Heavy Vehicle National Law - Victoria Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice 2016 (No.1)

Overview

The Heavy Vehicle National Law Victoria Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice 2016 (No.1) was enacted to address a specific problem or gap in the regulation of heavy vehicle masses in Victoria. This Notice was introduced to provide an exemption for certain Class 3 heavy vehicles from the mass requirements prescribed in the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation, replacing a similar exemption from 2015. The Notice was made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law as in force in each participating jurisdiction (HVNL) and is authorised by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator. The primary policy objective is to facilitate the efficient movement of heavy vehicles in Victoria while ensuring road safety and infrastructure integrity. The Notice applies to Class 3 heavy vehicles in Victoria that meet specific construction criteria and are subject to certain mass and route limitations, allowing them to operate with adjusted mass requirements within specified areas or routes. The exemption is designed to accommodate the unique configurations of these vehicles while maintaining compliance with overall safety standards.

Scope and Application

The Victoria Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice 2016 (No.1) applies to specific Class 3 heavy vehicles in Victoria that consist of a prime mover constructed with a twinsteer axle group with single tyres and load sharing suspension, and a tandem axle group with dual tyres fitted with a certified road-friendly suspension system, connected to one semitrailer with certain axle configurations and suspension systems. This Notice operates within the state of Victoria and exempts the specified heavy vehicles from certain mass requirements prescribed in the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation, such as axle mass limit requirements, total combination mass limits, and mass limits relating to axle spacing. However, the exempted vehicles must comply with mass requirements set out in Schedule 2 of the Notice and may only use specific areas or routes as outlined in Schedule 1. The exemption is made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law and this Notice replaces the previous exemption Notice from 2015. The Notice is effective from 12 November 2016 until 11 November 2019.

Key Provisions

The key provisions of the Heavy Vehicle National Law Victoria Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice 2016 (No.1) begin with the definition and scope of the vehicles covered by this exemption. According to clause 7(1), this Notice applies to a Class 3 heavy vehicle that includes a prime mover constructed with a specific configuration of axle groups and connected to a semitrailer with certain axle arrangements, all fitted with certified road-friendly suspension systems. The Notice applies within the state of Victoria, as specified in clause 7(2). The primary exemption provided by the Notice is from certain mass requirements outlined in the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (clause 8). These include the axle mass limits and the total combination mass limit, which are detailed in Schedule 2 of the Notice. Schedule 2 also outlines specific mass limits for different axle groups, as well as total combination mass limits. Additionally, operators of vehicles with tri-axle groups must hold mass management accreditation (clause 2). Under clause 10, vehicles subject to this Notice must adhere to the mass requirements and conditions set out in Schedule 2, which includes both axle mass limits and total combination mass limits. The Notice also restricts the use of these vehicles to specific areas or routes outlined in Schedule 1, which can be accessed via the provided VicRoads link. The Notice imposes several obligations on the operators of these vehicles, including the necessity to comply with the mass requirements and conditions as outlined in Schedule 2 and to ensure that they do not exceed the specified mass limits. Furthermore, operators must ensure that any tri-axle group on their vehicle is accompanied by the necessary mass management accreditation. Failure to comply with these obligations may result in civil or criminal penalties. In terms of penalties, while the Notice does not explicitly state the maximum penalties for breaches, it is governed by the broader framework of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL). Typically, breaches of the HVNL can result in significant fines and potential imprisonment for individuals, as well as penalties for corporations. The specific penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, as interpreted under the HVNL.