National Class 2 PBS Level 1 & 2A Truck and Dog Trailer Authorisation Notice 2026 (No.1)

Heavy Vehicle National Law

National Class 2 PBS Level 1 & 2A Truck and Dog Trailer Authorisation Notice 2026 (No.1)

1.                      Purpose

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.

1.                      Authorising provision
   1.          This notice is made under the following provisions of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL):

1.            section 138 – Regulator’s power to authorise use of all or stated categories of class 2 heavy vehicles.

1.                      Title

This notice may be cited as the National Class 2 PBS Level 1 & 2A Truck and Dog Trailer Authorisation Notice 2026 (No.1).

1.                      Commencement date

This notice commences on 5 May 2026.

1.                      Expiry date

This notice expires on 4 May 2031.

1.                      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:

CML means concessional mass limits prescribed in a vehicle’s PBS vehicle approval.

GML means general mass limits prescribed in a vehicle’s PBS vehicle approval.

HML means higher mass limits prescribed in a vehicle’s PBS vehicle approval.

PBS means Performance Based Standards

Note:  Part 1.4 of the HVNL deals with Performance Based Standards.

PBS Level 1 vehicle means a vehicle the subject of a current PBS vehicle approval for operation at PBS Level 1 and that passes the PBS Bridge Loading standard as Tier 1.

PBS Level 2 vehicle means a vehicle the subject of a current PBS vehicle approval for operation at PBS Level 2 and that passes the PBS Bridge Loading standard as Tier 1.

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”.

1.                      Application
   1.            This notice applies to a PBS Level 1 or Level 2 vehicle that is a 3 or 4 axle rigid truck towing a 3, 4 or 5 axle dog trailer.
   2.            This notice applies in the following participating jurisdictions:

1.          the Australian Capital Territory;
2.          New South Wales;
3.           Queensland;
4.          South Australia;
5.          Victoria; and
6.            Tasmania.
   1.          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.
   2.          A heavy vehicle to which this section applies and that complies with the conditions of this notice is an eligible vehicle.

1.                      Condition – Stated area or routes
   1.          An eligible vehicle is authorised to operate on areas and routes stated in a schedule.
   2.          For the purposes of section 138 (1)(a) of the HVNL, an area or route stated in a schedule is a stated area or route to which this notice applies.
   3.            An eligible vehicle 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.
   4.          An eligible vehicle operating on an area or route specified in a schedule must comply with any of the following conditions prescribed for that area or route:

1.          Road conditions pursuant to section 160 of the HVNL; and

1.          Travel conditions pursuant to section 161 of the HVNL; and
2.           Vehicle conditions pursuant to section 162 of the HVNL.

1.                      Condition – Compliance with PBS vehicle approval
   1.          An eligible vehicle must comply with the requirements and conditions of the PBS vehicle approval issued to it.
   2.          If another condition of this notice, or a condition of access to a network under this notice, makes a requirement that is more restrictive than the vehicle’s PBS vehicle approval then the more restrictive condition must be complied with.

Note:  This notice is an access Authority and not an Exemption from prescribed mass or dimension limits. A schedule to this authorisation notice may include a condition that will apply despite the PBS vehicle approval. For example, access to a network may only be permitted to PBS vehicles no higher than 4.6m despite a greater height shown in the PBS vehicle approval.

1.                  Condition – 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.

1.                  Condition – Mass and dimension limits
   1.          An eligible vehicle approved for operation at PBS Level 1 must:

1.          have a maximum overall length no greater than 20.0m; and

1.          have a maximum overall height no greater than 4.3m; and
2.           have a maximum operating mass no greater than 50.5t.
   1.            An eligible vehicle approved for operation at PBS Level 2 must have a maximum overall length no greater than 26.0m.

Jose Arredondo

Manager Network Access Policy

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

Schedule 1 The Australian Capital Territory

1.                      Application

This schedule applies in the Australian Capital Territory.

1.                      Condition - Stated areas or routes
   1.          Pursuant to the authorisation granted in section 8 of this notice, an eligible vehicle may operate in the areas and on the routes specified in this section.
   2.            An eligible vehicle approved for operation at PBS Level 1 at GML or CML may operate on the routes and areas provided in the following network:

    PBS Level 1 Truck and Dog Trailer

1.            An eligible vehicle approved for operation at PBS Level 2 at GML or CML may operate on the routes and areas provided in the following network:

    PBS Level 2A Truck & Dog Trailer

1.            An eligible vehicle approved for operation at HML may operate on the routes and areas provided in the following network:

    Australian Capital Territory HML Network

Schedule 2 New South Wales

1.                      Application

This schedule applies in New South Wales.

1.                      Condition - Stated areas or routes
   1.            Pursuant to the authorisation granted in section 8 of this notice, an eligible vehicle may operate in the areas and on the routes specified in this section.
   2.            An eligible vehicle approved for operation at PBS Level 1 at GML or CML may operate on the routes and areas provided in the following network:

    PBS Level 1

1.            An eligible vehicle approved for operation at PBS Level 2 at GML or CML may operate on the routes and areas provided in the following network:

    PBS 2A

1.            An eligible vehicle approved for operation at HML may operate on the routes and areas provided in the following networks:
   1.            for an eligible vehicle operating at PBS Level 1, all areas and routes in the ‘HML PBS Level 1’ network; and
   2.           for an eligible vehicle operating at PBS Level 2, all areas and routes in the ‘HML PBS 2A’ network.
2.            An eligible vehicle that is higher than 4.3m but not higher than 4.6m may only operate on a route that is also approved for 4.6m high vehicles.

