National Class 2 PBS Level 1 & 2A Truck and Dog Trailer Authorisation Notice 2024 (No.1)

Heavy Vehicle National Law

National Class 2 PBS Level 1 & 2A Truck and Dog Trailer Authorisation Notice 2024 (No.1)

1. Purpose

(1)         The purpose of this notice is to authorise the use of stated categories of class 2 heavy vehicles that are Performance Based Standards (PBS) vehicles on designated networks under specified conditions.

(2)         This notice revokes and replaces the National Class 2 PBS Level 1 & 2A Truck and Dog Trailer Authorisation Notice 2021 (No.1).

Note: This version of the notice amends the Intelligent Access Program provisions in the New South Wales Schedule. No other changes to access or conditions are made.

2.                     Authorising provision

(1)         This notice is made under the following provisions 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;

(b)          section 23 of Schedule 1 – Regulator’s power to amend or repeal instrument.

3.                     Title

This notice may be cited as the National Class 2 PBS Level 1 & 2A Truck and Dog Trailer Authorisation Notice 2024 (No.1).

4.                     Commencement date

This notice commences on 3 May 2024.

5.                     Expiry date

This notice expires on 4 May 2026.

6.                     Definitions

(1)         Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this notice have the same meanings as those defined in the HVNL and its regulations.

(2)           In this notice—

PBS truck and dog means a 3 or 4 axle rigid truck towing a 3, 4 or 5 axle dog trailer that is the subject of a current Performance Based Standards vehicle approval for operation at PBS Level 1 or Level 2 and—

(a)         passes the PBS Bridge Loading standard as Tier 1; and

(b)          for PBS Level 1, has a maximum overall length no greater than 20.0m; and

(c)           for PBS Level 1, has a maximum overall height no greater than 4.3m; and

(d)          for PBS Level 1, has a maximum operating mass no greater than 50.5t; and

(e)           for PBS Level 2, has a maximum overall length no greater than 26.0m.

Note:  The PBS Bridge Loading standard is set out in Part A4 of “Appendix A: The Infrastructure Standards”, an appendix to the “PBS Standards and Vehicle Assessment Rules”.

7.                     Application

(1)         This notice applies to a PBS truck and dog.

(2)         This notice applies in all participating jurisdictions.

8.                     Authorisation

(1)         A PBS truck and dog that is the subject of a current PBS vehicle approval for operation at PBS Level 1 at general mass limits or concessional mass limits may use the PBS Level 1 network as set out in the schedules to this notice.

(2)         A PBS truck and dog that is the subject of a current PBS vehicle approval for operation at PBS Level 2 at general mass limits or concessional mass limits may use the PBS Level 2A network as set out in the schedules to this notice.

(3)         A PBS truck and dog that is the subject of a current PBS vehicle approval for operation at higher mass limits (HML) may use the stated areas or routes in sections 8(1) and (2) subject to those areas or routes also being included in the HML network as set out in the schedules to this notice.

(4)         A PBS truck and dog may use the stated areas or routes at any time of the day, unless otherwise specified in the PBS vehicle approval, and subject to compliance with any listed conditions applicable to the area or route.

Note:  The vehicle approval for a PBS vehicle establishes the mass limits for the vehicle, including limits equivalent to concessional mass limits and higher mass limits, rather than the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation.

9.                     Conditions

A PBS truck and dog must be operated in accordance with the conditions and mass and dimension limits contained in a relevant PBS vehicle approval relevant to operation under this notice.

Note:  Section 153 of the HVNL requires a driver of a PBS vehicle to keep a copy of the PBS vehicle approval in their possession.

Peter Austin

Director, Policy Implementation

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

Schedule 1 The Australian Capital Territory

1. Stated areas or routes

(1)         The PBS Level 1 network mentioned in section 8(1) of this notice includes all areas and routes in the “PBS Level 1 network” map set out in Appendix 1(a), subject to compliance with any listed conditions applicable to the area or route.

(2)         The PBS Level 2A network mentioned in section 8(2) of this notice includes all areas or routes in the “PBS Level 2A network” map set out in Appendix 1(a), subject to compliance with any listed conditions applicable to the area or route.

