HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW
National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice 2024 (No.1)
- Purpose
This notice authorises the use of class 2 heavy vehicles that are b-doubles.
2. Authorising provision
1) This notice is made under the following provision of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL):
a) section 138 – Regulator’s power to authorise use of all or stated categories of class 2 heavy vehicles
3. Title
This exemption notice may be cited as the National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice 2024 (No.1).
4. Commencement date
This notice commences on 1 February 2024.
5. Expiry date
This notice expires on 31 January 2029.
6. Definitions
1) Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this notice have the same meanings as those in the HVNL and its regulations.
2) In this notice:
General access means access to all roads, subject to the operation of the road rules of the relevant participating jurisdiction.
Guide means the National Class 2 B-double Operator’s Guide published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.
7. Application
1) This authorisation notice applies to a class 2 B-double.
2) This Notice applies in all participating jurisdictions.
3) This Notice applies in a participating jurisdiction subject to the conditions provided in the body of this notice and the conditions of the Schedule relevant to that jurisdiction.
4) A heavy vehicle to which this section applies and that complies with the conditions of this notice is an eligible vehicle.
8. Conditions – Axle spacing mass limits for eligible vehicles up to 50.0t
1) An eligible vehicle on which all axle groups meet the mass limits specified in Table 1 may qualify for general access subject to any further conditions in the relevant schedule for each participating jurisdiction.
Table 1: Axle Spacing mass limits for general access (up to 50.0t)
Length of axle spacing (m) | Mass Limit (t) | Length of axle spacing (m) | Mass Limit (t) | ||
At least | Less than | At least | Less than | ||
3.5 | 3.7 | 23.0 | 8.2 | 8.3 | 37.0 |
3.7 | 3.8 | 23.5 | 8.3 | 8.5 | 37.5 |
3.8 | 4.0 | 24.0 | 8.5 | 8.7 | 38.0 |
4.0 | 4.2 | 24.5 | 8.7 | 8.8 | 38.5 |
4.2 | 4.3 | 25.0 | 8.8 | 9.0 | 39.0 |
4.3 | 4.5 | 25.5 | 9.0 | 9.2 | 39.5 |
4.5 | 4.7 | 26.0 | 9.2 | 9.3 | 40.0 |
4.7 | 4.8 | 26.5 | 9.3 | 9.5 | 40.5 |
4.8 | 5.0 | 27.0 | 9.5 | 9.7 | 41.0 |
5.0 | 5.2 | 27.5 | 9.7 | 9.8 | 41.5 |
5.2 | 5.3 | 28.0 | 9.8 | 10.0 | 42.0 |
5.3 | 5.5 | 28.5 | 10.0 | 10.5 | 42.5 |
5.5 | 5.7 | 29.0 | 10.5 | 11.0 | 43.0 |
5.7 | 5.8 | 29.5 | 11.0 | 11.5 | 43.5 |
5.8 | 6.0 | 30.0 | 11.5 | 12.0 | 44.0 |
6.0 | 6.2 | 30.5 | 12.0 | 12.5 | 44.5 |
6.2 | 6.3 | 31.0 | 12.5 | 13.0 | 45.0 |
6.3 | 6.5 | 31.5 | 13.0 | 13.5 | 45.5 |
6.5 | 6.7 | 32.0 | 13.5 | 14.0 | 46.0 |
6.7 | 6.8 | 32.5 | 14.0 | 14.5 | 46.5 |
6.8 | 7.0 | 33.0 | 14.5 | 15.0 | 47.0 |
7.0 | 7.2 | 33.5 | 15.0 | 15.5 | 47.5 |
7.2 | 7.3 | 34.0 | 15.5 | 16.0 | 48.0 |
7.3 | 7.5 | 34.5 | 16.0 | 16.5 | 48.5 |
7.5 | 7.7 | 35.0 | 16.5 | 17.0 | 49.0 |
7.7 | 7.8 | 35.5 | 17.0 | 17.5 | 49.5 |
7.8 | 8.0 | 36.0 | 17.5 | -- | 50.0 |
8.0 | 8.2 | 36.5 | -- | -- | -- |
2) If the eligible vehicle is a complying steer axle vehicle, 0.5t may be added to the mass limit prescribed in Table 1 if the steer axle is part of the axle group being considered.
