Heavy Vehicle National Law Victoria Class 3 Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1)

Overview

The Heavy Vehicle National Law Victoria Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice 2019 (No. 1) was introduced to address the need for specific mass exemptions for certain class 3 heavy vehicles within Victoria. This notice aims to exempt these vehicles from particular mass requirements prescribed in the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation. It was enacted by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and is effective from 12 November 2019 until 11 November 2024. The primary policy objective of this notice is to provide flexibility in mass limits for certain heavy vehicles while ensuring compliance with mass management accreditation and specified mass limits to maintain road safety and infrastructure integrity. This notice applies to Class 3 heavy vehicles in Victoria that consist of specific prime mover and semitrailer configurations, allowing them to operate under certain mass exemptions while adhering to defined mass and route restrictions. The exemption covers vehicles with particular axle group configurations and certified road-friendly suspension systems. However, operators must ensure compliance with the specified mass limits and conditions for axle spacing to ensure the safety and integrity of the road network. This notice is an update to the 2016 exemption notice, reflecting current regulatory needs and advancements in vehicle technology.

Scope and Application

The Victoria Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice 2019 (No. 1) applies to specific Class 3 heavy vehicles in Victoria, namely those consisting of a prime mover with a twinsteer axle group with single tyres (two tyres per axle) and load sharing suspension, connected to a tandem axle group with dual tyres (four tyres per axle) fitted with a certified road-friendly suspension system, and a semitrailer with either a tandem axle group with single tyres on one axle and dual tyres on the other axle or a tandem axle group with dual tyres, or a tri-axle group with dual tyres, all fitted with a certified road-friendly suspension system. This exemption notice is made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law as in force in each participating jurisdiction and applies in Victoria from 12 November 2019 until 11 November 2024. The notice exempts these vehicles from certain mass requirements prescribed in the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation, but they must comply with specific mass limits and conditions outlined in Schedule 2, and use only the designated areas or routes specified in Schedule 1, which includes the VicRoads Higher Mass Limits network. The operator of any heavy vehicle to which this notice applies that is fitted with a triaxle group must hold mass management accreditation.

Key Provisions

The key operative sections of the Victoria Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1) (the Notice) specify the types of vehicles that can be exempt from certain mass requirements under the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (the National Regulation) (section 7). This Notice applies to a Class 3 heavy vehicle consisting of a prime mover with specific axle configurations and a semitrailer with particular axle arrangements (section 7(1)). The Notice applies in Victoria and exempts eligible vehicles from certain mass requirements of the National Regulation (sections 7 and 8). Vehicles subject to the Notice must adhere to mass requirements specified in Schedule 2 and may only use designated areas or routes outlined in Schedule 1 (sections 9 and 10). The Notice imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. Vehicle operators must ensure that their vehicles meet the defined specifications (section 7). For vehicles with a tri-axle group, the operator must hold mass management accreditation (Schedule 2, clause 2). Additionally, vehicles must comply with specified mass limits for individual axle groups and total combination mass, as well as mass limits related to axle spacing (Schedule 2, clauses 1 and 4). Any vehicle to which this Notice applies must only use the areas or routes set out in Schedule 1 and must comply with any conditions specified for those areas or routes (section 10). The Notice does not explicitly detail offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach. However, any breaches of the National Regulation, from which this Notice exempts certain vehicles, could lead to enforcement actions by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator. Violations of the National Regulation can result in fines, court proceedings, and potential bans from operating heavy vehicles. The specific penalties for breaches would be in accordance with the Heavy Vehicle National Law and any related regulations.