(3)         The HML network mentioned in section 8(3) of this notice includes all areas or routes in the “HML network” map set out in Appendix 1(a), subject to compliance with any listed conditions applicable to the area or route.

Appendix 1

a)      Heavy Vehicle network maps published by Transport Canberra & City Services.

Schedule 2 New South Wales

1. Stated areas or routes

(1)           The PBS Level 1 network mentioned in section 8(1) of this notice includes all areas or routes in the “PBS Level 1 GML and CML Network” maps set out in Appendix 1(a), subject to compliance with any listed conditions applicable to the area or route.

(2)           The PBS Level 2A network mentioned in section 8(2) of this notice includes all areas or routes in the “PBS 2A GML and CML Network” maps in Appendix 1(a), subject to compliance with any listed conditions applicable to the area or route.

(3)           The HML network mentioned in section 8(3) of this notice includes, subject to compliance with any listed conditions applicable to the area or route—

(a)           for a PBS truck and dog operating at PBS Level 1, all areas and routes in the ‘PBS Level 1 HML Network’ set out in Appendix 1(a); and

(b)          for a PBS truck and dog operating at PBS Level 2, all areas and routes in the ‘PBS 2A HML Network’ set out in Appendix 1(a).

2.                     Conditions - Intelligent access program conditions

(1)          An eligible vehicle operating on a network under this schedule must be enrolled in and comply with the following approved intelligent transport systems, approved by Transport Certification Australia (TCA):

(a)          For vehicles operating at GML or CML mass limits:

Road Infrastructure Management (RIM)

Note:  Enrolment in higher assurance telematics applications, such as Telematics Monitoring Application (TMA) or Intelligent Access Program (IAP) are also possible alternatives to RIM.

(b)          For vehicles operating at HML mass limits:

Intelligent Access Program (IAP); or

Telematics Monitoring Application (TMA)

(2)          Any approved intelligent transport system required under this section must be functioning while operating under this notice.

Appendix 1

(a)           New South Wales Performance Based Standards (PBS) Maps published by Transport for New South Wales.

Schedule 3 Queensland

1. Stated areas or routes

(1)         The PBS Level 1 network mentioned in section 8(1) of this notice includes all roads in Queensland, subject to compliance with any listed conditions applicable to the area or route.

(2)         The PBS Level 2A network mentioned in section 8(2) of this notice includes all areas or routes for 23 metre B-doubles set out in Appendix 1(a), subject to compliance with any listed conditions applicable to the area or route.

(3)         A PBS truck and dog with an overall length greater than 23.0m is restricted to those areas or routes in the PBS Level 2A network that are included in the 25 metre B-double maps set out in Appendix 1(a), subject to compliance with any listed conditions applicable to the area or route.

(4)         The HML network mentioned in section 8(3) of this notice includes all higher mass limits areas or routes set out in Appendix 1(b), subject to compliance with any listed conditions applicable to the area or route.

(5)         The driver of a vehicle operating under this notice must comply with restrictions contained within the Conditions of Operations Database and temporary road closures that may affect the route being used.

Note: The Current Conditions of Operation Database can be found on the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads website.

2.                     Intelligent Access Conditions

(1)           Pursuant to s402(1)(a) and (b) of Chapter 7 of the HVNL, the following conditions of this notice are intelligent access program conditions:

(a)           any condition relating to mass or dimensions; and

(b)          any condition relating to stated areas or routes to which the authority applies, including any relating to speed or time of travel.

(2)           Pursuant to s402(1)(c) of Chapter 7 of the HVNL, an eligible vehicle must be monitored by an approved intelligent transport system as set out in this section.

(3)           An eligible vehicle that is a PBS truck and dog operating at HML as specified in its vehicle approval at PBS Level 1 or 2 must be enrolled in and comply with one of the following approved intelligent transport systems, approved by Transport Certification Australia:

(a)           For vehicles enrolled from 1 December 2022 – Telematics Monitoring Application (TMA)

(b)          For vehicles enrolled before 1 December 2022 – Intelligent Access Program (IAP)

Note: The option in subsection (1)(b) to comply using IAP will be removed from 1 June 2024.

