Heavy Vehicle National Law - New South Wales Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1)

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HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

New South Wales Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1)

1         Purpose

(1)    The purpose of this Notice is to exempt vehicles to which this Notice applies from the mass and dimension requirements prescribed in Schedule 1 and Schedule 6 to the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (the Regulation), subject to the conditions set out in the this Notice and the accompanying Operator’s Guide.

Note: This notice replaces the Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle Notice 2014 (NSW) previously published by the New South Wales Roads and Maritime Services.

 Vehicles operating under this notice must now comply with relevant conditions from Schedule 8 of the Regulation, rather than the operating conditions that applied under the previous Notice.

2         Authorising Provision

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

3         Title

(1)    This Notice may be cited as the New South Wales Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle Exemption Notice 2019.

4         Commencement

(1)    This Notice commences on 7 February 2019.

5         Expiry

(1)    This Notice expires on 6 February 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:-

 

Operators Guide means the New South Wales Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle Operator’s Guide.

 


7         Application

(1)    This Notice applies to a heavy vehicle or heavy combination, and;

(a)    is designed for the transportation of a large indivisible item, or is carrying a large indivisible item; and

(b)    together with any load exceeds a dimension or a mass limit as prescribed in Schedule 1 or Schedule 6 of the Regulation .

 

(2)    To be clear, this Notice does not apply to:

(a)    a special purpose vehicle.

(b)    agricultural machines, agricultural implements or agricultural combinations.

(c)     a vehicle or combination:

  1. that is a road train or B-double, or
  2. that is carrying a loaded or empty freight container designed for multi-modal transport.

 

(3)    A vehicle to which this Notice applies under this section is an eligible vehicle.

8         Exemption – Dimension

(1)    This Notice exempts an eligible vehicle from the following dimension requirements specified in Schedule 6 of the Regulation:

 

(a)    section 3(1)(a) – Length- general; and

(b)    section 4(2) – Length – trailers; and

(c)     section 5(1)(a) and (b) – Length – rear overhang; and

(d)    section 7(1) – Width; and

(e)    section 8(d) – Height; and

(f)     sections 13(a)(ii) and 13(b)(ii) – Front and side projection of load

 

Note: Sections 13(a)(ii) and 13(b)(ii) only refer to the side projection load (for a truck, and a combination, respectively).

 

9         Exemption - Mass

(1)    This Notice exempts an eligible vehicle from the following mass  requirements specified in Schedule 1 of the Regulation:

(a)            section 2(1)(a)(iv) and (v) – Mass  limits for a single vehicle or combination; and

(b)            Section 4 as it relates to the mass limits specified in, Table 1 (Axle mass limits table) of Part 2, for the following axle groups –

(ii)    A tandem axle group fitted with dual tyres on all axles (16.5t);and

(iii)   a tri-axle group fitted with dual tyres on all axles (20.0t);

(iv)   a quad axle group fitted with dual tyres on all axles (20.0t);and

(c)            section 5(1) – Mass limits relating to axle spacing generally.


10     Conditions - Stated routes and areas

(1)    An eligible vehicle operating under this Notice may operate on routes and in accordance with any conditions specified in the following document:

“New South Wales Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle Operator’s Guide

Note: This document is maintained by RMS and may be found on the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator website.

11     Conditions – Conditional Masses (Axles and Axle Groups)

(1)    Notwithstanding the mass limits set out in this Part;

(a)          the total mass of a vehicle and any load must not exceed the vehicle’s GVM; and

(b)the axle load must not exceed the limit set by its manufacturer.

(2)    The mass on a single axle or axle group described in Table 1 must not exceed the mass limit specified opposite its description in the Table if it is a combination consisting of a tandem drive prime mover towing:

(a) a low loader, or

(b) a low loader dolly and a low loader, or

(c) a jinker, or

(d) a low loader dolly and a jinker

Table 1:  Single axle and axle group masses

Single axle or axle group

Mass limit (tonnes)

Steer axle with 2 tyres

6.0

Twinsteer axle group without a load-sharing suspension system

10.0

Twinsteer axle group with a load-sharing suspension system

11.0

Single axle with 8 tyres

12.0

Tandem axle group with 8 or more tyres, not on a trailer

18.5

Tandem axle group with 8 or more tyres, on a trailer

18.5

Tandem axle group with 16 or more tyres, on a trailer

21.0

Tri-axle group with 12 or more tyres

25.0

Oversize tri-axle group with 12 or more tyres or quad axle group with 16 or more tyres

27.0

 

(3)    When laden, if a low loader dolly is included in the combination the drive axle group must be at least 14 tonne.

