Queensland Class 1 Special Purpose Combination Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1)

HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

Queensland Class 1 Special Purpose Vehicle Combination Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1)

1. Purpose

The purpose of this notice is to provide mass and dimension exemptions for class 1 special purpose combinations that are operating in Queensland.

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.

3.       Title

This exemption notice may be cited as the Queensland Class 1 Special Purpose Combination Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1).

4.       Commencement date

This notice commences on 10 February 2024.

5.       Expiry date

This notice expires on 9 February 2029.

6.       Definitions

1)      Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this notice have the same meanings as those in the HVNL and its regulations.

2)      In this notice:

Guide means the Queensland Class 1 Special Purpose Combination Mass & Dimension Exemption notice 2023 (No. 1) Operator’s Guide, as amended from time to time.

Access Conditions Guide means the Queensland Access Conditions Guide published by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) that contains further specific information referenced in this Schedule.

Special purpose combination means a prime mover towing a special purpose trailer.

Special purpose trailer means a trailer built for a purpose other than carrying a load and designed to be towed by a prime mover.

Queensland Excess Mass and Conditions means the route and area conditions and including the Conditions of Operation Database published by TMR.

7.       Application

1)      This exemption notice applies to a class 1 heavy vehicle that is a combination consisting of a prime mover towing a special purpose trailer.

2)      This notice applies in Queensland.

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

b)      section 4 – Mass limits for a single axle or axle group

c)       section 5 – Mass limits relating to axle spacing generally

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, 11 and 12 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.

4)      In any case, any additional or conditional mass allowed under this notice may not exceed manufacturer mass limits pursuant to section 8 of the MDL Regulation.

9.       Conditions – Mass limits relating to tyre width

1)      The mass on a single axle fitted with tyres of the number and section width described in Table 1 must not exceed the mass limit specified in the Table for that axle in relation to the narrowest tyre on the axle.

Table 1: Maximum masses for an axle

2)      The mass on an axle group fitted with tyres of a number and section width described in Table 2 must not exceed the mass limit specified in the Table for that axle group in relation to the narrowest tyre in the group.

Table 2: Mass limits for an axle group

10.   Conditions – Mass limits for dual-drive tandem axle groups

On an eligible vehicle that has a dual-drive tandem axle group with dual tyres, the mass on that axle group must not exceed 18.5t.

11.   Conditions – Mass limits for special purpose trailers

1)      The mass on a single axle or axle group of a special purpose trailer described in Table 3 must not exceed the mass limit specified.

Table 3: Mass Limits for special purpose trailers

2)      The mass on a tandem axle group fitted with dual tyres, where the centre-lines of the axles are less than 1.35 m apart, must not exceed 20t:

1. decreased by 1t for each 100mm by which the axle group’s ground contact width is less than 2.4m; or
2. increased by 1t for each 100mm by which the axle group’s ground contact width exceeds 2.5m, but not increased to more than 28t.

3)      The mass on a tandem axle group fitted with dual tyres, where the centre-lines of the axles are at least 1.35m apart, must not exceed 23t:

1. decreased by 1t for each 100mm by which the axle group’s ground contact width is less than 2.4m; or
2. increased by 1t for each 100mm by which the axle group’s ground contact width exceeds 2.5m, but not increased to more than 28t.

4)      The mass on a tri-axle group fitted with dual tyres, where the centre-lines of the axles are less than 1.35 m apart, must not exceed 25 t, decreased by 1 t for each 100 mm by which the axle group’s ground contact width is less than 2.4 m.

5)      The mass on a tri-axle group fitted with dual tyres, where the centre-lines of the axles are at least 1.35 m apart, must not exceed 27 t, decreased by 1t for each 100 mm by which the axle group’s ground contact width is less than 2.4m.

Note: Under s14(2) the centre lines of the axles must be at least 1.2 m apart.

12.   Condition – Total mass limits for special purpose combinations

The total mass of a prime mover and special purpose trailer combination, must not exceed the least of the sum of the mass allowed for each single axle and axle group on the combination vehicle.

13.   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)

b)      section 4 – Length (trailers)

c)       section 5 – Length (rear overhang)

d)      section 7 – Width

e)      section 8 – Height

2)      An exemption in 1) only applies to the extent that specific conditional dimension limits are provided in section 14 of this notice, or in a Schedule.

3)      If, in relation to a particular vehicle or component, this notice provides for more than one dimension limit that apply in the same circumstances, the lower dimension limit applies, and the other dimension limit must be disregarded.

14.   Conditions – Dimensions

1)      An eligible vehicle operating under this notice must not exceed the dimensions provided in Table 4.

Table 4: Conditional Dimension Limits

2)      The centre-lines of adjacent axles in an axle group on an eligible vehicle that is operating under a mass exemption provided in this notice must be at least 1.2m apart.

3)      The distance from the kingpin (articulation point) to the centre of the axle group (rear overhang line) for special purpose trailer mounted mobile machinery may exceed 9.5m.

4)      The distance from the kingpin (articulation point) to the rear of special purpose trailer mounted mobile machinery may exceed 12.3m.

15.   Conditions – Routes and Areas

1)      An eligible vehicle operating under a mass exemption of this notice may operate on State controlled roads in Queensland only, subject to compliance with:

a)      the Queensland Excess Mass and Conditions; and

b)      the Access Conditions Guide.

2)      An eligible vehicle operating under a dimension exemption of this notice has general access in Queensland, subject to compliance with:

a)      the Queensland Excess Mass and Conditions; and

b)      the Access Conditions Guide.

3)      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.

Note: The operation of 1) and 2) sets up two separate conditions of access to routes and areas under this notice. In effect, an eligible vehicle that exceeds mass requirements only may operate on all of the networks specified in 1). An eligible vehicle that exceeds dimension requirements only may operate on all of the networks specified in 2). However, an eligible vehicle that exceeds both mass and dimension requirements will only be able to operate on the networks under 1) and 2) where they intersect.

4)      Regardless of any access granted under this section, an eligible vehicle must comply with any conditions or restrictions applied to a stated area or route in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements in the Guide.

5)      In this section general access means access to all roads except as restricted by the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements in the Guide.

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

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.

16.   Conditions – General

A special purpose trailer may carry one tonne of equipment, tools, substances, or detached parts to be used in conjunction with the special purpose trailer.

Note: To be clear, this condition does not mean that one tonne of equipment may be carried in excess of conditional masses provided under this notice.

Peter Austin

Director, Policy Implementation

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator