Heavy Vehicle National Law - National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice 2020

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Legislation au C2020G00609 In force Gazette

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HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice 2020 (No.1)

1         Purpose

 

(1)    The purpose of this Notice is to authorise access for class 2 heavy vehicles that are B-doubles.

 

(2)    This Notice revokes and replaces the National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice 2019.

 

Note: The National Class 2 B-double Operator’s Guide (Operator’s Guide) provides supplementary information for operation under this Notice. The Operator’s Guide is maintained and published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).

 

 This edition of the Notice removes maintenance management requirements from the South Australian Schedule. No other conditions are affected.

 

2         Authorising Provision

 

This Notice is made under section 138 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).

 

3         Title

 

This Notice may be cited as the National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice 2020.

 

4         Commencement

 

This Notice commences on 1 August 2020.

 

5         Expiry

 

This Notice expires on 31 January 2024.

 

6         Definitions

 

(1)    Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this Notice have the same meanings as those defined in the HVNL.

 

(2)    In this Notice:

 

Eligible vehicle means a class 2 B-double.

 

General access means access to all roads, subject to the operation of the road rules of the relevant participating jurisdiction.

Participating jurisdiction means the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania or Victoria.

Operator’s Guide means the National Class 2 B-double Operator’s Guide published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.

 

7         Application

 

(1)    This Notice applies in each participating jurisdiction according to;

 

(a)    the provisions of this Notice; and

(b)    the provisions in the Schedule for a given participating jurisdiction.

 

8         Conditions – General access

 

(1)    An eligible vehicle on which all axle groups meet the mass limits specified in Table 1 has general access subject to any further conditions in the relevant Schedule for each participating jurisdiction.

 

Table 1: General access axle spacing mass limits (up to 50 tonnes)

 

Length of axle spacing

(metres)

Mass limit

(tonnes)

Length of axle spacing

(metres)

Mass limit

(tonnes)

At least

Less than

 

At least

Less than

 

3.5

3.7

23.0

8.2

8.3

37.0

3.7

3.8

23.5

8.3

8.5

37.5

3.8

4.0

24.0

8.5

8.7

38.0

4.0

4.2

24.5

8.7

8.8

38.5

4.2

4.3

25.0

8.8

9.0

39.0

4.3

4.5

25.5

9.0

9.2

39.5

4.5

4.7

26.0

9.2

9.3

40.0

4.7

4.8

26.5

9.3

9.5

40.5

4.8

5.0

27.0

9.5

9.7

41.0

5.0

5.2

27.5

9.7

9.8

41.5

5.2

5.3

28.0

9.8

10.0

42.0

5.3

5.5

28.5

10.0

10.5

42.5

5.5

5.7

29.0

10.5

11.0

43.0

5.7

5.8

29.5

11.0

11.5

43.5

5.8

6.0

30.0

11.5

12.0

44.0

6.0

6.2

30.5

12.0

12.5

44.5

6.2

6.3

31.0

12.5

13.0

45.0

6.3

6.5

31.5

13.0

13.5

45.5

6.5

6.7

32.0

13.5

14.0

46.0

6.7

6.8

32.5

14.0

14.5

46.5

6.8

7.0

33.0

14.5

15.0

47.0

7.0

7.2

33.5

15.0

15.5

47.5

7.2

7.3

34.0

15.5

16.0

48.0

7.3

7.5

34.5

16.0

16.5

48.5

7.5

7.7

35.0

16.5

17.0

49.0

7.7

7.8

35.5

17.0

17.5

49.5

7.8

8.0

36.0

17.5

 

50.0

8.0

8.2

36.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

(2)    If the eligible vehicle is a complying steer axle vehicle, 0.5 tonnes may be added to the mass limit prescribed in Table 1 if the steer axle is part of the axle group being considered.

Note: Complying steer axle vehicle is defined in section 3 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation.

(3)    An eligible vehicle operating under this section and that complies with the conditions of Schedule 2 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation may apply Concessional Mass Limits (CML) to the mass limits prescribed in Table 1.

