HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW
National Class 3 Bus Rear Overhang Dimension Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1)
- Purpose
This notice grants an exemption from rear overhang dimension requirements for class 3 buses, other than articulated buses, that are longer than 12.5m but are not longer than 14.5m.
2. Authorising provision
1) This Notice is made under the following provision of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL):
a) section 117 – Regulator’s power to exempt category of class 1 or 3 heavy vehicles from compliance with mass or dimension requirement.
3. Title
This notice may be cited as the National Class 3 Bus Rear Overhang Dimension Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1).
4. Commencement date
This Notice commences on 10 February 2024.
5. Expiry date
This Notice expires on 9 February 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:
Guide means the National Controlled Access Bus Operator’s Guide, as amended from time to time.
7. Application
1) This exemption notice applies to a class 3 heavy vehicle that is a bus, other than an articulated bus, that is longer than 12.5m but is not longer than 14.5m.
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. Exemption – Prescribed dimension requirements
1) An eligible vehicle is exempt from the following dimension requirements under Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL Regulation):
a) section 5 – Length (rear overhang)
2) An exemption in 1) only applies to the extent that specific conditional dimension limits are provided in the Schedule for a participating jurisdiction.
9. Conditions – Areas and 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 119(1)(a) of the HVNL, an area or route specified in a Schedule of 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 notice or its Schedules must comply with the following conditions as specified for that area or route:
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 9 of this notice, an eligible vehicle meeting the requirements of this notice and this Schedule may operate on the routes and areas specified in the following network:
Approved routes for 14.5m Controlled Access Bus
2) Regardless of any access granted under this section, an eligible vehicle must comply with any conditions or restrictions applied to a stated area or route in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements in the Guide.
3. Condition – Rear Overhang Dimension Requirement
1) An eligible vehicle operating under this Schedule must not exceed the lesser of:
a) 4.9m; or
b) 70% of the distance between the centre-line of the front axle and the rear overhang line.
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 9 of this Notice, an eligible vehicle meeting the requirements of this notice and this schedule may operate on the routes and areas specified in the following network:
New South Wales Controlled Access Bus (CAB) Network Map
2) Regardless of any access granted under this section, an eligible vehicle must comply with any conditions or restrictions applied to a stated area or route in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements in the Guide.
3. Condition – Rear Overhang Dimension Requirement
1) An eligible vehicle operating under this Schedule must not exceed the lesser of:
a) 4.9m; or
b) 70% of the distance between the centre-line of the front axle and the rear overhang line.
Schedule 3 Queensland
- Application
This Schedule applies in Queensland.
2. Condition – Stated routes and areas
1) Pursuant to the authorisation granted in section 9 of this Notice, an eligible vehicle may operate on:
a) All State controlled roads except those restricted by the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements published in the Guide; and
b) Local government roads set out in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements published in the Guide.
3. Condition – Rear Overhang Dimension Requirement
1) An eligible vehicle operating under this Schedule must not exceed the lesser of:
a) 4.7m; or
b) 70% of the distance between the centre-line of the front axle and the rear overhang line.
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 9 of this notice, an eligible vehicle may operate in the areas and on the routes specified in this section.
2) An eligible vehicle that does not exceed 13.7m in length has general access.
3) An eligible vehicle exceeding 13.7m in length may operate on the routes and areas specified in the following network:
Controlled Access Bus up to 14.5m
4) Regardless of any access granted under this section, an eligible vehicle must comply with any conditions or restrictions applied to a stated area or route in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements in the Guide.
5) In this section, general access means access to all roads except as restricted by the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements in the Guide.
3. Condition – Rear Overhang Dimension Requirement
1) An eligible vehicle operating under this Schedule must not exceed the lesser of:
a) 4.3m; or
b) 60% of the distance between the centre-line of the front axle and the rear overhang line.
Schedule 5 Tasmania
- Application
This Schedule applies in Tasmania.
2. Condition – Stated routes and areas (Networks)
1) Pursuant to the authorisation granted in section 9 of this Notice, an eligible vehicle meeting the requirements of this Notice and this Schedule may operate on the routes and areas specified in the following network:
Tasmanian 14.5m Long Controlled Access Buses Network
2) Regardless of any access granted under this section, an eligible vehicle must comply with any conditions or restrictions applied to a stated area or route in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements in the Guide.
3. Condition – Rear Overhang Dimension Requirement
1) An eligible vehicle operating under this Schedule must not exceed the lesser of:
a) 4.3m; or
b) 60% of the distance between the centre-line of the front axle and the rear overhang line.
Schedule 6 Victoria
- Application
This Schedule applies in Victoria.
2. Condition – Stated routes and areas (Networks)
1) Pursuant to the authorisation granted in section 9 of this notice, an eligible vehicle meeting the requirements of this Notice and this Schedule may operate on the routes and areas specified in the following network:
Victoria Controlled Access Bus Network
2) Regardless of any access granted under this section, an eligible vehicle must comply with any conditions or restrictions applied to a stated area or route in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements in the Guide.
3. Condition – Rear Overhang Dimension Requirement
1) An eligible vehicle operating under this Schedule must not exceed the lesser of:
a) 4.3m; or
b) 60% of the distance between the centre-line of the front axle and the rear overhang line.