Note: Complying steer axle vehicle is defined in section 3 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation.
3) An eligible vehicle operating under this section and complies with the conditions of Schedule 2 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation may apply Concessional Mass Limits (CML) to the mass limits prescribed in Table 1.
9. Conditions – Stated hours of stated days
An eligible vehicle may use areas or routes at any time unless specified otherwise as a travel condition on the stated map or stated list.
10. Conditions – drive group restriction
1) An eligible vehicle must not have a drive axle group with more than two axles in contact with the ground.
2) In this section, drive axle group means an axle group that has one or more driving axles.
11. Condition – Authorisation to access stated areas or routes
1) An eligible vehicle complying with the conditions of this notice is authorised to operate on the areas and routes specified in a schedule of this notice.
2) For the purposes of section 138(1)(a) of the HVNL, an area or route specified in this section, or a schedule to this notice, is a stated area or route to which this notice applies.
3) An eligible vehicle operating on an area or route specified in this section must comply with the following conditions as specified for routes and areas set out on that map:
a) Road conditions pursuant to section 160 of the HVNL; and
b) Travel conditions pursuant to section 161 of the HVNL; and
c) Vehicle conditions pursuant to section 162 of the HVNL.
Peter Austin
Director, Policy Implementation
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
Schedule 1 Australian Capital Territory
- Application
This Schedule applies in the Australian Capital Territory.
2. Condition – Stated routes and areas (Networks)
1) Pursuant to the authorisation granted in section 11 of this Notice, an eligible vehicle has access to networks in the Australian Capital Territory as set out in this section.
2) An eligible vehicle up to 19.0m in length that complies with the requirements in section 8 of the notice has general access in the Australian Capital Territory, subject to the conditions in 4).
3) An eligible vehicle up to 26.0 in length may access the following network:
Australian Capital Territory B-double Network
4) Regardless of the access granted in (2) and (3), an eligible vehicle operating under this Notice must also comply with restrictions set out in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements, published in the Guide.
Note: the restrictions in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements generally provide restrictions on access in particular Road Manager areas.
5) An eligible vehicle operating on a network under this section must comply with all road, vehicle and travel conditions that apply to that network at the time of travel.
Schedule 2 New South Wales
- Application
This Schedule applies in New South Wales.
2. Condition – Stated routes and areas (Networks)
1) Pursuant to the authorisation granted in section 11 of this Notice, an eligible vehicle has access to networks in New South Wales as set out in this section.
2) An eligible vehicle up to 19.0m in length that complies with the requirements in section 8 of the notice has general access in New South Wales, subject to the conditions in 6).
3) An eligible vehicle up to 19.0m in length that does not comply with the requirements in section 8 of the notice may access the following network:
New South Wales 19 metre B-double (over 50.0 tonnes) Network
4) An eligible vehicle up to 23.0m in length may access the following network:
New South Wales 23 metre B-double Network
5) An eligible vehicle up to 26.0m in length may access the following network:
New South Wales 26 metre B-double Network
6) Regardless of the access granted in (2) to (5) an eligible vehicle operating under this Notice must also comply with restrictions set out in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements, published in the Guide.
Note: the restrictions in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements generally provide restrictions on access in particular Road Manager areas.
7) An eligible vehicle operating on a network under this section must comply with all road, vehicle and travel conditions that apply to that network at the time of travel.
Schedule 3 Queensland
- Application
This Schedule applies in Queensland.
2. Condition – Stated routes and areas (Networks)
1) Pursuant to the authorisation granted in section 11 of this Notice, an eligible vehicle has access to networks in Queensland as set out in this section.
2) An eligible vehicle up to 19.0m in length that complies with the requirements in section 8 of the notice has general access in Queensland, subject to the conditions in 5).
