New South Wales Class 3 Converter Dolly Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2023 (No.1)

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Legislation au C2023G01169 In force Gazette

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HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

New South Wales Class 3 Converter Dolly Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2023 (No.1)

  1. Purpose

 

1)      This notice grants exemptions from mass and dimension requirements for class 3 heavy combinations that are towing an unladen converter dolly. It also provides conditions of operation under those exemptions, including stated areas and routes upon which the exempted vehicle may operate.

 

2)      This notice revokes the New South Wales Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Converter Dolly Combination Exemption Notice 2019 (No. 1)

 

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.

b)      section 23 of Schedule 1 – Regulator’s power to amend or repeal instrument.

 

3.       Title

 

This notice may be cited as the New South Wales Class 3 Converter Dolly Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2023 (No.1).

 

4.       Commencement date

 

This notice commences on 3 November 2023.

 

5.       Expiry date

 

This notice expires on 2 November 2028.

 

6.       Definitions

 

1)      In this notice:

Unladen converter dolly means a converter dolly that is not supporting a semitrailer and is not otherwise carrying or supporting a load.


7.       Application

 

1)      This notice applies to a class 3 heavy vehicle that is:

 

a)      a combination consisting of a prime mover towing a semitrailer and an unladen converter dolly; or

b)      a combination consisting of a B-double towing an unladen converter dolly.

 

2)      This notice applies in New South Wales.

 

3)      A heavy vehicle to which this section applies and that complies with the conditions of this notice is an eligible vehicle.

 

8.       Exemption – Prescribed mass requirements

 

1)      An eligible vehicle is exempt from the following mass requirements under Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL Regulation):

 

a)      section 2 – Mass limits for a single vehicle or combination

 

2)      An exemption in 1) only applies to an eligible vehicle to the extent that specific conditional mass limits are provided in sections 9, 10 and 11 of this notice.

 

3)      If, in relation to a particular vehicle or component, this notice provides for two or more mass limits imposing different mass limits that apply in the same circumstances, the lower mass limit applies, and the other mass limit must be disregarded.

 

9.       Conditions – Mass (total mass of an eligible vehicle)

 

1)      The total mass of an eligible must not exceed the following:

 

a)      for a combination consisting of a prime mover towing a semitrailer and an unladen converter dolly – 45.5t.

 

b)      for a combination consisting of a B-double towing an unladen converter dolly – 65.5t.

 


10.   Conditions – Mass (additional mass for complying steer axle vehicles)

 

An eligible vehicle may exceed the limits specified in section 9 by 0.5t if the vehicle is a complying steer axle vehicle.

 

11.   Conditions – Additional mass for mass management accreditation

 

1)      An eligible vehicle that holds mass management accreditation may exceed the limits specified in section 9 by the following amounts:

 

a)      for a combination consisting of a prime mover towing a semitrailer and an unladen converter dolly – 1.0t.

b)      for a combination consisting of a B-double that is towing an unladen converter dolly – 2.0t.

 

12.   Exemption – Prescribed dimension requirements

 

1)      An eligible vehicle is exempt from the following mass requirements under Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL Regulation):

 

a)      section 3 – Length (combination or single vehicle)

 

2)      An exemption in 1) only applies to the extent that specific conditional dimension limits are provided in section 13 of this notice.

 

13.   Condition – Dimension limits

 

1)      The length of an eligible must not exceed the following:

 

a)      for a combination consisting of a prime mover towing a semitrailer and an unladen converter dolly – 25.0m.

 

b)      for a combination consisting of a B-double towing an unladen converter dolly – 36.5m.

 


14.   Conditions – Areas and routes

 

1)      For the purposes of section 119(1)(a) of the HVNL, an area or route specified in this section is a stated area or route to which this notice applies.

 

2)      An eligible vehicle that is a combination consisting of a prime mover towing a semitrailer and an unladen converter dolly may operate on areas and routes specified in the following network:

 

New South Wales 26 metre B-double Network

 

3)      An eligible vehicle that is a combination consisting of a B-double towing an unladen converter dolly may operate on operate on areas and routes specified in the following network:

 

NSW GML Type 1 A-double network

 

4)      An eligible vehicle operating on an area or route specified in this section must comply with the following conditions specified for that route or area:

 

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

 

Overview

The New South Wales Class 3 Converter Dolly Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2023 (No.1) was enacted to provide exemptions from certain mass and dimension requirements for class 3 heavy vehicles towing an unladen converter dolly, while simultaneously setting specific conditions for their operation. This notice, which commenced on 3 November 2023 and will expire on 2 November 2028, was made under the authority of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), specifically sections 117 and 23 of Schedule 1, allowing the Regulator to exempt vehicles from compliance with mass or dimension requirements and to amend or repeal existing instruments. The notice revokes the previous exemption notice from 2019 and applies to class 3 heavy vehicles in New South Wales, establishing conditions for the total mass, additional mass allowances for specific vehicle types, and dimension limits, as well as specifying areas and routes where such vehicles may operate. The policy objective is to facilitate the movement of these vehicles under controlled conditions while maintaining road safety standards.

Scope and Application

The New South Wales Class 3 Converter Dolly Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2023 (No.1) applies to class 3 heavy vehicles that are combinations of a prime mover towing a semitrailer and an unladen converter dolly, or a B-double towing an unladen converter dolly, operating within New South Wales. This notice provides exemptions from certain mass and dimension requirements under the Heavy Vehicle National Law and the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation, with specific conditions that must be adhered to. The notice exempts eligible vehicles from mass and dimension requirements to the extent specified, provided they comply with outlined mass and length limits and operate on designated areas and routes. The exemption is effective from 3 November 2023 and expires on 2 November 2028, and it revokes the previous exemption notice from 2019. The notice may be extended or amended under the authorising provisions of the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

Key Provisions

The New South Wales Class 3 Converter Dolly Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2023 (No. 1) provides exemptions from certain mass and dimension requirements for class 3 heavy vehicles towing an unladen converter dolly, while also specifying operational conditions. This notice is made under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) and applies to class 3 heavy vehicles that are either a prime mover towing a semitrailer and an unladen converter dolly or a B-double towing an unladen converter dolly. This notice exempts eligible vehicles from specific mass limits, provided they adhere to the conditions set out in sections 9, 10 and 11 of the notice. These conditions include total mass limits of 45.5 tonnes for prime mover and semitrailer combinations and 65.5 tonnes for B-double combinations. Furthermore, vehicles can exceed these limits by up to 0.5 tonnes if they are compliant steer axle vehicles or by additional amounts if they hold mass management accreditation. This notice imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. Firstly, it mandates that the total mass of an eligible vehicle must not exceed the specified limits unless certain conditions are met. Secondly, the length of eligible vehicles must not exceed 25.0 metres for prime mover and semitrailer combinations and 36.5 metres for B-double combinations. Thirdly, eligible vehicles must operate only on the specified networks and must comply with the road, travel, and vehicle conditions outlined in sections 160, 161, and 162 of the HVNL. Failure to comply with these conditions or the mass and dimension requirements could result in legal consequences. Breaches of the conditions set out in this notice may lead to various penalties and legal consequences. Under the HVNL, non-compliance with the specified mass and dimension requirements can result in significant fines and potential prosecution. The specific penalties are not detailed in this notice but can be found in the relevant sections of the HVNL. Additionally, operating outside the specified areas and routes or failing to meet the conditions for road, travel, and vehicle requirements could result in additional penalties, including fines or other legal action as deemed appropriate by the courts. The precise penalties are not stated in this notice but would be in accordance with the HVNL.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.