length but are not road trains to the extent and on the conditions stated in the Notice.

 

 

Peter Caprioli

Executive Director (Freight and Supply Chain Productivity)

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

 

 


SCHEDULE 1 – NEW SOUTH WALES

Revocation

 

  1. Intentionally blank.

 

Stated areas or routes

 

2. A Vehicle Carrier that is not more than 4.3m high may use the routes set out in the

National Class 2 Heavy Vehicle B-double Authorisation Notice.

3.  A Vehicle Carrier that is more than 4.3m high but not more than 4.6m high may use

the routes set out in the National Class 2 Heavy Vehicle B-double Authorisation

Notice and in Appendix 1 to this Schedule.

 

Note: This means the route must be approved for use by both 4.6m high semitrailers and B-doubles.

 

Stated hours of stated days

 

4.  Except as specified in clause 5, a Vehicle Carrier may use the stated routes at any

time of day.

5.  A Vehicle Carrier that is authorised to use the areas or routes in the National

Class 2 Heavy Vehicle B-double Authorisation Notice(as set out in the NSW Schedule) must do so in accordance with any restrictions on the hours and days of operation specified, if any, for each road in the conditions set out in the National Class 2 Heavy Vehicle B-double Authorisation Notice.

 

Conditions

 

6.  A Vehicle Carrier that is authorised to use the routes stated in both the National

Class 2 Heavy Vehicle B-double Authorisation (as set out in the NSW Schedule) Notice and in Appendix 1 to this Schedule must comply with the corresponding conditions about the operation of the heavy vehicle specified for each road in the condition column.

 

Appendix 1

 

Map and/or list of routes as specified under the heading “Restricted Access Vehicle maps and lists” as published on the Roads and Maritime Services website.

 


SCHEDULE 2 – QUEENSLAND
 

Stated areas or routes

 

  1. Subject to clauses 2 and 3 of this Schedule, a Vehicle Carrier may use all roads in Queensland.
  2. A Vehicle Carrier that is higher than 4.3m may not use a road where there is insufficient height clearance for the combination to pass without striking or damaging any road infrastructure.

Note: The driver of a Vehicle Carrier that is higher than 4.3m must assess the suitability of a road prior to operating the vehicle on that road. The roads used must be continually monitored to ensure sufficient clearance for the vehicle exists.

3.       A Vehicle Carrier that is longer than 21.4m together with its load, or longer than 19m when unladen, may only use the routes approved for 25m B-doubles shown on the Multi-combination Routes in Queensland maps and the list of additional routes published specified in Appendix 1

Note: A Vehicle Carrier that is longer than 25m  and is a B-double, or truck and dog combination is provided access under and subject to the conditions stated in the  Queensland Class 2 And 3 Vehicle Carrier Heavy Vehicle Authorisation (Notice) and Dimension Exemption Notice. A road train  designed to carry vehicles on 2 or more partly or completely overlapping decks is authorised under the National Class 2 Road Train Authorisation Notice to the extent and on the conditions stated in that Notice.

 

Stated hours of stated days

 

4.       A Vehicle Carrier that is authorised to use the areas or routes specified in clause 1 or 2 may use the stated areas or routes at any time of the day.

 

5.       A Vehicle Carrier that is authorised to use the areas or routes specified in clause 3 must do so in accordance with any restrictions on the hours and days of operation specified in the relevant documents.

 

Conditions

 

6.       A Vehicle Carrier must comply with any conditions applicable to a route or area described in clause 3 specified in the relevant documents.

 

7.       A Vehicle Carrier other than a B-double that, with or without its load, is longer than 19m must have the lower deck of the trailer fully loaded before vehicles are placed on the upper deck.

 

8.       A Vehicle Carrier that, together with its load, is not longer than 21.4m, must be no longer than 19m when unladen.

 

Appendix 1

 

Routes approved for 25m B-doubles shown on the Multi-combination Routes in Queensland maps and the list of additional routes


SCHEDULE 3 - SOUTH AUSTRALIA

 

Stated areas or routes

  1. A Vehicle Carrier that is longer than 19.0m, but not longer than 21.4m and/or higher than 4.3m, may operate on all roads in South Australia provided it complies with conditions 9 to 14 specified below.
  2. A Vehicle Carrier that is longer than 19.0m, but not longer than 25.0m, and is not authorised to operate on all roads in South Australia, must only use routes set out in the 25.0m network as specified on the South Australian RAVnet Map System titled ’25.0m Vehicle Carrier Network (GML)’ set out in Appendix 1, and in accordance with any conditions and limitations specified on those maps.
  3. A Vehicle Carrier that is used in a B-double combination must only use a route approved in the National Class 2 B-Double Authorisation Notice (the B-double notice).

 

Stated hours of stated days

4.       Subject to clauses 5 and 6, a Vehicle Carrier may use the stated routes at any time of the day.

5.       A Vehicle Carrier that is authorised to use the routes specified in clause 2, must do so in accordance with any restrictions on the hours and days of operation specified in the relevant maps.

