Heavy Vehicle National Law - New South Wales Class 1 4-Axle & 5-Axle All Terrain Mobile Crane Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1)

Administered by Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

Legislation au C2019G00631 In force Gazette

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HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

New South Wales Class 1 4-Axle & 5-Axle All Terrain Mobile Crane Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1)

  1. Purpose

The purpose of this Notice is to exempt stated Class 1 heavy vehicles from the prescribed mass requirements and prescribed dimension requirements specified in the Notice, subject to the conditions specified in the Notice and the accompanying Operator’s Guide.

 

2.             Authorising Provision

This Notice is made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).

 

3.             Title

This Notice may be cited as the NSW Class 1 4-Axle & 5-Axle All Terrain Mobile Crane Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019.

 

4.             Commencement

This Notice commences on the date of publication.

 

5.             Expiry

This Notice expires five years after commencement.

 

6.             Definitions

 

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

2)      A reference in this Notice to a heavy vehicle includes a reference to its load except where the context or subject otherwise indicates or requires.

3)      In this Notice:

 

All terrain mobile crane means a special purpose vehicle that has all of the following features and requirements:

(a)    is a mobile crane with either 4 axles or 5 axles; and

(b)    has two tyres per axle; and

(c)     has at least 50% of its axles steerable; and

(d)    is not a truck mounted special purpose vehicle; and

(e)    has on road and off road capability.

Axle spacing means the distance between the centre of an axle and the centre of another axle.

Ground contact width (GCW) means:

(a)    in relation to an axle, the distance between the outermost point of ground contact of the outside tyres on each end of the axle; or

(b)    in relation to an axle group, the greatest ground contact width of all the axles in the group.

HVNL means the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

MDL Regulation means the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation.

Mobile crane means a heavy motor vehicle that is:

(a)    equipped with a crane or other lifting device; and

(b)    designed primarily for raising, moving and lowering a freely suspended load.

Operator’s Guide means the New South Wales Class 1 4-axle and 5-axle All Terrain Mobile Crane Operator’s Guide published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, as amended from time to time.

SPV means a special purpose vehicle as defined in s116 of the HVNL.

7.             Application

 

1)      This Notice applies to a 4 or 5 axle all-terrain mobile crane operating in New South Wales.

 

2)      A 4 or 5 axle all-terrain mobile crane that complies with this Notice is an eligible vehicle.

 

8.             Exemption - Prescribed mass requirements

 

1)      An eligible vehicle is exempt from the following mass requirements of Schedule 1 to the MDL National Regulation

a)      section 2(1)(a)(iv) and 2(1)(b);

b)      section 4 and Table 1 (Axle mass limits table); and

c)       section 5(1) and Table 2 (Axle spacing mass limits general table).

 

9.             Exemption – Prescribed dimension requirements

 

1)      An eligible vehicle is exempt from the following dimension requirements of Schedule 6 of the MDL Regulation-

a)      section 3(1)(g) Length; and

b)      section 5(1)(c) – Rear overhang; and

c)       section 7(1) – Width; and

d)      section 8 - Height

 

 

10.         Conditions - Dimension requirements  (General)

 

1)      An eligible vehicle must not exceed any of the following dimension limits:

(a)    17.0m length; and

(b)    3.5m width; and

(c)     4.6m height; and

(d)    a projection in front of the centre of the steering wheel of 3.5m.

 

11.         Conditions – Dimensions (Rear Overhang)

 

1)      For an eligible vehicle the maximum rear overhang must comply with the dimension limits mentioned in Table 1.

 

Table 1 Rear overhang dimension requirements

Type of vehicle operating under this Notice

Relevant section of MDL Regulation Schedule 6

Relevant Dimension

Dimension

Limit

All eligible vehicles

Section 5(1)(c)

Distance from the centre of the last two axles to the rear of the eligible vehicle.

Lesser of 4.5m or 90% of the wheelbase

 

12.         Dimension requirements – axle spacing and ground contact width

 

1)      An eligible vehicle of a mass given in Column 1 operating under this Notice must meet the axle spacing, axle mass limits and ground contact width requirements for the corresponding network specified in Column 9 of Table 2.

 

2)      Network access specified in Column 9 is subject to Road Manager approval under s16.

 

Table 2 Axle Spacing for a 4 or 5 Axle All Terrain Mobile Crane

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Column 4

Column 5

Column 6

Column 7

Column 8

Column 9

Maximum mass of eligible vehicle (t)

Minimum axle spacing (mm)

Maximum mass limit per axle (t)

Minimum GCW (mm)

Approved SPV Network

Spacing between first and last axle

Axle 1 – 2

Axle 2 – 3

Axle 3 - 4

Axle 4 – 5

Four Axle Cranes

43.0

5200

1650

1900

1650

N/A

12.0

2450

SPV Level 3

45.8

5200

1650

1900

1650

N/A

12.0

2450

SPV Level 4

48.0

5200

1650

1900

1650

N/A

12.0

2450

SPV Level 4/12t per axle

Five Axle Cranes

50.0

6950

2200

1600

1550

1600

12.0

2650

SPV Level 4

50.0

6950

2200

1600

1550

1600

12.0

2450

SPV Level 4/12t per axle

60.0

6950

2200

1600

1550

1600

12.0

2650

SPV Level 6

 

 

13.         Conditions - General

 

(1)    The section width of each tyre on an eligible vehicle must be at least 406mm.