(4)    The sum of the mass on each of the combination’s single axles and axle groups must not exceed the sum of the mass limits specified for each of them in Table 1.

(5)    In addition, the total mass of the combination and any load must not exceed:

(a)            49.5 tonnes if the distance between the centre-line of the rearmost axle of the towing vehicle and the centre-line of the foremost axle of the combination’s rear axle group is 6 m or more, or

(b)            49.5 tonnes decreased by 1 tonne for every 0.3m by which the distance referred to in paragraph (a) is less than 6 m.

(6)    The mass on an axle group or single axle must not exceed the relevant limit set by Schedule 1 to the Regulation if it is:

(a)            not described in Table 1; or

(b)            on a load-carrying vehicle or combination except one described in clause (2) above.

12     Conditions – Conditional Masses (Tyre Widths)

(1)    In order to travel at the mass limits identified in Table 2, the applicable tyre width limits in Table 2 and Table 3 must be met.

(2)    Notwithstanding axle mass limits set out in Table 2 and Table 3, the steer axle mass must not exceed the steer axle mass set out in Table 1.

(3)    The mass on an axle fitted with tyres of a number and width described in Table 2 must not exceed the mass limit specified in the Table for that axle in relation to the narrowest tyre on the axle.

Table 2: Conditional mass limits for tyre width on an axle

Tyre width of the narrowest tyre on the axle (mm)

Mass limit if the axle has 2 tyres (tonnes)

Mass limit if the axle has 4 tyres (tonnes)

at least

but less than

190

228

4.5

9.0

228

254

5.0

9.5

254

279

6.0

10.0

279

305

6.5

11.0

305

330

7.0

12.0

330

356

7.5

13.0

356

381

8.0

14.0

381

406

9.0

14.0

406

458

10.0

14.0

458

508

11.0

14.0

508

 

12.0

14.0

 

(4)    The mass on an axle group fitted with tyres of a number and width described in Table 3 must not exceed the mass limit specified in the Table for that axle group in relation to the narrowest tyre in the group.


Table 3: Conditional mass limits for tyre width in a group

Tyre width of the narrowest tyre in the group (mm)

Mass limit for a tandem axle group that has 4 tyres (tonnes)

Mass limit for a tri-axle group that has 6 tyres (tonnes)

at least

but less than

381

406

16.5

22.0

406

431

17.0

23.0

431

458

17.5

24.0

458

482

18.0

25.0

482

508

18.5

26.0

508

 

19.0

27.0

 

13     Conditions – Conditional Dimensions

(1)    Subject to network conditions set out in the Operator’s Guide, an eligible vehicle operating under this Notice must not exceed the dimension limits specified in Table 4 of this Notice.

(2)    The centre lines of adjacent axles in an axle group on an overmass vehicle or combination must be at least 1.2 m apart.

Table 4: Maximum dimension limits

Vehicle

Height

Width

Length

Rear Overhang Limit

Loaded rigid motor vehicle

4.6m

3.5m

12.5m

Lesser of 3.7m or 60% of wheel base

Loaded combination consisting of a prime mover and a semi-trailer

4.6m

3.5m

25.0m

Lesser of 5.5m or 25% of vehicle combination length

Loaded rigid vehicle and trailer combination

4.6m

3.5m

19.0m

Lesser of 3.7m or 60% of wheel base

Unloaded articulated low loader

4.6m

2.5m

25.0m

Lesser of 3.7m or 60% of wheel base

Unloaded articulated low loader with 8 tyres per axle

4.6m

2.7m

25.0m

Lesser of 3.7m or 60% of wheel base

 

Note:  If a load can be safely loaded in more than one way, it must be loaded in a way that minimises the width of the vehicle or combination and its load.

 

(3)    An unladen low loader, low loader dolly or jinker, with 4 tyres on each axle, must not be wider than 2.5 m.

(4)    An unladen low loader, low loader dolly or jinker, with 8 tyres on each axle, must not be wider than 2.7 m.

