Heavy Vehicle National Law - South Australia Class 1 Transport of Indivisible Items and Agricultural Vehicles Dimension Exemption Notice (No.1)

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

Legislation au C2019G00119 In force Gazette

Legislation content

HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

South Australia Class 1 Transport of Indivisible Items and Agricultural Vehicles Dimension Exemption Notice (No.1)

  1. Purpose

 

This Notice provides access for heavy vehicle combinations carrying indivisible items including agricultural vehicles which exceed regulation dimensions to travel on roads in South Australia subject to the conditions specified in this Notice

Note: This Notice replaces the following instruments previously published in the South Australian Government Gazette and by DPTI:

 

Transport of Indivisible Items

Code of Practice for Transport of Indivisible Loads

Transport of Agricultural Vehicles Carried as a Load

Code of Practice for the Transport of Agricultural Vehicles as Loads

2.       Authorising Provision

 

This Notice is made under Section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), and s169 of the Heavy Vehicle (General) National Regulation.

 

3.       Commencement

 

This Notice commences on 10 February 2019.

 

4.       Expiry

 

This Notice expires on 9 February 2024.

 

5.       Title

 

This Notice may be cited as the South Australia Class 1 Transport of Indivisible Items and Agricultural Vehicles Dimension Exemption Notice 2019.


6.       Definitions

 

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

 

2)      In this Notice:-

Adelaide Hills Area means the area described in the map of that name published in the Operator’s Guide.

 

Adelaide Metropolitan Area means the area described in the map of that name published in the Operator’s Guide.

 

Eligible vehicle means a heavy vehicle or heavy vehicle combination, carrying indivisible items, that is a:

a)      prime mover and semi-trailer combination that exceeds 4.3m in height and/or 2.5m in width and/or 19m in overall length; or

b)      truck that exceeds 4.3m in height and/or 2.5m in width; or

c)       truck towing one trailer that exceeds 4.3m in height and/or 2.5m in width.

Indivisible item, for the purpose of this notice, includes combinations of agricultural vehicles, machines or implements connected and operated by hydraulic hoses, drive shafts, or other couplings.

Note: this definition of indivisible item modifies the definition in s116 of the HVNL to remove any doubt with regard to the carriage of multiple indivisible items.

 

Operator’s Guide means the South Australia Load Carrying Vehicle Operator’s Guide.

 

Note:  the Operator’s Guide is published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.

 

Participating Road Manager means a Road Manager listed in the Participating Road Manager section of the Operator Guide

 

South Australian Country Area means an area in South Australia other than the Adelaide Metropolitan Area or the Adelaide Hills Area.

7.       Application

 

1)      This Notice applies to eligible vehicles operating in South Australia.

 

 

 

 

8.       Exemptions - Dimension

 

1)      Eligible vehicles operating under this Notice are exempt from the following dimension requirements in Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL Regulation)

a)      Section 3 - Length for combination or single vehicle

b)      Section 4 - Length, trailers

c)       Section 5 - Length, rear overhang

d)      Section 8 – Width

e)      Section 9 – Height

f)        Section 12 - Size and projection of loads, rear of load

g)       Section 13 - Size and projection of loads, front and side of load

 

2)      The exemption in s8(1)(g) only applies to side projection of loads.

Note: there is no exemption for front projection, and regulation dimension limits still apply to such dimension requirements.

9.       Conditions - Dimensions (Length)

 

1)      Eligible vehicles and combinations operating under this Notice must not exceed the following:

a)      prime mover and semi-trailer combination that does not include a truck - 25m

b)      a truck - 12.5m

c)       a truck and trailer combination - 19m

Note: the dimension limits under s9(b) and (c) are simply Regulation dimensions, restated here due to the exemption in s8(1). Such eligible vehicles do not in effect gain a length concession under this notice, but may still receive a height or width exemption.

10.   Conditions - Dimension (Length, rear overhang)

1)      The rear overhang of an eligible semi-trailer operating under this Notice, including the load, must not exceed the lesser of:

a)      5.5 metres; or

b)      25% of the overall length of the entire vehicle, including the load.

 

2)      Semi-trailers operating under this section are exempt from meeting the following dimension limits:

a)      9.5 metres - kingpin to centre of axle group;

b)      12.3 metres - kingpin to rear of semi-trailer.

 

 

 

 

11.   Conditions - Dimensions (Width)

 

1)      An eligible vehicle operating under this Notice must not exceed:

a)      3.5m in width; or

b)      4.5m in width when carrying one or more agricultural machines, agricultural vehicles or agricultural implements.

 

2)      In addition to 1) the following restrictions also apply:

a)      the load must be carried to minimise the amount by which it exceeds 2.5m; and

b)      the overall width of all axles or axle groups of the load carrying part of the vehicle, measured between the outer edges of the tyres, must not be less than 2.1m; and

c)       any cross member, supporting frame or outrigger fitted to support the load must not protrude beyond the load by more than 50mm.

 

12.   Conditions - Dimensions (Height)

 

1)      An eligible vehicle operating under this Notice must not exceed 4.9m in height.

2)      In addition to the maximum height requirement in 1), an eligible vehicle operating under this Notice must comply with any conditions referenced in Schedule 1 of this Notice, including:

a)      Securing third party approvals for height clearance; and

b)      Bridge height restrictions.

 

13.   Conditions - Stated areas of operation

 

1)      An eligible vehicle operating under this Notice may operate in the areas set out in Schedule 1 of this Notice.

2)      An eligible vehicle operating under this Notice must comply with the Travel Restrictions set out in Schedule 1 of this Notice.

 

14.   Conditions - Pilots and Escorts

 

1)      An eligible vehicle operating under this Notice must comply with Pilot and Escort requirements as per the Escorting Guideline for Oversize and Overmass Vehicles and Loads.

 

2)      Drivers of pilot vehicles must operate in accordance with the Escorting Guidelines for Oversize and Overmass Vehicles and Loads published by DPTI.

 

Peter Caprioli

Executive Director (Freight and Supply Chain Productivity)

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator


Schedule 1 - Travel Restrictions for the transport of indivisible items and agricultural vehicles as a load

 

  1. Times of Travel

1)      You must not travel in the Adelaide Metropolitan Area between the hours of 7 am to 9 am and 4 pm to 6 pm, Monday to Friday inclusive.

 

2)      You may travel at night on road networks managed by Participating Road Managers if your vehicle, together with its load:

a)      Does not exceed 3.1 metres wide; and

b)      Does not exceed 4.6 metres high; and

c)       Does not exceed 22 metres long for an articulated vehicle.

 

3)      Otherwise the vehicle, together with is load:

a)      Must not exceed 2.5m wide and

b)      Must not exceed 4.6m high and

c)       Must not exceed 19 metres long for an articulated vehicle

 

2.       Restricted Routes

 

1)      An operator of an eligible vehicle that is higher than 4.3m or wider than 2.5m:

 

a)      must comply with the specified route, area and structure restrictions published in the Consolidated Table of Limited Access Locations in South Australia published on the ‘Approved Areas or Routes’ section of the DPTI website at ; and

 

b)      may be required to consult and obtain consent from third party entities who manage utilities which may be impacted by over height vehicles.

 

Note : Some routes in the Adelaide Metropolitan Area have height restrictions less than 4.3m.

 

Contact details for South Australia Power Networks, Telstra and Optus are available at on the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator website.

 

3.       Restricted Travel in the Adelaide Hills Area

1)      If your vehicle and load exceeds 3.05 metres wide and/or 19 metres long, you must not travel in the Adelaide Hills Area.

Overview

The South Australia Class 1 Transport of Indivisible Items and Agricultural Vehicles Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 was enacted to address the need for specific exemptions and conditions to allow heavy vehicles carrying indivisible items, including agricultural vehicles, that exceed regulation dimensions to operate on roads in South Australia. This Notice was issued under Section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) and Section 169 of the Heavy Vehicle (General) National Regulation by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and it came into effect on 10 February 2019, expiring on 9 February 2024. The policy objective of this Notice is to facilitate the transport of indivisible items and agricultural vehicles while ensuring safety and minimising disruption to the community and infrastructure. This Notice provides exemptions from certain dimension requirements for eligible vehicles, subject to specific conditions regarding length, width, height, and areas of operation, while also setting out restrictions on travel times and routes to mitigate potential impacts on road users and infrastructure.