 

9         Conditions – Restricted access

 

(1)    An eligible vehicle that does not comply with the requirements in section 8 may access the stated routes and areas routes set out in the relevant Schedule for each participating jurisdiction.

 

10     Conditions – Stated hours of stated days

 

(1)    An eligible vehicle may use areas or routes at any time unless specified otherwise as a travel condition on the stated map or stated list.

 

11     Conditions – Tri-drive prime mover restriction

 

(1)    Access for tri-drive prime movers is not authorised under this Notice.

 

(2)    In this section, tri-drive prime mover means a prime mover with a drive axle group consisting of three axles, all of which are in contact with the road.

 

Peter Caprioli

Executive Director (Freight and Supply Chain Productivity)

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator


Schedule 1 Australian Capital Territory

1         Application

 

(1)    This Schedule applies to eligible vehicles operating under this Notice in the Australian Capital Territory.

 

(2)    This Schedule applies to eligible vehicles operating in the Australian Capital Territory even if part of the journey includes routes and areas in another state or territory.

 

2         Stated areas and routes – General access

 

An eligible vehicle up to 19 metres in length that complies with the requirements in section 8 of the Notice has general access.

3         Stated areas and routes – Restricted access

 

(1)    An eligible vehicle that does not qualify for general access under section 2 of this Schedule may access the following network:

 

(a)    eligible vehicles that are not longer than 26 metres in length:

 

Australian Capital Territory B-double Network

 

(2)    An eligible vehicle accessing a network set out in subsection (1) must comply with the road and travel conditions set out in that network.

 

Note: Links and descriptions of these routes may be found in the Operator’s Guide.

4         Stated areas and routes – Specified Road Manager Network Requirements
 

Regardless of the access granted in (2) and (3), an eligible vehicle operating under this Notice must also comply with restrictions set out in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements, published in the Operator’s Guide.

 

Note: the restrictions in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements generally provide restrictions on access in particular Road Manager areas.


Schedule 2 New South Wales

1         Application

 

(1)    This Schedule applies to eligible vehicles operating under this Notice in New South Wales.

 

(2)    This Schedule applies to eligible vehicles operating in New South Wales even if part of the journey includes routes and areas in another state or territory.

 

2         Stated areas and routes – General access

 

An eligible vehicle up to 19 metres in length that complies with the requirements in section 8 of the Notice has general access.

3         Stated areas or routes – Restricted access

 

(1)    An eligible vehicle that does not qualify for general access under section 2 of this Schedule may access the following networks:

 

(a)    eligible vehicles up to 19 metres in length and over 50 tonnes:

 

New South Wales 19 metre B-double (over 50.0 tonnes) Network

 

(b)    eligible vehicles that are not longer than 23 metres in length:

 

New South Wales 23 metre B-double Network

 

(c)     eligible vehicles that are not longer than 26 metres in length:

 

New South Wales 26 metre B-double Network

 

(2)    An eligible vehicle accessing a network set out in subsection (1) must comply with the road and travel conditions set out in that network.

 

Note: Links and descriptions of these routes may be found in the Operator’s Guide.

4         Stated areas and routes – Specified Road Manager Network Requirements
 

Regardless of the access granted in (2) and (3), an eligible vehicle operating under this Notice must also comply with restrictions set out in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements, published in the Operator’s Guide.

 

Note: the restrictions in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements generally provide restrictions on access in particular Road Manager areas.


Schedule 3 Queensland

1         Application

 

(1)    This Schedule applies to eligible vehicles operating under this Notice in Queensland.

 

(2)    This Schedule applies to eligible vehicles operating in Queensland even if part of the journey includes routes and areas in another state or territory.

 

2         Stated areas and routes – General access

 

An eligible vehicle up to 19 metres in length that complies with the requirements in section 8 of the Notice has general access.