(4)           In this section, Intelligent Access Program means the approved intelligent transport system administered by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads.

(5)           At the time of operation under this notice, an eligible vehicle to which this section applies must be enrolled in and be compliant with all the conditions of the required approved intelligent transport system.

3.                     Conditions - Intelligent Access Conditions (Self Declaration)

(1)           This section applies to an eligible vehicle operating under an approved intelligent transport system pursuant to section 2.

(2)           If an Approved Intelligent Transport System utilises a Self-Declared Input Device (SDID), the relevant information must be entered into the SDID by:

a)      the driver, if the SDID is fitted in or on the vehicle; or

b)      the participating operator, if the SDID is fitted in a place other than the place mentioned in subsection (a).

(3)           The relevant information must be true and accurate and must be re-entered irrespective of the mass of the vehicle whenever:

(a)           there is a change to the vehicle mass or configuration; or

(b)          if prompted by the SDID.

(4)           For the purpose of this subsection relevant information means information relating to the mass or configuration of the vehicle.

Appendix 1

(a)          Multi-combination Routes in Queensland Maps and list of additional routes published by Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads.

(b)          Queensland Higher Mass Limits Maps published by Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads.

Schedule 4 South Australia

1. Stated areas or routes

(1)         The PBS Level 1 network mentioned in section 8(1) of this notice includes all areas or routes set out in Appendix 1(a), subject to compliance with any listed conditions applicable to the area or route.

(2)         The PBS Level 2A network mentioned in section 8(2) of this notice includes all areas or routes set out in Appendix 1(b), subject to compliance with any listed conditions applicable to the area or route.

(3)         The HML network mentioned in section 8(3) of this notice includes all areas or routes specified in subsections 1 and 2, subject to compliance with any listed conditions applicable to the area or route.

Note:  This means that eligible PBS vehicles may travel at HML on the PBS level 1 and 2A networks, subject to listed restrictions.

Appendix 1

(a)          PBS Level 1A network as specified on the South Australian RAVnet Map System titled ‘PBS Routes Level 1A’ published by the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport.

(b)          PBS Level 2A network as specified on the South Australian RAVnet Map System titled ‘PBS Routes Level 2A’ published by the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport.

Schedule 5 Tasmania

1. Stated areas or routes

(1)         The PBS Level 1 network mentioned in section 8(1) of this notice includes all areas or routes in the “PBS Level 1 network” map set out in Appendix 1(a), subject to compliance with any listed conditions applicable to the area or route.

(2)         The PBS Level 2A network mentioned in section 8(2) of this notice includes all areas or routes in the “PBS Level 2A network” map set out in Appendix 1(a), subject to compliance with any listed conditions applicable to the area or route.

(3)         The HML network mentioned in section 8(3) of this notice includes all higher mass limits areas or routes the Tasmanian Approved Higher Mass Limits Route Network map set out in Appendix 1(a), subject to compliance with any listed conditions applicable to the area or route.

Appendix 1

(a)           Heavy Vehicle Map Networks published by the Department of State Growth, Tasmania. 

Schedule 6 Victoria

1. Stated areas or routes

(1)         The PBS Level 1 network mentioned in section 8(1) of this notice includes all areas or routes in the “Performance Based Standards (PBS) Level 1” map set out in Appendix 1(a), subject to compliance with any listed conditions applicable to the area or route.

(2)         The PBS Level 2A network mentioned in section 8(2) of this notice includes all areas or routes in the “Performance Based Standards (PBS) Level 2A” map set out in Appendix 1(a), subject to compliance with any listed conditions applicable to the area or route.

(3)         The HML network mentioned in section 8(3) of this notice includes all areas or routes specified in subsections 1 and 2, subject to compliance with any listed conditions applicable to the area or route.

Note –

This means that eligible PBS vehicles may travel at HML on the PBS level 1 and 2A networks, subject to listed restrictions.

Appendix 1

(a)           Heavy Vehicle Map Networks published by VicRoads, Victoria.