(2)    An eligible vehicle must be enrolled in the Intelligent Access Program (IAP) with Transport for New South Wales, under an approved IAP provider.

 

14.         Dis-application of Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation

 

(1)    The following provisions of Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation are dis-applied for eligible vehicles operating under this Notice:

a)      Section 7 – Travel restrictions at night

 

Note: the Operators Guide specifies requirements relating to night travel for particular routes or areas relating to travel at night.

 

15.         Condition - Additional requirements to Section17(2) of Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation

In addition to the requirements set out in Schedule 8, section 17(2) of the MDL Regulation, a pattern covering an area of at least 0.16m2 and consisting of diagonal stripes at least 150mm wide and alternatively coloured red and white, or black and white, must be marked on the left and right sides and extremity of any rigid projection extending more than 1.2m in front or to the rear of the body of an eligible vehicle.

16.         Stated maps and areas - Approved routes and travel conditions

 

(1)    An eligible vehicle operating under this Notice may operate on the networks specified in Table 3.

Table 3 Table of Networks

All Terrain Crane

Network

4 axle All Terrain Crane @ 43t

SPV Level 3

4 axle All Terrain Crane @ 45.8t

SPV Level 4

4 axle All Terrain Crane @ 48t

SPV Level 4/12t per axle

5 axle All Terrain Crane @ 50t

SPV Level 4

5 axle All Terrain Crane @ 50t

SPV Level 4/12t per axle

5 axle All Terrain Crane @ 60t

SPV Level 6


Note: the networks in this section are published and maintained by RMS and are available on its website. Links and further information are available in the Guide.

 

 

Peter Caprioli

Executive Director (Freight and Supply Chain Productivity)

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

Overview

The NSW Class 1 4-Axle & 5-Axle All Terrain Mobile Crane Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No. 1) was enacted to provide exemptions from certain mass and dimension requirements for specified Class 1 heavy vehicles operating in New South Wales. This exemption Notice aims to facilitate the operation of all-terrain mobile cranes, which are special purpose vehicles with specific characteristics, by relieving them from certain regulatory burdens while maintaining safety standards. The Notice is made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) and commences on the date of publication, expiring five years later. It applies to 4 or 5 axle all-terrain mobile cranes operating within New South Wales and allows these vehicles to operate under specific conditions outlined in the accompanying Operator’s Guide, including enrolment in the Intelligent Access Program and compliance with visibility and dimension requirements. The exemptions provided by this Notice are designed to support operational efficiency while ensuring road safety and infrastructure protection.

Scope and Application

The NSW Class 1 4-Axle & 5-Axle All Terrain Mobile Crane Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 applies to 4 or 5 axle all-terrain mobile cranes operating within New South Wales. The vehicles must comply with the conditions outlined in the Notice and the accompanying Operator’s Guide to be considered eligible vehicles. These eligible vehicles are exempt from certain prescribed mass and dimension requirements under the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation, but they must still adhere to specific dimension limits and conditions, such as maximum lengths, widths, heights, and rear overhang dimensions. Additionally, eligible vehicles must meet axle spacing, ground contact width requirements, and must be enrolled in the Intelligent Access Program with Transport for New South Wales. Some provisions of the MDL Regulation are dis-applied, such as night travel restrictions, but additional marking requirements apply for rigid projections on the vehicle. Eligible vehicles are permitted to operate on specified networks, subject to Road Manager approval under the HVNL. The Notice commences on the date of publication and expires five years later, unless otherwise specified in subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of this Notice (sections 7 to 16) detail the specific exemptions and conditions for certain Class 1 heavy vehicles, namely 4 and 5 axle all-terrain mobile cranes, operating in New South Wales. These sections specify the mass and dimension requirements that eligible vehicles are exempt from (sections 8 and 9), the dimension limits that must be adhered to (sections 10 and 11), the axle spacing and ground contact width requirements (section 12), general conditions (section 13), and the dis-application of certain travel restrictions (section 14). Additionally, section 15 imposes additional marking requirements for rigid projections on eligible vehicles. Section 16 lists the approved networks and routes where these vehicles can operate, subject to certain conditions. The Notice imposes several obligations on parties and entities it governs. Operators of eligible vehicles must ensure that their vehicles meet the specified mass and dimension limits and comply with the conditions outlined in sections 10 to 13. This includes enrolling in the Intelligent Access Program (IAP) with Transport for New South Wales and ensuring that any rigid projections on the vehicle are marked with a specific pattern as detailed in section 15. Additionally, operators must adhere to the travel restrictions and approved routes outlined in section 16. Breach of the conditions outlined in this Notice may result in civil or criminal consequences. The primary means of enforcement would be through the Heavy Vehicle National Law, which provides for a range of penalties for non-compliance with mass and dimension regulations. These penalties can include fines and, in more severe cases, prosecution leading to imprisonment. The exact penalties are not specified within this Notice but are detailed under the Heavy Vehicle National Law and its accompanying regulations. Non-compliance with the marking requirements specified in section 15 may also result in penalties, although the specific penalties are not detailed in this Notice.

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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.