Heavy Vehicle National Law Tasmania Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Truck and Dog Trailer Combination Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1)

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Legislation au C2019G00133 In force Gazette

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HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

Tasmania Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Truck and Dog Trailer Combination Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1)

 

Purpose

  1. The purpose of this Notice is to exempt class 3 Truck and Dog heavy vehicles from stated prescribed mass and dimension requirements in Schedule 1 and Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (the Regulation).

 

Note: This Notice does not exclude the operation of heavy vehicles under the Tasmania Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Truck and Dog Trailer Combination (Increased Mass Limits) Mass Exemption Notice 2019 if the conditions of that Notice are complied with.

 

Authorising Provision

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

 

Title

3.         This Notice may be cited as the Tasmania Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Truck and Dog Trailer Combination Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019.

 

Commencement

4.       This Notice commences on 10 February 2019.

 

Expiry

5.       This Notice expires on 9 February 2024.

 

Definitions

6.       Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this Notice have the same meanings as those defined in the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

7.       In this Notice—

’aggregate axle load’ means the sum of the axle loads of all the axles of the vehicle or combination.

’air suspension’ means a suspension system in which—

a)      the vertical movement between each axle and the body of the vehicle is controlled by variations in the air pressure and the air spring; and

b)      the proportion of the vehicle’s mass borne by the air spring remains substantially constant despite variations in the air pressure in the air spring.

’Forestry Safety Code’ means the Forest Safety Code (Tasmania) 2007, as amended from time to time, produced by the Safety Standards Committee of the Tasmanian Forest Industries Training Board Inc. and approved under section 22 of the Workplace Health and Safety Act 1995 (Tas)and recognised by the section 274 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2012 (Tas).

 

‘Livestock Carrier’ means a Truck and Dog heavy vehicle with at least one vehicle in the combination that is higher than 4.3m but not higher than 4.6m and is built to carry cattle, sheep, pigs or horses.

 

‘road-friendly suspension’ means vehicle suspension that complies with the performance criteria specified in Vehicle Standards Bulletin 11 - "Certification of Road-friendly Suspension Systems" published by the Federal Office of Road Safety in April 1999, as amended or substituted from time to time.

 

‘Truck and Dog heavy vehicle’ means a combination consisting of a rigid truck towing a dog trailer.

 

Application

8.       This Notice applies in Tasmania.

9.       This Notice applies to a Truck and Dog heavy vehicle meeting either or both of the following conditions—

(a)    the combination does not exceed 25m in length; and

(b)    the combination has a mass not more than—

  1. 60.5t; or
  2. 61t, if the vehicle is eligible to operate under the steer axle mass exception limits.

 

Exemption from prescribed mass requirements

10.   This Notice exempts a Truck and Dog heavy vehicle from the following general mass limits specified in Schedule 1 of the Regulation—

(a)    Section 2(1)(a)(iv); and

(b)    Section 2(4); and

(c)     Section 5(1).

 

Exemption from prescribed dimension requirements (length)

11.   This Notice exempts a Truck and Dog heavy vehicle from the dimension limits specified in section 3(1)(a) of Schedule 6 of the Regulation.

 

Condition – Maximum permissible mass

12.   The mass of a Truck and Dog heavy vehicle must not be more than—

(a)    60.5t; or

(b)    61t, if the vehicle is eligible to operate under the steer axle mass exception limits.

 

Condition – Axle spacing mass limits

13.   The mass of a Truck and Dog heavy vehicle relating to an axle spacing of the combination must not be more than the mass limit stated in Table 3 of Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Regulation.

 

Condition – Mass ratio of combination

14.   The mass of the dog trailer must not exceed by more than 50% the loaded mass of the towing vehicle.

 

Dimension requirements condition

15.   A Truck and Dog heavy vehicle must not be longer than 25m.

 

Other conditions

16.   If the Truck and Dog heavy vehicle has an aggregate axle load of more than 50t, the trailer couplings must have a coupling strength D value of at least 13.5 kilo Newtons.

17.   All axles of the Truck and Dog heavy vehicle, except for the steer axle of the truck, must be fitted with air suspension, road-friendly suspension or a certified road-friendly suspension system.

18.   If the Truck and Dog heavy vehicle is longer than 22m, it must be fitted with a long vehicle warning sign in accordance with section 5(3) of Schedule 3 of the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation.

 

Stated Areas and routes

19.   A Truck and Dog heavy vehicle may use all roads in Tasmania if the vehicle—

(a)    has a mass that is not more than—

  1. 50t; or
  2. 50.5t if the vehicle is eligible to operate under the steer axle mass exception limits; and

(b)    has a length that is not more than—

  1. 21m; or
  2. 21.3m, if the trailer is fitted with a rear load-restraining guard that complies with the Forestry Safety Code.

20.   A Truck and Dog heavy vehicle, which exceeds the mass or length in section 19 may only use the routes stated in the Tasmanian Approved Truck and Dog Trailer Combination Route Network set out in Appendix 1

 

Condition – Livestock Carrier

21.   A Livestock Carrier that complies with the mass and dimension limits specified in section 19 or section 20, is restricted from using -

(a)    Tasman Bridge; and

(b)    Bridgewater Bridge; and

(c)     any other road where there is insufficient height clearance for the vehicle to pass without striking or damaging any road infrastructure

Note- the driver of an eligible vehicle must assess the suitability of a road prior to operating the vehicle on that road using the maps specified in Appendix 1 to ensure sufficient clearance for the vehicle exists.

 

 

Peter Caprioli

Executive Director (Freight and Supply Chain Productivity)

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

 

Appendix 1

Tasmanian Truck and Dog Trailer Combination Network Map

Height Clearance Under Overhead Structures Map

 

Note: The Height Clearance Under Overhead Structures Map identifies relevant height clearances that may be relevant depending on specific routes on the network.

 

The maps and networks mentioned in this appendix are published by the Tasmania Department of State Growth, and are available on its website.

Overview

The Tasmania Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Truck and Dog Trailer Combination Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1) was introduced to address the need for specific exemptions to mass and dimension requirements for certain class 3 Truck and Dog heavy vehicles operating within Tasmania, as stipulated in the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation. Enacted under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law as in force in each participating jurisdiction, the Notice aims to facilitate the operation of these vehicles while maintaining safety and compliance standards. It exempts eligible vehicles from certain prescribed mass and dimension requirements, provided they adhere to specified conditions, such as mass limits, axle spacing, and vehicle length, ensuring that they operate within safe parameters. The Notice is applicable in Tasmania and is designed to align with the broader objectives of the Heavy Vehicle National Law, which seeks to harmonise heavy vehicle regulations across participating jurisdictions while allowing for necessary exemptions to accommodate specific operational needs within individual states.

Scope and Application

The Tasmania Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Truck and Dog Trailer Combination Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 applies specifically to Truck and Dog heavy vehicles within Tasmania, allowing certain exemptions from the mass and dimension requirements as stipulated in Schedule 1 and Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation. This Notice applies to vehicles meeting the conditions of being no longer than 25 metres and not exceeding a mass of 60.5 tonnes, or 61 tonnes if eligible for the steer axle mass exception limits. While this Notice provides exemptions, it does not override the conditions of the Tasmania Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Truck and Dog Trailer Combination (Increased Mass Limits) Mass Exemption Notice 2019 if those conditions are met. The Notice is authorised under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law as in force in each participating jurisdiction and includes specific conditions such as mass limits, axle spacing, and trailer mass ratios, as well as requirements for suspension systems, coupling strength, and warning signs for vehicles exceeding certain dimensions. The Notice also outlines specific routes and height clearances for eligible vehicles, ensuring compliance with Tasmanian regulations and safety standards.

Key Provisions

The Tasmania Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Truck and Dog Trailer Combination Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1) provides exemptions from certain mass and dimension requirements for Truck and Dog heavy vehicles in Tasmania, as specified in Schedule 1 and Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (sections 10 and 11). The Notice applies to Truck and Dog heavy vehicles that are not more than 25m in length and have a mass not exceeding 60.5t, or 61t if eligible for the steer axle mass exception limits (section 9). The exemptions cover general mass limits (section 10(a), (b), and (c)) and dimension limits for length (section 11). The Notice imposes several conditions on the mass and dimension requirements for Truck and Dog heavy vehicles. The maximum permissible mass is set at 60.5t, or 61t for eligible vehicles (section 12). The mass relating to an axle spacing of the combination must not exceed the limit stated in Table 3 of Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Regulation (section 13). The mass of the dog trailer must not exceed by more than 50% the loaded mass of the towing vehicle (section 14). Additionally, the vehicle must not be longer than 25m (section 15). If the vehicle has an aggregate axle load of more than 50t, the trailer couplings must have a coupling strength D value of at least 13.5 kilo Newtons (section 16). All axles, except for the steer axle of the truck, must be fitted with air suspension, road-friendly suspension, or a certified road-friendly suspension system (section 17). If the vehicle is longer than 22m, it must be fitted with a long vehicle warning sign (section 18). Failure to comply with the requirements of this Notice may result in legal consequences. However, the Notice itself does not specify offences, penalties, or consequences for breach. Compliance is essential to avoid potential sanctions under the broader regulatory framework of the Heavy Vehicle National Law, which governs the operation of heavy vehicles in Australia. The potential penalties for non-compliance with related regulations could include fines, vehicle impoundment, and other enforcement actions as stipulated under the overarching legislation.

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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.