1.                      Condition - Intelligent access program conditions
   1.            Pursuant to section 402(1)(c) of Chapter 7 of the HVNL, 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):

1.            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.

1.           For vehicles operating at HML mass limits:

Intelligent Access Program (IAP); or

Telematics Monitoring Application (TMA)

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

Schedule 3 Queensland

1.                      Application

This schedule applies in Queensland.

1.                      Condition - Stated areas or routes

1.          Pursuant to the authorisation granted in section 8 of this notice, an eligible vehicle may operate in the areas and on the routes specified in this section.

1.          An eligible vehicle approved for operation at PBS Level 1 at GML or CML may operate on all roads in Queensland.

1.            An eligible vehicle with a length no greater than 23m approved for operation at PBS Level 2 at GML or CML may operate on the routes and areas provided in the following network:

    B23 route (B-double 23m network)

1.            An eligible vehicle with an overall length greater than 23m approved for operation at PBS Level 2 at GML or CML may operate on the routes and areas provided in the following network:

    B25/26 route (B-Double 25m/26m network)

1.            An eligible vehicle approved for operation at HML may operate on the routes and areas provided in section 2(2), 2(3) and 2(4) of this schedule, subject to those areas or routes also being included in the following network:

    HML route (Higher Mass Limits network)

1.                      Condition - Intelligent Access Conditions
   1.            Pursuant to section 402(1)(a) and (b) of Chapter 7 of the HVNL, the following conditions of this notice are intelligent access program conditions:
      1.            any condition relating to mass or dimensions; and
      2.           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 section 402(1)(c) of Chapter 7 of the HVNL, an eligible vehicle operating at HML must be enrolled in and comply with the following approved intelligent transport system (ITS), approved by Transport Certification Australia:

    Telematics Monitoring Application (TMA)

1.            The approved ITS required under this section must be functioning while operating under this notice.

1.                      Condition - Intelligent Access Conditions (Self Declaration)
   1.            This section applies to an eligible vehicle operating under an approved intelligent transport system pursuant to section 3.
   2.            If an Approved Intelligent Transport System utilises a Self-Declared Input Device (SDID), the relevant information must be entered into the SDID by:
      1.            the driver, if the SDID is fitted in or on the vehicle; or
      2.           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:
      1.            there is a change to the vehicle mass or configuration; or
      2.           if prompted by the SDID.
   4.            For this section relevant information means information relating to the mass or configuration of the vehicle.

Schedule 4 South Australia

1.                      Application

This schedule applies in South Australia.

1.                      Condition - Stated areas or routes
   1.          Pursuant to the authorisation granted in section 8 of this notice, an eligible vehicle may operate in the areas and on the routes specified in this section.
   2.          An eligible vehicle approved for operation at PBS Level 1 at GML or CML may operate on the routes and areas provided in the following network:

    PBS Routes Level 1A

1.          An eligible vehicle approved for operation at PBS Level 2 at GML or CML may operate on the routes and areas provided in the following network:

    PBS Routes Level 2A

1.          An eligible vehicle approved for operation at HML may operate on the routes and areas provided in the following networks:

    PBS Routes Level 1A

    PBS Routes Level 2A

Note:  This means that eligible PBS vehicles may travel at HML on the PBS Level 1A and 2A networks, subject to compliance with any listed conditions applicable to the network.

Schedule 5 Tasmania

1.                      Application

This schedule applies in Tasmania.

1.                      Condition - Stated areas or routes
   1.          Pursuant to the authorisation granted in section 8 of this notice, an eligible vehicle may operate in the areas and on the routes specified in this section.
   2.          An eligible vehicle approved for operation at PBS Level 1 at GML or CML may operate on the routes and areas provided in the following network:

    PBS Level 1 network

1.          An eligible vehicle approved for operation at PBS Level 2 at GML or CML may operate on the routes and areas provided in the following network:

    PBS Level 2A network

1.          An eligible vehicle approved for operation at HML may operate on the routes and areas provided in section 2(2) and 2(3) of this schedule, subject to those areas or routes also being included in the following network:

    Tasmanian Declared Higher Mass Limits (HML) Route Network

Note:  PBS Level 1, Level 2A and HML network maps are published by the Department of State Growth, Tasmania.

Schedule 6 Victoria

1.                      Application

This schedule applies in Victoria.

1.                      Condition - Stated areas or routes
   1.          Pursuant to the authorisation granted in section 8 of this notice, an eligible vehicle may operate in the areas and on the routes specified in this section.
   2.          An eligible vehicle approved for operation at PBS Level 1 at GML or CML may operate on the routes and areas provided in the following network:

   PBS Level 1

1.          An eligible vehicle approved for operation at PBS Level 2 at GML or CML may operate on the routes and areas provided in the following network:

    PBS Level 2A Cubic Network

1.          An eligible vehicle approved for operation at HML may operate on the routes and areas provided in the following networks:

    PBS Level 1

    PBS Level 2A Cubic Network

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