6.       A Vehicle Carrier that is authorised to use the routes in the B-double notice must do so in accordance with any restrictions on the hours and days of operation specified in the B-double notice.

Conditions

Conditions applicable to all Vehicle Carriers

7.       A Vehicle Carrier, as constructed, must not be higher than 4.3m.

8.       Vehicles must not be carried on an upper deck unless each deck below is fully loaded.

Conditions applicable to a Vehicle Carrier that is longer than 19.0m but not longer than 21.4m and/or higher than 4.3m, in relation to clause 1 above.

9.       The prime mover and/or hauling vehicle must be fitted with a single steer axle and a dual-drive tandem axle group and the semitrailer and/or trailer must be fitted with either a tandem axle group or a tri-axle group.

10.   The Vehicle Carrier combination, as constructed, must not be longer than 19.0m.

11.   A vehicle being carried, may project up to 1.2m forward of the front of the prime mover or hauling vehicle.

12.   A vehicle being carried, may project up to 1.2m behind the rear of the semitrailer and/or trailer.

13.   If the Vehicle Carrier is higher than 4.3m, before starting the journey, the driver or operator must—

a)      must comply with the specified route, area and structure restrictions published in the Consolidated Table of Limited Access Locations in South Australia published on the ‘Approved Areas or Routes’ section of the DPTI website; and

b)      may be required to consult and obtain consent from third party entities who manage utilities which may be impacted by over height vehicles.

 

Note: Some routes in the Adelaide Metropolitan Area have height restrictions less than 4.3m.

 

Contact details for SAPN, Telstra and Optus are available on the NHVR website.

 

Conditions applicable to a Vehicle Carrier that is longer than 19.0m but not longer than 25.0m and/or higher than 4.3m in relation to clause 2 above.

14.   The vehicle carrier combination must consist of a rigid motor vehicle fitted with a dual-drive tandem axle group, towing a trailer fitted with either a tandem axle group or a tri-axle group towards the rear of the trailer, and the coupling with the hauling unit is located behind the drive axle group.

15.   The vehicle carrier must not be assembled or disassembled on a route except under the following circumstances—

(a)    the vehicle has broken down; or

(b)    in order to proceed on a temporary by-pass around a road blockage.

16.   The vehicle carrier may only use roadside parking areas showing a ‘Rest Area’ sign or a ‘Truck Parking Area’ sign. Parking areas can only be used for rest purposes or vehicle checks but not for assembly or disassembly purposes except in accordance with the clause above.

17.   The vehicle carrier must not reverse into or out of a road or depot.

18.   For any vehicle that makes up the vehicle carrier operating in South Australia must either—

(a)    hold maintenance management accreditation for those vehicles; or

(b)    be subject to periodic inspection, in line with either requirements in the jurisdiction of registration or, where regular periodic inspection is not a requirement, in accordance with South Australia Heavy Vehicle inspection schedules.

Conditions applicable to a Vehicle Carrier used in a B-double combination

19.   In addition to complying with the requirements of this Schedule, a vehicle carrier that is used in a B-double combination must comply with the B-double notice.  

 

Appendix 1

 

RAVnet Map System titled ’25.0m Vehicle Carrier Network (GML)’

 

Note: Networks mentioned in this appendix are published by the South Australia Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, and are available on its website.


SCHEDULE 4 – TASMANIA
 

Stated areas or routes

 

  1. Subject to clause 2 and 3 of this Schedule, a Vehicle Carrier may use all roads in Tasmania.
  2. Subject to clause 3 of this Schedule, a Vehicle Carrier that is longer than 21.4m may only use the areas or routes that are detailed in the Tasmanian 26 metre B-double Network Map specified in Appendix 1.
  3. A Vehicle Carrier must not use—
    1. Tasman Bridge if the vehicle is higher than 4.3m; and
    2. Bridgewater Bridge, if the vehicle is higher than 4.3m.
    3. Any other road where there is insufficient height clearance for the combination to pass without striking or damaging any road infrastructure

Note- the driver of a Vehicle Carrier that is higher than 4.3m must assess the suitability of a road prior to operating the vehicle on that road using the maps specified in Appendix 1 to ensure sufficient clearance for the vehicle exists.

 

Stated hours of stated days

 

4.       Subject to clause 5, a Vehicle Carrier may use the stated areas or routes at any time of the day.

5.       A Vehicle Carrier that is authorised through clause 2 to use the areas or routes in the National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice must do so in accordance with any restrictions on the hours and days of operation specified in the National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice and in the B-double Network Map specified in Appendix 1.

 

Conditions

6.       A Vehicle Carrier, as constructed, must not be higher than 4.3m.

7.       A Vehicle Carrier that is authorised through clause 2 to use the areas or routes in the National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice  must comply with any conditions  about the operation of the vehicle specified in the National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice and in the B-double Network Map specified in Appendix 1

Appendix 1

Tasmanian 26 metre B-double Network Map

Height Clearance Under Overhead Structures Map

 

Note: The maps and networks mentioned in this appendix are published by the Tasmania Department of State Growth, and are available on its website.


SCHEDULE 5 – VICTORIA

 

Stated areas or routes

 

  1. Subject to clause 2 of this Schedule, a Vehicle Carrier may use all roads in Victoria.
  2. A Vehicle Carrier that is longer than 21.4m may only use areas or routes stated in the document ‘Victorian Class 2 B-Double Route Access Lists’ set out in Appendix 1 (the B-double notice).

 

Stated hours of stated days

 

3.       Subject to clause 4, a Vehicle Carrier may use the stated areas or routes at any time of the day.

 

4.       A Vehicle Carrier that is authorised to use the areas or routes in the B-double notice must do so in accordance with any restrictions on the hours and days of operation specified in the B-double notice.

 

Conditions

 

5.       A Vehicle Carrier that is authorised to use the areas or routes in the B-double notice must comply with any relevant conditions set out in the B-double notice.

 

6.       A Vehicle Carrier that, together with its load, is not longer than 21.4m, must be no longer than 19m when unladen.

 

 

 

Appendix 1

 

Victorian Class 2 B-Double Access Maps

 

Note: Networks mentioned in this appendix are published by the VicRoads, and are available on its website.

 

 

 

 

Overview

The National Class 2 4.6m High and/or 25m Long Vehicle Carrier Authorisation Notice 2019 (No.1) was introduced to address the need for authorisation of vehicle carriers that are 4.3 to 4.6 metres high or 19 to 25 metres long, or both, on public roads. This notice aims to specify the conditions and areas in which such vehicle carriers can operate. Enacted under section 138 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law, the notice provides authorisation for vehicle carriers within the stated dimensions, subject to compliance with specified conditions and restrictions. This instrument does not exempt vehicle carriers from other requirements of the Heavy Vehicle National Law, including mass and dimension requirements. The notice applies in all participating jurisdictions except the Australian Capital Territory and comes into effect on 10 February 2019, expiring on 9 February 2024. The conditions outlined in the schedules detail the permissible routes, hours, and additional requirements for operation in each participating state or territory.

Scope and Application

The National Class 2 4.6m High and/or 25m Long Vehicle Carrier Authorisation Notice 2019 (No.1) provides authorisation for the use of Vehicle Carriers within specified dimensions and sets out the conditions under which these vehicles may be used on public roads in participating jurisdictions. This notice applies to Vehicle Carriers designed and built to carry vehicles on more than one deck, provided they are no more than 4.6 metres high and 25 metres long, or both. The authorisation is made under section 138 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law, which mandates that operators of such vehicles require an authorisation from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator. This authorisation does not exempt the Vehicle Carrier from other requirements of the Heavy Vehicle National Law, including mass and dimension requirements. The notice applies to Vehicle Carriers in all participating jurisdictions except the Australian Capital Territory and details the specified areas or routes and the hours during which these vehicles may be used. Conditions for the use of Vehicle Carriers include compliance with state-specific requirements and restrictions on hours and days of operation, with certain provisions varying by jurisdiction as outlined in the schedules of the notice. The notice does not specify exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds beyond those stated in the schedules. Subordinate instruments or regulations may further extend or restrict the application of this notice, providing additional detail or specific conditions for Vehicle Carrier operation in the participating jurisdictions.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the National Class 2 4.6m High and/or 25m Long Vehicle Carrier Authorisation Notice 2019 (No. 1) (the Notice) include sections 2, 4, 8, 10, and the schedules (sections 2 and 3). Section 2 states that the notice is made under section 138 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) as in force in each state or territory. Section 4 specifies the commencement date of the notice, 10 February 2019, and section 5 states that the notice expires on 9 February 2024. Section 8 applies the notice to a Vehicle Carrier as specified in Schedules 1 to 5. Section 10 requires the driver and operator of the Vehicle Carrier to 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. The Notice imposes several obligations and requirements on the parties it governs. Firstly, the driver and operator of the Vehicle Carrier must comply with all conditions specified in the Schedule for the relevant participating jurisdiction (section 10). These conditions include restrictions on the areas or routes that the Vehicle Carrier can use, the hours and days it can be used, and any specific conditions related to the operation of the Vehicle Carrier in a particular jurisdiction (Schedules 1-5). Additionally, the Notice requires the Vehicle Carrier to comply with the conditions set out in the relevant schedules, which may include restrictions on the height and length of the Vehicle Carrier, as well as any other conditions specific to the jurisdiction in which it is being operated. There are potential offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach of the Notice. Under the HVNL, a person who contravenes a provision of the Notice may be liable for a civil penalty. The maximum penalty for a corporation is $500,000 and for an individual is $100,000 (section 214 of the HVNL). In addition to civil penalties, a person who contravenes a provision of the Notice may also be subject to criminal penalties under the HVNL. The maximum penalty for a corporation is $2,500,000 and for an individual is $500,000 (section 215 of the HVNL). Furthermore, a person who is convicted of an offence under the HVNL may also be subject to disqualification from holding a heavy vehicle operator licence (section 216 of the HVNL). It is important to note that these penalties and consequences apply in addition to any other penalties or consequences that may be applicable under other laws.

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