 

14     Exemption – Vehicle Standards

1)      A heavy vehicle operating under this Notice that is subject to the dimension exemption in s8 above, is exempt from s34(1) of Schedule 2 of the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation, to the same extent as the exemption from the dimension requirement.

15     Disapplication of Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation

(5)    The following provisions of Schedule 8 of the MDL regulation are dis-applied for eligible vehicles operation under this Notice:

a)      Section 7 – Travel restrictions at night

 

Note: the Guideline may specify requirements relating to night time travel for particular routes or areas relating to travel at night.

 

 

Peter Caprioli

Executive Director (Access Management)

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

 

 

 

Overview

The New South Wales Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1) was enacted to provide an exemption from certain mass and dimension requirements for vehicles designed for the transportation of large indivisible items, while ensuring safety and compliance with other regulatory conditions. This Notice, which came into effect on 7 February 2019 and is set to expire on 6 February 2024, was made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator. It aims to streamline operations for eligible vehicles by exempting them from specific dimensional and mass limits outlined in Schedule 1 and Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation, provided they adhere to the conditions detailed in the accompanying New South Wales Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle Operator’s Guide and the relevant sections of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation. This Notice applies to heavy vehicles designed for transporting large indivisible items, provided these vehicles exceed prescribed mass or dimension limits, but it excludes special purpose vehicles, agricultural machines, and certain other combinations. It exempts eligible vehicles from certain dimensional and mass requirements while imposing conditions regarding mass limits for axles and axle groups, tyre widths, and dimensional limits. Furthermore, it exempts these vehicles from specific vehicle standards and disapplies certain travel restrictions under Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation, subject to conditions outlined in the Operator’s Guide.

Scope and Application

The New South Wales Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1) applies to heavy vehicles and combinations designed for transporting large indivisible items, provided they exceed certain mass or dimension limits specified in the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation. This Notice exempts such vehicles from specific mass and dimension requirements under Schedule 1 and Schedule 6 of the Regulation, respectively, while imposing certain conditions to ensure safety and compliance. Notably, the Notice does not apply to special purpose vehicles, agricultural machines or implements, and vehicles that are road trains, B-doubles, or carrying loaded or empty freight containers designed for multi-modal transport. The exemption and accompanying conditions are intended to facilitate the transport of oversized or overweight loads within New South Wales while maintaining safety standards. The Notice is made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law and commenced on 7 February 2019, expiring on 6 February 2024. The exemption conditions include compliance with specified mass and dimension limits, as well as adherence to the New South Wales Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle Operator’s Guide, which outlines permissible routes and areas of operation.

Key Provisions

The New South Wales Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle Exemption Notice 2019 (No. 1) primarily exempts certain heavy vehicles from the mass and dimension requirements outlined in Schedule 1 and Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (the Regulation) (sections 8 and 9). This exemption applies to eligible vehicles designed for the transportation of large indivisible items, or those carrying such items, provided that their mass or dimensions exceed the prescribed limits (section 7). However, it excludes special purpose vehicles, agricultural machines, agricultural implements, agricultural combinations, road trains, B-doubles, and vehicles carrying loaded or empty freight containers (section 7(2)). Under this Notice, eligible vehicles must adhere to specific conditions to qualify for the exemption. They must operate on routes and in accordance with the conditions specified in the New South Wales Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle Operator’s Guide, maintained by the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) (section 10). Additionally, the vehicles must comply with conditional mass limits, which include restrictions on the total mass, axle loads, and mass on single axles or axle groups as outlined in Table 1 (section 11). There are also conditions regarding the mass limits for tyre widths, which must adhere to the specifications in Tables 2 and 3 (section 12). Furthermore, the vehicles must comply with conditional dimension limits, as specified in Table 4, and must not exceed certain height, width, length, and rear overhang limits (section 13). Failure to comply with the conditions of this Notice can result in legal consequences. While specific offences and penalties are not detailed within this Notice, general provisions under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) suggest that breaches may lead to fines and other penalties. The exact penalties would depend on the severity of the breach and any applicable regulations or guidelines. For instance, operating a vehicle in a manner that contravenes the HVNL could attract fines up to the maximum prescribed by the law, and in severe cases, could lead to the suspension or cancellation of the vehicle's operating authority.

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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.