Heavy Vehicle National Law - Queensland Class 1 & Class 3 Agricultural Machines and Cane Bins Flotation Tyres Mass Exemption Notice 2016 (No. 1)

Overview

The Heavy Vehicle National Law Queensland Class 1 & Class 3 Agricultural Machines and Cane Bins Flotation Tyres Mass Exemption Notice 2016 (No. 1) was enacted to address the specific operational needs of agricultural machines and cane bin trailers fitted with flotation tyres in Queensland. This notice, issued by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, aims to facilitate the efficient movement of these heavy vehicles on public roads under certain conditions and parameters while ensuring safety and compliance with mass and operational standards. The notice was made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law and commenced on 1 July 2016, expiring on 30 June 2017. It allows eligible vehicles to operate with certain exemptions from mass limits, provided they adhere to specified mass constraints and operational requirements, including limitations on tyre loads and the necessity of certain safety features for vehicles exceeding specified mass and speed capabilities.

Scope and Application

The Queensland Agricultural Machines and Cane Bins Flotation Tyres Mass Exemption Notice 2016 (No. 1) applies to eligible agricultural machines and cane bin trailers in Queensland, providing them with exemptions from certain mass limits as outlined in the Heavy Vehicle National (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation. Specifically, this notice is applicable to vehicles used for agricultural purposes within the state. It exempts these vehicles from certain mass restrictions provided they adhere to the specified conditions, such as not exceeding 11 tonnes for a single axle group, 20 tonnes for a tandem axle group, or 28 tonnes for a triaxle group, and ensuring that the manufacturer's gross trailer mass is not exceeded. Additionally, vehicles with a gross trailer mass of 20 tonnes or greater, or a speed capability over 50 kph, must be equipped with dampened load-sharing suspension and air brakes. The notice also mandates compliance with tyre load and pressure limits, and requires that a copy of the notice be carried in the vehicle at all times. This exemption notice is in effect from 1 July 2016 until 30 June 2017 and is made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

Key Provisions

The Heavy Vehicle National Law Queensland Class 1 & Class 3 Agricultural Machines and Cane Bins Flotation Tyres Mass Exemption Notice 2016 (No. 1) provides a framework for the use of specific vehicles on roads within Queensland, with particular attention to agricultural machines and cane bin trailers equipped with flotation tyres. This Notice allows these vehicles to operate under certain conditions and parameters, exempting them from some mass and loading limits typically imposed by the Heavy Vehicle National (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (section 8). To qualify for this exemption, vehicles must adhere to the conditions specified in section 9 of the Notice. These conditions include maintaining mass limits for various axle groups (section 9.1), not exceeding the manufacturer's specified gross trailer mass (section 9.2), and ensuring that vehicles with certain mass and speed capabilities are fitted with dampened load sharing suspension and air brakes (section 9.3). The Notice imposes several obligations on the entities it governs. Firstly, vehicles must comply with the mass limits specified in section 9.1, which include a maximum of 11 tonnes for a single axle group, 20 tonnes for a tandem axle group, and 28 tonnes for a triaxle group. Secondly, vehicles must not exceed the manufacturer's specified gross trailer mass, as outlined in section 9.2. Thirdly, vehicles with axle groups weighing 20 tonnes or more or capable of speeds greater than 50 kph must be equipped with dampened load sharing suspension and air brakes, as stipulated in section 9.3. Additionally, vehicles must comply with the tyre load and pressure limits specified in section 4 or Appendix 1 of the Notice. Finally, a copy of this Notice must be carried in any vehicle operating under its provisions (section 5). Breach of the conditions set out in this Notice can result in both civil and criminal consequences. The Notice does not specify the exact penalties for breaches, but under the Heavy Vehicle National Law, breaches can result in penalties such as fines and, in severe cases, criminal charges. The penalties may vary depending on the severity and frequency of the breach, but they can include substantial fines for both individuals and corporations. It is important for operators to adhere strictly to the conditions of this Notice to avoid these potential consequences.