HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW
Queensland Class 1 Pole Erecting Vehicle Dimension Exemption Notice 2022 (No. 1)
- Purpose
1) The purpose of this notice is to exempt heavy vehicle combinations used to carry power poles from stated prescribed dimension requirements in Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National regulation (National Regulation).
Note: This Notice replaces Part 3 of the Queensland Class 1 Heavy Vehicle (Load Carrying) Dimension Exemption Notice 2017 (No.1).
As a class 1 exemption, Schedule 8 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation applies.
2. Authorising Provision
This notice is made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).
3. Commencement
This notice commences on 1 July 2022.
4. Expiry
This notice expires on 30 June 2027.
5. Title
This notice may be cited as the Queensland Class 1 Pole Erecting Vehicle Dimension Exemption Notice 2022 (No. 1).
6. Definitions
1) Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this Notice have the same meanings as those defined in the HVNL.
2) In this Notice-
Electricity entity has the same meaning as in the Electrical Safety Act 2002 (Qld).
Queensland Access Conditions Guide means the document of that name published by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR).
Note: the Queensland Access Conditions Guideline is available on the TMR website.
Pole erecting vehicle means a vehicle that used for carrying and erecting power poles that is either a rigid truck, or a combination consisting of a rigid truck towing a trailer.
7. Application
This Part applies to a pole erecting vehicle operated by an electricity authority or their agent.
8. Condition – Stated Routes and Areas
1) Vehicles operating under this Notice may operate on all roads in Queensland.
2) While operating under this Notice, a combination must comply with the operating conditions of the Queensland Access Conditions Guideline.
9. Exemption – Dimension
1) A pole erecting vehicle operating under this Notice 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(1)(a) – Length (combination)
b) section 4 – Length (trailers)
c) section 5 – Length (rear overhang)
2) An exemption in 1) only applies to the extent that specific conditional dimension limits are provided in section 10 of this Notice.
10. Conditions – Dimensions
1) While operating under this Notice, a pole erecting vehicle must not exceed the following dimensions:
a) total combination length – 25.0m
b) a truck rear overhang – 3.5m.
c) a trailer rear overhang – 5.0m.
2) Further to the restriction in (1)(a) a pole erecting vehicle that is a truck and trailer in combination, and is not carrying a power pole, must not exceed 19.0m in length.
Peter Caprioli
Executive Director (Freight and Supply Chain Productivity)
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
Overview
The Queensland Class 1 Pole Erecting Vehicle Dimension Exemption Notice 2022 (No. 1), enacted under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), addresses the need for specific exemptions to prescribed dimension requirements for heavy vehicles used in the power sector. This notice, which commenced on 1 July 2022 and will expire on 30 June 2027, exempts pole erecting vehicles, which are either rigid trucks or combinations of a rigid truck and a trailer, from certain mass dimension requirements in Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation. The primary objective is to facilitate the efficient operation of these vehicles in Queensland by allowing them to carry power poles while adhering to specified dimensional limits. This exemption applies to vehicles operated by electricity authorities or their agents, provided they comply with the operating conditions outlined in the Queensland Access Conditions Guide.
Scope and Application
The Queensland Class 1 Pole Erecting Vehicle Dimension Exemption Notice 2022 (No. 1) is a specific regulatory instrument that applies to pole erecting vehicles operated by an electricity authority or their agent in Queensland. This exemption notice provides relief from certain dimensional requirements stipulated in the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation, specifically targeting vehicles used for carrying and erecting power poles. The vehicles in question must comply with the conditions outlined in the Queensland Access Conditions Guideline published by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads. This Notice permits such vehicles to operate on all roads within Queensland, provided they adhere to the dimensional limits and operating conditions specified. The exemption from certain mass requirements, such as length and rear overhang, is contingent upon compliance with the conditional dimension limits detailed in the Notice, which set a maximum total combination length of 25.0 metres, a truck rear overhang of 3.5 metres, and a trailer rear overhang of 5.0 metres. Additionally, if a pole erecting vehicle is not carrying a power pole, the combination length must not exceed 19.0 metres. This Notice operates under the Heavy Vehicle National Law and comes into effect on 1 July 2022, expiring on 30 June 2027.
Key Provisions
The main sections of the Queensland Class 1 Pole Erecting Vehicle Dimension Exemption Notice 2022 (No. 1) (the Notice) detail the exemption of heavy vehicle combinations used to carry power poles from specified dimension requirements outlined in Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (National Regulation). This Notice, effective from 1 July 2022 until 30 June 2027, exempts certain mass requirements such as length (combination, trailers, and rear overhang) but only to the extent that specific conditional dimension limits are provided (sections 9 and 10). The Notice applies to pole erecting vehicles operated by an electricity authority or their agent and mandates that these vehicles must adhere to the operating conditions stipulated in the Queensland Access Conditions Guideline (sections 8 and 9).
The Notice imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. It mandates that pole erecting vehicles must operate within the specified dimension limits, with a total combination length of 25.0m, a truck rear overhang of 3.5m, and a trailer rear overhang of 5.0m (section 10). Additionally, if a pole erecting vehicle is not carrying a power pole, its length must not exceed 19.0m (section 10(1)(b)). Furthermore, these vehicles must comply with the operating conditions outlined in the Queensland Access Conditions Guideline, ensuring safe and lawful operation on all roads in Queensland (sections 8 and 9).
Failure to comply with the provisions of this Notice may result in civil or criminal consequences. The specific offences, penalties, or consequences for breach are not detailed within the Notice itself but would typically be outlined in the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) or related legislation. The maximum penalties for breaches of heavy vehicle regulations under the HVNL can include substantial fines and potential disqualification from driving. The exact penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, as governed by the overarching legal framework.