3) An eligible vehicle up to 23.0m in length may access the following network:
23 metre B-double Route
25/26 metre B-double and PBS 2A Route
Type 1 Road Train and PBS 3A Route
Type 2 Road Train and PBS 4A Route
4) An eligible vehicle up to 26.0m in length may access the following network:
25/26 metre B-double Route and PBS 2A Route
Type 1 Road Train and PBS 3A Route
Type 2 Road Train and PBS 4A Route
5) Regardless of the access granted in (2) to (4) an eligible vehicle operating under this Notice must also comply with restrictions set out in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements, published in the Guide.
Note: the restrictions in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements generally provide restrictions on access in particular Road Manager areas.
6) An eligible vehicle operating on a network under this section must comply with all road, vehicle and travel conditions that apply to that network at the time of travel.
3. Conditions – Quad axle group restriction
An eligible vehicle operating under this Schedule may not have a quad axle group on any of its components when operating on a State controlled road.
Schedule 4 South Australia
- Application
This Schedule applies in South Australia.
2. Condition – Stated routes and areas (Networks)
1) Pursuant to the authorisation granted in section 11 of this Notice, an eligible vehicle has access to networks in South Australia as set out in this section.
2) An eligible vehicle up to 19.0m in length that complies with the requirements in section 8 of the notice has general access in South Australia, subject to the conditions in 6).
3) An eligible vehicle up to 23.0m in length may access the following network:
South Australia 23 metre B-double Network (GML)
4) An eligible vehicle up to 26.0m in length may access the following network:
South Australia 26 metre B-double Network (GML)
5) An eligible vehicle that is transporting commodities and is not more than 26.0m in length may access the following network:
South Australia Commodity Routes – All B-double (GML) Routes
6) Regardless of the access granted in (2) to (5) an eligible vehicle operating under this Notice must also comply with restrictions set out in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements, published in the Guide.
Note: The restrictions in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements generally provide restrictions on access in particular Road Manager areas.
7) An eligible vehicle operating on a network under this section must comply with all road, vehicle and travel conditions that apply to that network at the time of travel.
Schedule 5 Tasmania
- Application
This Schedule applies in Tasmania.
2. Condition – Stated routes and areas (Networks)
1) Pursuant to the authorisation granted in section 11 of this Notice, an eligible vehicle has access to networks in Tasmania as set out in this section.
2) An eligible vehicle up to 21.0m in length that complies with the requirements in section 8 of the notice has general access in Tasmania, subject to the conditions in 6).
3) An eligible vehicle up to 21.3m in length complies with the requirements in section 8 of the Notice and is fitted with a rear log guard, has general access subject to the conditions in 6).
4) An eligible vehicle up to 23.0m in length may access the following network:
Tasmanian 23m B-double Network
5) An eligible vehicle up to 26.0m in length may access the following network:
Tasmanian 26m B-double Network
6) Regardless of the access granted in (2) to (5) an eligible vehicle operating under this Notice must also comply with restrictions set out in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements, published in the Guide.
Note: the restrictions in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements generally provide restrictions on access in particular Road Manager areas.
7) An eligible vehicle operating on a network under this section must comply with all road, vehicle and travel conditions that apply to that network at the time of travel.
8) In this section, rear log guard means a mechanism or fixture installed to the rear of the trailer for the purpose of restraining logs.
Schedule 6 Victoria
- Application
This Schedule applies in Victoria.
2. Condition – Stated routes and areas (Networks)
1) Pursuant to the authorisation granted in section 11 of this Notice, an eligible vehicle has access to networks in the Victoria as set out in this section.
2) An eligible vehicle up to 19.0m in length that complies with the requirements in section 8 of the notice has general access in Victoria, subject to the conditions in 4).
3) An eligible vehicle up to 26.0m in length may access the following network:
Victoria 26 metre B-double Network
4) Regardless of the access granted in (2) and (3) an eligible vehicle operating under this Notice must also comply with restrictions set out in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements, published in the Guide.
Note: the restrictions in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements generally provide restrictions on access in particular Road Manager areas.
5) An eligible vehicle operating on a network under this section must comply with all road, vehicle and travel conditions that apply to that network at the time of travel.