HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW
NEW SOUTH WALES AND VICTORIA CLASS 3 BUS MASS LIMIT EXEMPTION (NOTICE) 2014 (No. 1)
PART 1 – PRELIMINARY
- Purpose
The purpose of this Notice is to exempt specified types of buses from the total mass limits and axle mass limits of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (the Regulation).
2. Authorising provision
This Notice is made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law as in force in each participating jurisdiction (HVNL) and section 69(1)(a) of the Heavy Vehicle (General) National Regulation.
3. Title
This Notice may be cited as the New South Wales and Victoria Class 3 Bus Mass Limit Exemption (Notice) 2014 (No. 1).
4. Commencement
This Notice commences on 10 February 2014.
5. Expiry
This Notice expires on 9 February 2019.
6. Definitions
Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this Notice have the same meanings as those defined in the HVNL.
In this Notice –
‘Australian Road Authority’ includes the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
PART 2 – TWO-AXLE BUSES
7. Application of this Part
This Part applies to a two-axle bus that has a steer axle with single tyres, and a single rear (drive) axle with dual tyres and is—
(a) a complying bus;
(b) an ultra-low floor bus;
(c) a bus that is longer than 12.5m but not longer than 14.5m (a controlled access bus); or
(d) a bus that is licensed to carry standing passengers, other than an ultra-low floor bus.
Note: This Part replaces—
- In Victoria, Declaration Of Certain 2-Axle Buses As Class 3 Vehicles And Mass Limit Exemptions For Such Vehicles (S129 2012); and
- In New South Wales, Ministerial Declaration (Two Axle Bus Mass Exemption) Order 2013.
8. Exemption from prescribed mass requirement
This Part exempts a bus to which it applies from the mass limits stated in section 2(1)(a)(iv) and section 4 of the Regulation.
9. Total mass limit
The mass of a bus must not be more than 18t.
10. Axle mass limits
The mass on an axle of a bus must not be more than-
(a) for a steer axle with single tyres – 7t.
(b) for a rear drive axle with dual tyres – 12t.
11. Vehicle safety conditions
A bus operating in NSW must comply with the following braking and stability control requirements:
(a) If a bus is fitted with an Identification Plate which indicates that the vehicle was manufactured before 1 January 2015, it must be fitted with a properly functioning:
- Anti-lock braking system; or
- Electronic stability control.
(b) If a bus is fitted with an Identification Plate which indicates that the vehicle was manufactured on or after 1 January 2015, it must be fitted with properly functioning:
- Anti-lock braking system and electronic braking system; or
- Electronic stability control.
(c) Compliance with the requirements of subclauses (a) and (b) must be verified by either-
(i) an Identification Plate issued by a person authorised by an Australian Road Authority to affix an Identification Plate; or
(ii) a certificate verifying modifications issued by a person authorised by an Australian Road Authority to certify heavy vehicle modifications; or
(iii) an original letter from the manufacturer of the vehicle stating the vehicle complies with the requirements of subclause (a), which system is installed; the model and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the vehicle chassis.
(d) A certificate or letter referred to in subclauses (c)(ii) or (c)(iii) must be carried in the driving compartment of the vehicle.
12. Approved routes
A bus operating under this Part may use any road in New South Wales or Victoria.
PART 3 - THREE-AXLE COMPLYING BUSES
13. Application of this Part
This Part applies to a complying bus with a single steer axle and a rear tandem drive axle in New South Wales.
14. Exemption from prescribed mass requirement
This Part exempts a bus to which it applies from the mass limits stated in section 2(1)(a)(iv) of the Regulation.
15. Total mass limit
The mass of a bus must not be more than-
(a) For a bus with a rear tandem axle group with single tyres on one axle and dual tyres on the other axle - 20.5t.
(b) For a bus with a rear tandem axle group fitted with dual tyres upon both axles - 23t.
16. Axle and axle group mass limits
The mass on an axle or axle group of a bus must not exceed the limits that apply to single axles and axle groups as set out in Table 1 of Schedule 1 to the Regulation.
17. Vehicle safety conditions
(a) A bus must be fitted with a properly functioning:
(i) anti-lock braking system and electronic braking system; or
(ii) electronic stability control.
(b) Compliance with the requirements subclause (a) must be verified by either:
(i) an Identification Plate issued by a person authorised by an Australian Road Authority to affix an Identification Plate; or
(ii) a certificate verifying modifications issued by a person authorised by an Australian Road Authority to certify heavy vehicle modifications; or
(iii) an original letter from the manufacturer of the vehicle stating the vehicle complies with the requirements of subclause (a), which system is installed; the model and Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of the vehicle chassis.
(c) A certificate or letter referred to in subclauses (b)(ii) or (b)(iii) must be carried in the driving compartment of the vehicle.
18. Approved routes
A bus operating under this Part may use any road in New South Wales.
PART 4 - THREE AXLE ULTRA-LOW FLOOR BUSES
19. Interpretation
In this Part—
‘disrupted railway passenger services’ means the unplanned disruption of railway passenger services operated by a NSW entity that are sufficiently serious to require the provision of rail replacement bus services.
‘rail replacement bus service’ means a bus operated by an accredited service operator within the meaning of the Passenger Transport Act 1990 (NSW) for the purpose of carrying passengers, and persons who were proposing to be passengers, of disrupted railway passenger services.
‘regular bus service’ means a bus service provided in accordance with a service contract entered into under Part 3 of the Passenger Transport Act 1990 (NSW).
20. Application of this Part
This Part applies to a bus providing a regular bus service or a rail replacement bus service in NSW that is either-
(a) A rigid ultra-low floor bus that is longer than 12.5m but not longer than 14.5m that has a rear tandem axle group fitted with single tyres on one axle and dual tyres on the other axle; or
(b) An articulated ultra-low floor bus that has no tandem axle groups and only three single axles, with dual tyres fitted on the centre and rear axles.
Note—This Part replaces the NSW Class 3 Metropolitan High Capacity Bus Mass Limit Exemption Notice 2012 (as amended)
21. Exemption from prescribed mass requirement
This Part exempts a bus to which it applies from the mass limits stated in section 2(1)(a)(iv) and section 4 of the Regulation.
22. Total mass limits
(a) The mass on a bus that complies with subclause 20(a) must not exceed 20.8t.
(b) The mass on a bus that complies with subclause 20(b) must not exceed 26.8t.
23. Axle and axle group mass limits
(a) A bus that complies with subclause 20(a) must not exceed the following mass limits-
(i) for a single steer axle - 6.5t.
(ii) for a tandem axle group - 14.5t.
(b) A bus that complies with subclause 20(b) of this Notice must not exceed the following mass limits-
(i) for a single steer axle - 6t.
(ii) for a central axle - 9t.
(iii) for a rear axle – 11.8t.
24. Approved routes
A bus operating under this Part may use any road in New South Wales.
DECLARATION
I, Richard Hancock, delegate of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, hereby exempt a bus to which this Notice applies from the vehicle mass limits in section 2 and the axle and axle group mass limits in section 4 of Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation, subject to compliance with the requirements and conditions set out in this Notice.
29th January 2014
Dated
Richard Hancock
Chief Executive Officer
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator