HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW
Queensland Class 2 Rockhampton Road Train Authorisation Notice 2025 (No.1)
- Purpose
- This notice authorises access for class 2 heavy vehicles that are Type-1 road trains transporting cattle to Rockhampton abattoirs.
- This notice revokes and replaces the Queensland Class 2 Rockhampton Road Train Authorisation Notice 2024 (No.1).
- Authorising Provision
- This notice is made under the following provision of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL):
- section 138 – Regulator’s power to authorise use of all or stated categories of class 2 heavy vehicles.
- section 23 of Schedule 1 – Regulator’s power to amend or repeal instrument.
- Title
This notice may be cited as the Queensland Class 2 Rockhampton Road Train Authorisation Notice 2025 (No.1).
- Commencement date
This notice commences on 30 January 2025.
- Expiry date
This notice expires on 15 December 2029.
- Definitions
- Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this notice have the same meanings as in the HVNL or regulations made under the HVNL.
- In this notice, definitions from the National Class 2 Road Train Authorisation Notice 2022 (No.3), as amended from time to time apply.
- In this notice:
Load means freight of any kind including livestock.
- Application
- This notice applies to a class 2 heavy vehicle that meets all the requirements of this section.
- This notice applies to a Type-1 road train transporting cattle.
- This notice applies subject to the conditions provided in the body of this notice.
- A heavy vehicle to which this section applies and that complies with the conditions of this notice is an eligible vehicle.
- Condition – Vehicle conditions
- An eligible vehicle with a twin-steer axle group must have load-sharing suspension.
- An eligible vehicle must not have a:
- drive axle group with more than two axles in contact with the ground; or
- quad axle group on any of its components when operating on a State controlled road.
- In this section, drive axle group means an axle group that has one or more driving axles.
- Conditions – Travel restrictions
- Subject to 2), an eligible vehicle must only operate between the hours of 7:00pm and 7:00am.
- An eligible vehicle must not operate during the periods mentioned in Column 1 of Table 1 on the dates and times identified in Column 2.
Table 1: Prohibited travel dates and times
Column 1 - Period | Column 2 - Dates and times |
Christmas | From 12:01am 19 December to 11:59pm 2 January the following year. |
Easter | From 12:01am the Thursday before Easter Sunday to 11:59pm the Tuesday after Easter Sunday. |
Note: If Christmas Day falls on a Sunday or a Monday, the Christmas holiday will commence on the Friday before Christmas Day from 12:00pm.
If New Year's Day (1 January) falls on a Friday, the Christmas holiday is extended to 11:59pm of 3 January that year.
- The driver of an eligible vehicle must drive at least 200m behind another heavy vehicle travelling in front of it.
Note: This is to ensure passing opportunities for other motorists and to assist with effective traffic signals coordination.
- Condition – stated areas or routes
- An eligible vehicle complying with the conditions of this notice is authorised to operate on areas and routes listed in in Table 2.
- Operators of an eligible vehicle must comply with all current conditions of operation published in the “Conditions of Operations Database” as if the eligible vehicle was an over dimensional vehicle.
Note: The Conditions of Operations Database is available on the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads website.
- For the purposes of section 119(1)(a) of the HVNL, an area or route stated in this section is a stated area or route to which this notice applies.
- An eligible vehicle operating on an area or route specified in Table 2 must comply with any of the following conditions prescribed for that area or route:
- Road conditions pursuant to section 160 of the HVNL; and
- Travel conditions pursuant to section 161 of the HVNL; and
- Vehicle conditions pursuant to section 162 of the HVNL.
Table 2: Stated routes
Stated Route | Condition |
Capricorn Highway (Fairy Bower – Gracemere) Yeppen Crossing (Fairy Bower – Allenstown) Lower Dawson Road (Allenstown) Gladstone Road (Allenstown - Rockhampton City) George St (Rockhampton City) Albert St (Park Avenue - Rockhampton City) Moores Creek Road (Park Avenue) Musgrave St (Berserker - Park Avenue) Queen Elizabeth Drive (Berserker) Bridge Street (Berserker) Lakes Creek Road (Lakes Creek – Berserker) Emu Park Road (Lakes Creek – Nerimbera) Saint Christophers Chapel Road (Nerimbera) | Travel must commence from the Type - 1 road train network commencing at Capricorn Highway, Gracemere and follow a continuous route using the roads mentioned in Column 1, without diversion, to the Rockhampton abattoirs. Travel from the Rockhampton abattoirs must follow a continuous route using the roads in Column 1, without diversion, to the approved Type - 1 road train network at the Capricorn Highway, Gracemere. An eligible vehicle must not transport a load when returning from the abattoirs to the Type -1 road train network at the Capricorn Highway, Gracemere. |
Jose Arredondo
Manager Network Access Policy
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
Overview
The Queensland Class 2 Rockhampton Road Train Authorisation Notice 2025 (No.1), enacted under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), was introduced to regulate and authorise the operation of Type-1 road trains transporting cattle to Rockhampton abattoirs. This legislation addresses the need for specific conditions governing the movement of heavy vehicles in Queensland to ensure safety and compliance with road regulations. The notice revokes and replaces the Queensland Class 2 Rockhampton Road Train Authorisation Notice 2024 (No.1), updating and refining the regulatory framework to better align with current operational needs and safety standards. Authorised by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator under the HVNL, the policy objective is to facilitate the efficient and safe transportation of livestock while minimising disruption to road users and maintaining compliance with statutory conditions.
