HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW
National Class 3 Vehicle Carrier Exemption Notice 2024 (No. 1)
Purpose
The purpose of this Notice is to exempt the stated categories of class 3 heavy vehicles from the stated dimension requirements of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (the Regulation) specified in the Notice, subject to the conditions specified in this Notice.
Authorising Provision
- This Notice is made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).
Title
2. This Notice may be cited as the National Class 3 Vehicle Carrier Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1).
Commencement
3. This Notice commences on 10 February 2024.
Expiry
4. This Notice expires on 9 February 2029.
Definition
5. Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this Notice have the same meanings as in the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) or regulations made under the HVNL.
6. In this Notice—
‘National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice’ means the current national notice of that name providing access to Class 2 B-Doubles.
‘National Class 2 Road Train Authorisation Notice’ means the current national notice of that name providing access to Class 2 Road Trains.
‘vehicle carrier’ means a heavy vehicle that is a combination designed and built to carry vehicles on more than one deck that is higher than 4.3m but not higher than 4.6m and is either:
(a) a B-double that together with its load is longer than 25m but not longer than 26m, and complies with section 3(3) of Schedule 6 of the Regulation; or
(b) a truck towing one trailer, where the combination together with its load is longer than 25m, but not longer than 31.5m (an ‘eligible truck and trailer combination’).
‘stated areas or routes’ means the stated areas or routes referred to in a document incorporated in Appendix 1 in each schedule.
‘stated hours of stated days’ means the stated hours of stated days referred to in a document incorporated in Appendix 1 in each schedule.
Application
7. This Notice applies to—
a) a vehicle carrier that is a B-double in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania; and
b) an eligible truck and trailer combination in Queensland
Exemption from prescribed dimension requirement
8. This Notice exempts—
a) a B-double that is a vehicle carrier from the dimension limit prescribed in section 3(1)(d) of the Regulation; and
b) an eligible truck and trailer combination from the dimension limit prescribed in section 3(1)(a) of the Regulation.
Conditions
9. A vehicle carrier to which this notice applies must comply with the conditions mentioned in the Schedules to this Notice.
Condition - Areas or routes
10. This notice applies in the areas or routes set out in the Schedules to this notice.
11. A vehicle carrier to which this notice applies may travel on the routes set out in the Schedules to this Notice.
Peter Austin
Director, Policy Implementation
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
Schedule 1 - New South Wales
Stated areas or routes
- A B-double that is not more than 4.3m high may use:
a) the National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice, or
b) the National Class 2 Road Train Authorisation Notice.
2. A B-double that is more than 4.3m high but not more than 4.6m high may use the routes set out in Appendix 1 to this Schedule.
Stated hours or stated days
3. A B-double that is authorised to use the routes specified in clause 1 must do so in accordance with any restrictions on the hours and days of operation specified in the NSW Schedule of:
a) the National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice, or
b) the National Class 2 Road Train Authorisation Notice.
Conditions
4. A B-double must comply with any conditions applicable to a route described in clause 1 as set out in the NSW Schedule of:
a) the National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice, or
b) the National Class 2 Road Train Authorisation Notice.
Appendix 1
Map and/or list of routes as specified under the following network as published by Transport for New South Wales.
“Restricted Access Vehicle maps and lists”
Schedule 2 – Queensland
Part 1 – 26m B-double vehicle carriers
Stated areas or routes
- A B-double that is not longer than 26m may use the routes and areas for 25m B-doubles shown on the Multi-combination Routes in Queensland maps and the list of additional routes set out in Appendix 1.
- A B-double that is higher than 4.3m may not use a road where there is insufficient height clearance for the combination to pass without striking or damaging any road infrastructure.
Note: The driver of a Vehicle Carrier that is higher than 4.3m must assess the suitability of a road prior to operating the vehicle on that road. The roads used must be continually monitored to ensure sufficient clearance for the vehicle exists.
Stated hours of stated days
3. A B-double that is authorised to use the routes and areas specified in clause 1 must do so in accordance with any restrictions on the hours and days of operation specified in the relevant documents.
Conditions
4. A B-double must comply with—
a) any conditions applicable to a route or area described in clause 1 specified in the relevant documents; and
b) the conditions set out in Schedule 2 of the National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice.
Part 2 - Eligible truck and trailer combination vehicle carriers
Stated areas or routes
5. An eligible truck and trailer combination—
a) may only use the Type 1 and Type 2 road train routes and areas set out in Appendix 1; and
b) must comply with any conditions specified on the maps for a route or area mentioned in clause 6; and
c) that is higher than 4.3m may not use a road where there is insufficient height clearance for the combination to pass without striking or damaging any road infrastructure.
Note: The driver of a Vehicle Carrier that is higher than 4.3m must assess the suitability of a road prior to operating the vehicle on that road. The roads used must be continually monitored to ensure sufficient clearance for the vehicle exists.
Conditions
6. An eligible truck and trailer combination must comply with the conditions in Schedule 3 of the Queensland Class 3 Truck Towing One Trailer Exceeding 19m Up To 31.5m Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice.
Appendix 1
Routes and areas for 25m B-doubles shown on the Multi-combination Routes in Queensland maps and the list of additional routes
Type 1 and Type 2 road train routes and areas shown on the Multi-combination Routes in Queensland maps.
Note: The routes set out in this appendix are published by the Queensland
Department of Transport and Main Roads and are published on its website.
Schedule 3 - South Australia
Stated areas or routes
- A Vehicle Carrier that is used in a B-double combination must only use a route approved for a B-double that is not longer than 26m in Schedule 3 of the National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice.
Stated hours of stated days
2. A B-double that is authorised to use the routes specified in clause 1 must do so in accordance with any restrictions on the hours and days of operation specified for those routes.
Conditions
3. A B-double, as constructed, must not be higher than 4.3m.
4. Vehicles must not be carried on an upper deck unless each deck below is fully loaded.
5. A B-double must comply with the conditions set out in the South Australia Schedule of the National Class 2 Heavy Vehicle B-double Authorisation Notice.
Schedule 4 - Tasmania
Stated areas or routes
- Subject to clause 2 of this Schedule, a Vehicle Carrier that is configured as a B-double combination may only use the areas or routes that are detailed in the Tasmanian 26 metre B-double Route Network map specified in Appendix 1.
- A Vehicle Carrier must not use—
a) Tasman Bridge if the vehicle is higher than 4.3m;
b) Bridgewater Bridge, if the vehicle is higher than 4.3m; or
c) Any other road where there is insufficient height clearance for the vehicle to pass without striking or damaging any road infrastructure
Note: the driver of a Vehicle Carrier that is higher than 4.3m must assess the suitability of a road prior to operating the vehicle on that road using the maps specified in Appendix 1 to ensure sufficient clearance for the vehicle exists.
Stated hours of stated days
3. A B-double that is authorised to use the areas or routes specified in clause 1 must do so in accordance with any restrictions on the hours and days of operation, specified in the National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice and in the B-double network map specified in Appendix 1. Conditions
4. A B-double that is authorised to use the routes specified in clause 1 must comply with the conditions about the operation of the vehicle specified in the National Class 2 B-Double Authorisation Notice and in the B-double network map specified in Appendix 1.
Appendix 1
Tasmanian 26 metre B-double Network Map
Height Clearance Under Overhead Structures Map
Note: The maps and networks referred to in this appendix are published by the Tasmania Department of State Growth and are available on its website.