National Class 3 Vehicle Carrier Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1)

HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

National Class 3 Vehicle Carrier Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1)

Purpose

1.        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 this notice, subject to the conditions specified in this notice.

1.        This notice revokes and replaces the National Class 3 Vehicle Carrier Exemption Notice 2025 (No.1).

Authorising Provision

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

1.     section 117 - Regulator’s power to exempt category of class 1 or 3 heavy vehicles from compliance with mass or dimension requirement;
2.     section 23 of Schedule 1 - Regulator’s power to amend or repeal instrument.
    

Title

1.       This notice may be cited as the National Class 3 Vehicle Carrier Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1).

Commencement

1.        This notice commences on 1 August.

Expiry

1.        This notice expires on 9 February 2029.

Definitions

1.       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.
    
2.        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:

1.     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
2.     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

1.        This notice applies to:

1.       a vehicle carrier that is a B-double in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania; and
2.       an eligible truck and trailer combination in Queensland

Exemption from prescribed dimension requirements

1.    This notice exempts:

1.       a B-double that is a vehicle carrier from the dimension limit prescribed in section 3(1)(d) of the Regulation; and
2.       an eligible truck and trailer combination from the dimension limit prescribed in section 3(1)(a) of the Regulation.

Conditions

1.    A vehicle carrier to which this notice applies must comply with the conditions mentioned in the schedules to this notice.

Condition - Areas or routes

1.    This notice applies in the areas or routes set out in the Schedules to this notice.
2.    A vehicle carrier to which this notice applies may travel on the routes set out in the schedules to this notice.

Jose Arredondo

Manager Network Access Policy

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

Schedule 1 - New South Wales

Stated areas or routes

1.        A B-double that is not more than 4.3m high may use:

1.       the National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice, or
2.       the National Class 2 Road Train Authorisation Notice.

1.        A B-double that is more than 4.3m high but not more than 4.6m high may use the routes set out in National Class 2 Heavy Vehicle B-double Authorisation Notice and the following networks:

GML 19m B-double Routes (over 50 tonnes)

GML 23m B-double Routes

GML 25/26m B-double Routes 

1.        An eligible vehicle that is more than 4.3m high but not more than 4.6m high may only operate on a route that is also approved on the 4.6m High Vehicle Network layer (NSW Network Overlays) on the NHVR National Network Map.

Note:  This means the route must be displayed as approved on both the relevant B-double network map AND the 4.6m High Vehicle Network layer (NSW Network Overlays) on the NHVR National Network Map.

Road network maps for New South Wales are published on the NHVR National Network Map.

Stated hours or stated days

1.        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:

1.       the National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice, or
2.       the National Class 2 Road Train Authorisation Notice.

Conditions

1.        A B-double must comply with any conditions applicable to a route described in clause 1   as set out in the NSW Schedule of:

1.       the National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice, or
2.       the National Class 2 Road Train Authorisation Notice.

Schedule 2 – Queensland

Part 1 – 26m B-double vehicle carriers

Stated areas or routes

1.        A B-double that is not longer than 26m may use the routes and areas on the following network:

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

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.

Road network maps for Queensland are published on the NHVR National Network Map.

Stated hours of stated days

1.        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

1.        A B-double must comply with:  

1.       any conditions applicable to a route or area described in clause 1 specified in the relevant documents; and
2.       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

1.        An eligible truck and trailer combination:  

1.       may use the routes and areas on the following network:

RT1 route (Road Train Type 1 network)

1.       must comply with any conditions specified on the maps for a route or area mentioned in clause 6; and
2.        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.

 Road network maps for Queensland are published on the NHVR National Network Map.

Conditions

1.        An eligible truck and trailer combination must comply with the conditions in the Queensland Class 3 Truck and Dog (exceeding 19m up to 31.5m in length) Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice.

Schedule 3 - South Australia

Stated areas or routes

1.        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

1.        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

1.        A B-double, as constructed, must not be higher than 4.3m.
2.        Vehicles must not be carried on an upper deck unless each deck below is fully loaded.
3.        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

1.        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.
2.        A Vehicle Carrier must not use:

1.       Tasman Bridge if the vehicle is higher than 4.3m; or
2.       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

1.        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
2.        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.