3         Stated areas or routes – Restricted access

 

(1)    An eligible vehicle that does not qualify for general access under section 2 of this Schedule may access the following networks:

 

(a)    eligible vehicles that are not longer than 23 metres in length:

 

Queensland 23 metre B-double Network

 

(b)    eligible vehicles that are not longer than 26 metres in length:

 

Queensland 25/26 metre B-double Network

 

(2)    An eligible vehicle accessing a network set out in subsection (1) must comply with the road and travel conditions set out in that network.

 

Note: Links and descriptions of these routes may be found in the Operator’s Guide.

5         Stated areas and routes – Specified Road Manager Network Requirements
 

Regardless of the access granted in (2) and (3), an eligible vehicle operating under this Notice must also comply with restrictions set out in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements, published in the Operator’s Guide.

 

Note: the restrictions in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements generally provide restrictions on access in particular Road Manager areas.

6         Conditions – Quad axle group restriction

 

An eligible road train operating under this Schedule may not have a quad axle group on any its components when operating on a State controlled road.


Schedule 4 South Australia

1         Application

 

(1)    This Schedule applies to eligible vehicles operating under this Notice in South Australia.

 

(2)    This Schedule applies to eligible vehicles operating in South Australia even if part of the journey includes routes and areas in another state or territory.

 

2         Stated areas and routes – General access

 

An eligible vehicle up to 19 metres in length that complies with the requirements in section 8 of the Notice has general access.

3         Stated areas or routes – Restricted access

 

(1)    An eligible vehicle that does not qualify for general access under section 2 of this Schedule may access the following networks:

 

(a)    eligible vehicles that are not longer than 23 metres in length:

 

South Australia 23 metre B-double Network

 

(b)    eligible vehicles that are not longer than 26 metres in length:

 

South Australia 26 metre B-double Network

 

(c)     eligible vehicles that are transporting commodities and are not more than 26 metres in length:

 

South Australia 26 metre B-double Commodity Routes Network

 

(2)    An eligible vehicle accessing a network set out in subsection (1) must comply with the road and travel conditions set out in that network.

 

Note: Links and descriptions of these routes may be found in the Operator’s Guide.

4         Stated areas and routes – Specified Road Manager Network Requirements
 

Regardless of the access granted in (2) and (3), an eligible vehicle operating under this Notice must also comply with restrictions set out in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements, published in the Operator’s Guide.

 

Note: the restrictions in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements generally provide restrictions on access in particular Road Manager areas.

 


Schedule 5 Tasmania

1         Application

 

(1)    This Schedule applies to eligible vehicles operating under this Notice in Tasmania.

 

(2)    This Schedule applies to eligible vehicles operating in Tasmania even if part of the journey includes routes and areas in another state or territory.

 

2         Stated areas and routes – General Access

 

(1)    An eligible vehicle up to 21 metres in length which meets the mass limits in section 8 of the Notice has general access.

(2)    An eligible vehicle up to 21.3 metres in length fitted with a rear load restraining guard  that complies with the Forestry Safety Code (Tasmania) 2007 and meets the mass limits in section 8 of the Notice has general access.

 

3         Stated areas or routes – Restricted Access

 

(1)    An eligible vehicle that does not qualify for general access under section 2 of this Schedule may access the following networks:

(a)    eligible vehicles that are not longer than 23 metres in length:

 

Tasmanian 23 metre B-double Network

 

(b)    eligible vehicles that are not longer than 26 metres in length:

 

Tasmanian 26 metre B-double Network

 

(2)    An eligible vehicle accessing a network set out in subsection (1) must comply with the road and travel conditions set out in that network.

Note: Links and descriptions of these routes may be found in the Operator’s Guide.

7         Stated areas and routes – Specified Road Manager Network Requirements
 

Regardless of the access granted in (2) and (3), an eligible vehicle operating under this Notice must also comply with restrictions set out in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements, published in the Operator’s Guide.

 

Note: the restrictions in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements generally provide restrictions on access in particular Road Manager areas.


Schedule 6 Victoria

1         Application

 

(1)    This Schedule applies to eligible vehicles operating under this Notice in Victoria.

 

(2)    This Schedule applies to eligible vehicles operating in Victoria even if part of the journey includes routes and areas in another state or territory.