This authorisation notice sets out specific conditions for vehicle operation, including requirements for load-sharing suspension, axle group limitations, and specified travel times and routes. The notice also outlines travel restrictions during certain holidays and requires adherence to operational conditions published in the "Conditions of Operations Database" on the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads website. The notice commences on 30 January 2025 and expires on 15 December 2029, ensuring that the regulatory framework remains up-to-date and responsive to changing operational requirements.
Scope and Application
The Queensland Class 2 Rockhampton Road Train Authorisation Notice 2025 (No.1) applies to class 2 heavy vehicles, specifically Type-1 road trains transporting cattle to Rockhampton abattoirs. This notice revokes and replaces the previous Queensland Class 2 Rockhampton Road Train Authorisation Notice 2024 (No.1), and it is made under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL). The notice is applicable to any class 2 heavy vehicle that satisfies the conditions set forth in this notice and is deemed an eligible vehicle. This authorisation extends to Type-1 road trains transporting cattle only, and is subject to specific vehicle conditions, travel restrictions, and stated routes as outlined in the notice. The notice specifies the geographic scope of the authorisation, focusing on routes leading to and from Rockhampton abattoirs via specified roads in Central Queensland.
The authorisation is subject to several conditions, including vehicle specifications such as the requirement for load-sharing suspension on twin-steer axle groups, limitations on the number of axles in contact with the ground, and restrictions on the operation of quad axle groups on State-controlled roads. Furthermore, the notice imposes travel restrictions, such as limiting operations to specific hours of the day and prohibiting travel during certain holiday periods. Additionally, drivers of eligible vehicles must maintain a specific distance behind other heavy vehicles to ensure traffic flow and signal coordination. The notice also details the specific routes authorised for travel and mandates compliance with road, travel, and vehicle conditions prescribed for those routes. The notice comes into effect on 30 January 2025 and expires on 15 December 2029, unless otherwise amended or repealed under the authorising provisions of the HVNL.
Key Provisions
The Queensland Class 2 Rockhampton Road Train Authorisation Notice 2025 (No.1) specifies the conditions under which Class 2 heavy vehicles, particularly Type-1 road trains transporting cattle to Rockhampton abattoirs, can operate. It outlines vehicle conditions (section 3), travel restrictions (section 4), and stated areas or routes (section 5). Section 3 requires eligible vehicles, such as Type-1 road trains, to have specific features such as load-sharing suspension for twin-steer axle groups and restricts the number of axles in contact with the ground on drive axle groups. Section 4 imposes operational hours and travel restrictions, prohibiting operation between 7:00am and 7:00pm, as well as during specific holiday periods like Christmas and Easter, unless otherwise noted. Additionally, vehicles must maintain a minimum distance of 200 metres behind other heavy vehicles to ensure safe passing opportunities and traffic signal coordination. Section 5 details the authorised routes, including Capricorn Highway, Yeppen Crossing, Lower Dawson Road, Gladstone Road, and several streets within Rockhampton City, and mandates compliance with road, travel, and vehicle conditions specified in the HVNL.
The notice imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. Firstly, operators of eligible vehicles must ensure that their vehicles meet the specified conditions, such as having the required suspension systems and adhering to the axle restrictions. Secondly, drivers are mandated to operate their vehicles only during the permitted hours and avoid the specified holiday periods. Additionally, drivers must maintain a safe distance from other heavy vehicles to facilitate safe passing and effective traffic management. Operators must also comply with the conditions of operation published in the “Conditions of Operations Database,” treating their vehicles as over-dimensional vehicles. This entails staying informed about any updates or changes to operational conditions and adhering to all specified requirements to ensure safe and lawful operation.
Violations of the provisions set out in the notice can lead to various consequences. Under the HVNL, breaches of the notice's conditions may result in civil or criminal penalties. The specific penalties can vary depending on the nature and severity of the breach. For instance, operating a vehicle outside the specified hours or during restricted periods could result in fines or other civil penalties as determined by the relevant authorities. More severe breaches, such as ignoring critical safety conditions or failing to comply with vehicle specifications, may lead to criminal charges, with potential penalties including fines or imprisonment. The exact penalties are outlined in the HVNL and related regulations, and they may vary based on the specific circumstances of each case. It is important for operators and drivers to be fully aware of these potential consequences to ensure compliance with the notice.