Queensland Class 3 B-Double and Road Train (Carriage of Large Indivisible Items) Dimension Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1)

HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

Queensland Class 3 B-Double and Road Train (Carriage of Large Indivisible Items) Dimension Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1)

1. Purpose

This notice grants exemptions from dimension requirements for a class 3 heavy vehicle that is a b-double or a road train combination transporting a large indivisible item.

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 3 B-Double and Road Train (Carriage of Large Indivisible Items) 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, definitions from the following notices apply:

a)      National Class 2 B-Double Authorisation Notice, as amended from time to time; and

b)      National Class 2 Road Train Authorisation Notice, as amended from time to time.

3)      In this Notice:

Guide means the Queensland Class 3 B-Double and Road Train (Carriage of Indivisible Items) Dimension Exemption Notice Operator’s Guide, published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.

7.       Application

1)      This exemption notice applies to a class 3 heavy vehicle that meets all the requirements in this section.

2)      This exemption notice applies to a heavy vehicle that is:

a)      a B-double; or

b)      a type 1 or type 2 road train.

3)      This notice only applies to a heavy vehicle specified in 1) if that vehicle is transporting a large indivisible item.

4)      This notice applies in Queensland.

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

8.       Exemption – Prescribed dimension requirements

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

a)      section 7 – Width

b)      section 8 – Height

2)      An exemption in 1) only applies to the extent that specific conditional dimension limits are provided in section 9 and 10 of this notice.

3)      The exemptions under this section only apply to the extent that any dimension exceeding prescribed dimension requirements is caused by a large indivisible item.

4)      In relation to a particular vehicle or component, if this notice provides for more than one dimension limit to apply in the same circumstances, the more restrictive dimension limit applies.

9.       Condition – Dimension limits (heights for given widths)

1)      This section applies to an eligible vehicle operating on any road under this notice except those set out in section 10.

2)      An eligible vehicle that is up to 2.5m in width must not exceed 4.8m in height.

3)      An eligible vehicle that is up to 3.2m in width must not exceed 4.6m in height.

4)      For this section, the width of a heavy vehicle must be measured in the same manner as in section 8 of the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation.

10.   Conditions – Dimension limits (heights and widths for road trains on the Barkley Highway)

1)      This section applies to eligible vehicles that are road trains operating on the Barkley Highway between the Queensland and Northern Territory border and Camooweal.

2)      A type 1 road train must not exceed 3.5m in width or 4.85m in height.

3)      A type 2 road train must not exceed 3.2m in width or 4.85m in height.

4)      For this section, the width of a heavy vehicle must be measured in the same manner as in section 8 of the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation.

11.   Condition – loading large indivisible items

1)      An eligible vehicle may carry one or more large indivisible items up to the dimension limits set out in section 9 and 10.

2)      On an eligible vehicle complying with section 9(2) a large indivisible item may be loaded on any trailer in the combination.

3)      On an eligible vehicle complying with section 9(3) a combination described in column 1 of Table 1 may only load a large indivisible item on a trailer or truck as described in column 2.

Table 1: Loading locations for large individual items

12.   Conditions – Drive group restriction

1)      An eligible vehicle must not have a drive axle group with more than two axles in contact with the ground.

2)      In this section drive axle group means an axle group that has one or more driving axles.

13.   Conditions – Quad axle group restriction

An eligible vehicle that is a road train or a B-double may not have a quad axle group on any its components when operating on a State controlled road.

14.   Application of Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation

1)      The following sections of Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation apply to eligible vehicles as though the vehicle were a class 1 vehicle pursuant to section 39 of the MDL Regulation:

a)      Part 1 Division 1 General conditions

b)      Part 1 Division 2 Load-carrying vehicles:

1. section 13 – Carrying goods in addition to a large indivisible item

15.   Condition – Stated areas or routes

1)      An eligible vehicle complying with the conditions of this notice is authorised to operate on the areas and routes specified in this section.

2)      An eligible vehicle described in column 1 of Table 2 may operate on the networks specified in column 2.

Table 2: Networks

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.

4)      In addition to any conditions set out in the networks under table 2, an eligible vehicle must comply with any relevant conditions in the Queensland Access Conditions Guide.

Note: The Queensland Access Conditions Guide – Route and operational access conditions, as published by the Queensland Government Department of Transport and Main Roads.

5)      An eligible vehicle must not exceed 90kph.

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

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