Heavy Vehicle National Law - Queensland Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Truck Towing One Trailer Exceeding 19m Up To 31.5m Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1)

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Legislation au C2019G00070 In force Gazette

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HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

Queensland Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Truck Towing One Trailer Exceeding 19m Up To 31.5m Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1)

 

Purpose

  1. The purpose of this notice is to exempt a class 3 heavy vehicle comprised of a truck towing one trailer, where the combination length exceeds 19m in length but not 31.5m, from stated mass and dimension requirements of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (the Regulation).

 

Authorising Provision
 

2.              This notice is made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law as in force in each participating.

 

Commencement

3.              This Notice commences on 10 February 2019.

 

Expiry

4.              This Notice expires on 9 February 2024.

 

Definitions

5.              Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this Notice have the same meaning as in the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

 

Title

6.       This Notice may be cited as the Queensland Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Truck Towing One Trailer Exceeding 19m Up To 31.5m Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019.

 

Application

7.             This Notice applies to a truck towing one trailer, where the combination is more than 19m, but not more than 31.5m in length.

 

Exemption from prescribed mass requirements

8.       This notice exempts a vehicle to which it applies from the following mass limits in Schedule 1, of the Regulation—

a)      Section 2(1)(a)(iv); and

b)      In Table 1 (Axle Mass Limits Table), the category ‘Single axles and single axle groups’, item (c), the steer axle limit for another motor vehicle (6.0t); and

c)       The Axle spacing mass limits in Table 2 (Axle spacing mass limits general table).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mass requirements - Conditions

9.       A vehicle to which this notice applies must comply with the following single steer axle mass requirements—

 

Table 1: Table of mass limits for tyre widths

Tyres with Section Widths

Single Steer Mass Limit

Less than 295mm

6  tonnes

At least 295mm

6.5 tonnes

At least 375mm

6.7 tonnes

 

 Note: This is an exemption to the limits under the Part 2, Axle Mass Limits Table, Item 1 (c).

 

10.   A vehicle to which this notice applies must comply with the requirements of Part 2 Table 4 (Axle spacing mass limits road train table) of the regulation.

 

Note— This is an exemption to the limits under Part 2, Table 2 Axle Spacing Mass Limits General Table

 

11.   The sum of the masses on each axle or axle group falling within all the possible variations of axle group spacings must not be more than the maximum mass specified for the spacing.

 

12.   Concessional mass limits, higher mass limits and steer axle concessional mass limits may be utilised in conjunction with this notice.

 

Exemption from prescribed dimension requirements

13.   This notice exempts a vehicle to which it applies from the provisions of Schedule 6 section 3(1)(a) of the Regulation.

 

Dimension requirements - Condition

14.   A combination to which this Notice applies may be up to 31.5m in length.

 

15.   A trailer to which this Notice applies must have a draw bar length of not more than 5m in length but not less than 3m in length.

 

Note— On a dog trailer, the distance in clause 15is to be measured between the coupling pivot point on the drawbar and the centre of the front axle of the trailer axle group

 

Vehicle requirements - Condition

16.   A vehicle to which this notice applies must have an operating angle of the drawbar to be within 5 degrees of horizontal when the assembled laden combination is standing on a level surface.

 

17.   Drawbar connections may be part of a fixed or converter dolly. A dog trailer has a fixed dolly unless a converter dolly is used to convert a semitrailer to a dog trailer.

 

 

 

 

 

18.   A vehicle to which this notice applies must also comply with the following requirements of the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation —

a)      Schedule 1, section 109 (Speed limiting); and

b)      Schedule 3, Part 1 (Preliminary) and

c)       Schedule 3 Part 2; and

d)      Either

  1. Schedule 3, section 5 (Warning signs for combinations longer than 22m) and 6 (Specifications for warning sign); or
  2. a flexible warning sign that is attached to the vehicle by use of clips is acceptable, provided that the sign—
    1. otherwise complies with all requirements, Part 3 – Vehicle marking, sections 5 and 6 of Schedule 3; and
    2. is attached to a rigid solid vertical surface in a way that the wording and borders of the sign are clearly visible; and
    3. does not flap or otherwise warp under all operating conditions; and

e)      Schedule 3, Part 4 (Braking systems) as though any reference in that Part to a road train were a reference to a vehicle to which this notice applies; and             

f)        Schedule 3, Part 5 (Mechanical connections between vehicles in combinations), Division 2.

 

Certification - Condition

19.   A vehicle to which this notice applies must be certified with the appropriate code under the National Code of Practice for Commercial Vehicle Modifications. The appropriate codes for a road train are S8 for the hauling unit and S11 for the trailers. Approvals for road trains previously issued under the Queensland Code of Practice for Commercial Vehicle Modifications are also acceptable. 

 

20.   A road train certification issued by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (Queensland) is also acceptable for a road train.

 

21.   The certification defined in section 19 is not required for—

a)      trucks manufactured in accordance with ADR 61 and fitted with a vehicle plate or compliance plate containing the words; “ROAD TRAIN” for a road train.

b)      trailers manufactured in accordance with ADR 61 and fitted with a vehicle plate or compliance plate containing the words “ROAD TRAIN TRAILER” for a road train; or

c)       trailers used in road trains prior to the introduction of ADR 61 (1 July 1991). (Note— These trailers may not be accepted for use in road trains outside Queensland).

d)      vehicles registered and approved for use in road train combinations in other States or Territories and the Federal Interstate Registration Scheme.

 

 Note— Technical specifications for road train units in use prior to April 1998 will continue to apply. However, upgrading to meet the current Code of Practice for Commercial Vehicle Modifications is permitted.

 

Condition - Routes or areas

22.   A vehicle to which this notice applies may only use the Type 1 and Type 2 road train routes and areas set out in Appendix 1.

23.   A vehicle operating on a route or in an area mentioned in clause 22must comply with any conditions specified on the maps for that route or area.

 

 

 

Other conditions

24.   A vehicle to which this notice applies is only permitted to operate with the following axles or axle groups—

a)      a single steer axle, or twinsteer axle group; and

b)      a single drive axle, or tandem drive axle group; and

c)       single axles, tandem axles and tri-axle trailing axle groups.

 

25.   A vehicle to which this notice applies must not reverse into or out of a roadway or depot.
 

 

 

Peter Caprioli

Executive Director (Freight and Supply Chain Productivity)

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

 

 

 

Appendix 1

 

Type 1 and Type 2 road train routes and areas: Multi-combination Routes in Queensland maps published by TMR on its website.

 

Overview

The Heavy Vehicle National Law Queensland Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Truck Towing One Trailer Exceeding 19m Up To 31.5m Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1) was enacted to provide an exemption from certain mass and dimension requirements for a class 3 heavy vehicle comprised of a truck towing one trailer where the combination length exceeds 19m but not 31.5m. This exemption is intended to address the specific needs of certain heavy vehicle operations while ensuring safety standards are maintained. The notice was made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law as in force in each participating jurisdiction and aims to provide flexibility in the regulation of these vehicles. This exemption notice applies to vehicles that fit the specified criteria and is in effect from 10 February 2019 until 9 February 2024, subject to compliance with certain conditions regarding mass limits, dimension restrictions, and vehicle requirements.

Scope and Application

The Queensland Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Truck Towing One Trailer Exceeding 19m Up To 31.5m Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1) aims to provide specific exemptions from the mass and dimension requirements outlined in the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation for certain Class 3 heavy vehicles. This notice applies to trucks towing one trailer where the combination exceeds 19 meters but does not exceed 31.5 meters in length. It exempts these vehicles from particular mass limits specified in Schedule 1 of the Regulation, including the steer axle limit for another motor vehicle, and certain axle spacing mass limits, while imposing specific conditions on single steer axle mass requirements based on tyre widths. Additionally, the notice exempts these vehicles from certain dimension requirements but stipulates that the drawbar length of the trailer must be between 3 and 5 meters. Compliance with various vehicle standards and operational requirements, including speed limits, warning signs, braking systems, and mechanical connections, is also mandated. The exemption notice is applicable nationally, given its foundation under the Heavy Vehicle National Law, and is subject to specific conditions concerning certification and operational routes. The notice comes into effect on 10 February 2019 and will expire on 9 February 2024.

Key Provisions

The Queensland Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Truck Towing One Trailer Exceeding 19m Up To 31.5m Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1) provides an exemption from certain mass and dimension requirements for vehicles under specific conditions (sections 7-25). This Notice, made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (section 2), applies to trucks towing one trailer, where the combination length exceeds 19m but does not exceed 31.5m (section 7). It exempts these vehicles from certain mass limits (section 8) and dimension requirements (section 13) but imposes specific conditions for these exemptions, including certain mass limits (sections 9-12) and dimension requirements (sections 14-18). The Notice imposes various obligations on the parties it governs. Vehicles must comply with specified mass requirements based on tyre width (section 9), adhere to axle spacing mass limits (section 11), and meet certain vehicle requirements such as drawbar angle (section 16), certification (sections 19-21), and route restrictions (sections 22-25). Furthermore, vehicles must comply with additional regulatory requirements related to speed limiting (section 18(a)), warning signs (section 18(d)), braking systems (section 18(e)), and mechanical connections (section 18(f)). Additionally, vehicles must adhere to conditions regarding permissible axles (section 24) and reversing restrictions (section 25). Breach of the conditions set out in this Notice may result in various consequences. While specific offences, penalties, or consequences are not explicitly stated in the Notice, non-compliance with the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation and other referenced regulations could lead to enforcement actions, fines, or other penalties as prescribed under those regulations. The maximum penalties for breaches of these regulations typically include fines and potential disqualification from operating vehicles, as per the respective regulatory frameworks.

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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.