Scope and Application

The South Australia Class 1 Transport of Indivisible Items and Agricultural Vehicles Dimension Exemption Notice (No.1) applies to heavy vehicles and heavy vehicle combinations, referred to as eligible vehicles, that carry indivisible items, including agricultural vehicles, and exceed specified dimension regulations. This Notice is applicable to vehicles operating within the state of South Australia and is made under Section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) and s169 of the Heavy Vehicle (General) National Regulation. The Notice provides exemptions from certain dimensional requirements specified in the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation, but imposes specific conditions on the length, width, height, and operation of these vehicles, including restrictions on travel times and routes, particularly in the Adelaide Metropolitan Area, the Adelaide Hills Area, and South Australian Country Areas. The Notice further outlines the need for third-party approvals for height clearances, adherence to bridge height restrictions, and compliance with pilot and escort requirements as per the Escorting Guidelines for Oversize and Overmass Vehicles and Loads. This Notice, which replaces previous instruments, came into effect on 10 February 2019 and will expire on 9 February 2024, unless altered by subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the South Australia Class 1 Transport of Indivisible Items and Agricultural Vehicles Dimension Exemption Notice (No.1) provide exemptions from certain dimension requirements for eligible heavy vehicles carrying indivisible items and agricultural vehicles, while imposing specific conditions on their operation. Section 8 exempts eligible vehicles from several dimension requirements in the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation, such as length, width, height, and rear overhang (sections 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, and 13). However, section 8(1)(g) only exempts side projection of loads, not front projection, and regulation dimension limits still apply to front projection. Section 9 further details the conditions for length, specifying maximum lengths for different types of vehicles (section 9(a), (b), and (c)). Section 10 outlines conditions for rear overhang, allowing the overhang to be up to 5.5 metres or 25% of the overall length of the vehicle, whichever is lesser, and exempts certain dimension limits (section 10(2)(a) and (b)). Section 11 provides conditions for width, setting a maximum width of 3.5 metres, with an allowance for a width of up to 4.5 metres when carrying agricultural machines, vehicles, or implements (section 11(1)(a) and (b)). Additional restrictions include minimising the excess width of the load and maintaining certain widths for the axles or axle groups of the load (section 11(2)(a) and (b)). Section 12 sets a maximum height of 4.9 metres for eligible vehicles and requires compliance with conditions referenced in Schedule 1, such as securing third-party approvals for height clearance and adhering to bridge height restrictions (section 12(1) and (2)). The obligations imposed on parties governed by this Notice include adherence to the specified dimension limits and conditions outlined in the Notice. Eligible vehicles must comply with the maximum lengths, widths, and heights set forth in sections 9, 11, and 12. They must also follow the travel restrictions and route requirements detailed in Schedule 1, such as avoiding certain travel times in the Adelaide Metropolitan Area and adhering to specified routes and structure restrictions in limited access locations (sections 13(1) and (2)). Operators of vehicles exceeding certain dimensions in the Adelaide Hills Area must refrain from travelling in that area (section 13(3)). Additionally, vehicles must comply with Pilot and Escort requirements as per the Escorting Guideline for Oversize and Overmass Vehicles and Loads, with drivers of pilot vehicles operating in accordance with the Escorting Guidelines published by DPTI (section 14(1) and (2)). The Notice outlines specific offences and penalties for breach of its conditions. Although the Notice itself does not explicitly state the penalties, breaches of the Heavy Vehicle National Law or related regulations can result in substantial fines and potential criminal charges. For instance, exceeding the specified dimensions without proper authorisation can lead to fines, and repeated or severe breaches may result in more severe penalties, including potential imprisonment. The precise penalties would be determined based on the specific regulations breached and the circumstances of the offence, but they can include fines up to several thousand dollars and potential disqualification from driving. The penalties are intended to ensure compliance with the safety and operational standards set forth by the legislation.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Commercial Law
Instrument
Gazette Notice
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Commencement Provisions
Exemptions & Exclusions
Compliance Obligations
Prohibited Conduct
Regulatory Standards

Interactions

Authorises

All Versions

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.