New South Wales Class 3 Livestock Tri-axle Group Mass Limit Exemption Notice 2019 (No. 1)

Overview

The New South Wales Class 3 Livestock Tri-axle Group Mass Limit Exemption Notice 2019 (No. 1) was enacted to provide an exemption from certain mass limits for tri-axle groups of Class 3 heavy vehicles transporting livestock, specifically live cattle, sheep, pigs, or goats. This notice was introduced to address practical challenges faced by livestock transporters in New South Wales, ensuring that they can comply with mass limits while still being able to transport livestock efficiently. The notice was issued under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) and commenced on 10 February 2019, replacing the previous exemption notice from 2014. The policy objective of this notice is to facilitate smoother operations for livestock transporters while maintaining safety standards on New South Wales roads.

Scope and Application

The New South Wales Class 3 Livestock Tri-axle Group Mass Limit Exemption Notice 2019 (No. 1) applies to specific categories of Class 3 heavy vehicles when they are transporting live livestock, including cattle, sheep, pigs, or goats, and are operating within the general mass limits set out in the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation or any lower limits specified in a Class 2 or 3 heavy vehicle authorisation notice. This includes prime movers with tandem drive axle groups and semi-trailers with tri-axle groups, B-doubles, B-triples, and road trains, provided they have the specified tyre configurations and do not exceed the deck length limits for animal carriage. This notice applies to all roads in New South Wales approved under the Heavy Vehicle National Law for the operation of these vehicles, subject to any specific load limits indicated on signs or notices. The notice is issued under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law and operates until it expires on 9 February 2024, replacing the 2014 notice. The primary condition of the exemption is that the mass on a tri-axle group of a semi-trailer must not exceed 21.0t, with additional specific limits for the tri-axle group of a converter dolly in road trains depending on whether certified road-friendly suspension is fitted.

Key Provisions

The New South Wales Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Livestock Tri-Axle Group Mass Limit Exemption Notice 2019 (No. 1) (the Notice) exempts certain heavy vehicles from the mass limit for a tri-axle group with single tyres with section widths of at least 375mm, or dual tyres, as specified in Table 1 of Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (the National Regulation). This exemption applies to vehicles carrying livestock and operating within the general mass limits of the National Regulation or under a Class 2 or 3 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice). Section 8 of the Notice specifies the categories of vehicles eligible for this exemption, which include prime movers with tandem drive axle groups and semi-trailers with tri-axle groups, B-doubles, B-triples, and road trains, all equipped with the specified tyre types and adhering to the carriage length limits for livestock. The Notice imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. Firstly, the mass on a tri-axle group of a semi-trailer must not exceed 21.0 tonnes, as stipulated in Section 9. For road trains, the mass on the tri-axle group of a converter dolly must not exceed 21.0 tonnes if fitted with certified road-friendly suspension, or 17.0 tonnes if not fitted, as outlined in Section 10. Additionally, the loaded mass of the heavy vehicle must not exceed the applicable mass limit specified in the National Regulation or any lower limit specified in a Class 2 or 3 heavy vehicle authorisation (notice), as per Section 11. Finally, the Notice permits these vehicles to operate on all roads in New South Wales that are approved under the Heavy Vehicle National Law, except where prohibited by a load limit specified for a road, bridge, or causeway by a sign or notice, as per Section 12. There are no explicit offences, penalties, or consequences for breach detailed within the Notice itself. However, breaches of the Heavy Vehicle National Law or associated regulations could lead to enforcement actions, fines, or other penalties as prescribed by the respective legislation. The specific consequences would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, as well as the applicable laws and regulations in the participating jurisdictions.