 

2         Stated areas and routes – General access

 

An eligible vehicle up to 19 metres in length that complies with the requirements in section 8 of the Notice has general access.

3         Stated areas or routes – Restricted access

 

(1)    An eligible vehicle that does not comply with subsection (1) may access the following network:

 

(a)    eligible vehicles that are not longer than 26 metres in length:

 

Victoria B-double Network

 

(2)    An eligible vehicle accessing a network set out in subsection (1) must comply with the road and travel conditions set out in that network.

 

Note: Links and descriptions of these routes may be found in the Operator’s Guide.

8         Stated areas and routes – Specified Road Manager Network Requirements
 

Regardless of the access granted in (2) and (3), an eligible vehicle operating under this Notice must also comply with restrictions set out in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements, published in the Operator’s Guide.

 

Note: the restrictions in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements generally provide restrictions on access in particular Road Manager areas.

 

Overview

The National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice 2020 (No.1), enacted under section 138 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), was introduced to regulate the operation of class 2 B-double heavy vehicles on Australian roads. This Notice revokes and replaces the National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice 2019 and sets out the conditions for the authorisation of such vehicles across participating jurisdictions including the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria. The primary objective of this Notice is to ensure that B-double vehicles meet specified mass limits and comply with road and travel conditions while operating on designated routes within these jurisdictions. The Notice is effective from 1 August 2020 and will expire on 31 January 2024.

Scope and Application

The National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice 2020, made under section 138 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law, applies to class 2 B-double vehicles seeking to operate across the participating jurisdictions: the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria. The Notice provides for the authorisation of these heavy vehicles, replacing the 2019 version and revoking it, while also incorporating supplementary information from the National Class 2 B-double Operator’s Guide published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator. Each participating jurisdiction applies the Notice according to its specific provisions and those detailed in the accompanying Schedules. General access is granted to eligible vehicles meeting the specified mass limits and conditions, with certain vehicles allowed additional mass limits if they comply with certain criteria. Vehicles not meeting general access criteria may still access restricted routes and areas, subject to specific conditions and restrictions outlined in the respective Schedules for each jurisdiction. Notably, tri-drive prime movers are not authorised under this Notice. The Notice’s scope and specific conditions are further detailed in the Schedules, which outline the permissible routes, additional requirements, and restrictions for each jurisdiction.

Key Provisions

The National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice 2020 (No.1) aims to regulate the authorisation of class 2 B-double heavy vehicles across specified participating jurisdictions in Australia. The primary operative sections of this Notice include the authorisation provision (section 2), the definitions (section 6), and the conditions for general and restricted access (sections 8 to 11). Section 2 states that this Notice is made under section 138 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), and it authorises eligible vehicles to access roads within the participating jurisdictions. The Notice revokes and replaces the 2019 version and incorporates supplementary information from the National Class 2 B-double Operator’s Guide, published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR). The Notice imposes several obligations and requirements on the parties it governs. Eligible vehicles must comply with the mass limits specified in Table 1 of section 8 to gain general access. If the vehicle is a complying steer axle vehicle, an additional 0.5 tonnes may be added to the mass limit. Vehicles must also comply with the conditions set out in Schedule 2 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation to apply Concessional Mass Limits (CML). Additionally, vehicles must adhere to the road and travel conditions specified in the relevant Schedules for each jurisdiction, and comply with the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements published in the Operator’s Guide. The Notice outlines various consequences for non-compliance. Although specific penalties are not detailed in the Notice itself, breaches of the Heavy Vehicle National Law or related regulations typically incur civil penalties, including fines. The severity of the penalty depends on the nature and seriousness of the breach, with maximum penalties varying according to the specific provision violated. For instance, offences under the Heavy Vehicle National Law can result in fines up to several thousand Australian dollars, with more severe penalties applicable for repeated or particularly egregious violations. Additionally, persistent non-compliance may lead to the suspension or revocation of the vehicle operator's licence, thereby restricting their ability to operate heavy vehicles.

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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.