Queensland Class 3 Heavy Vehicle (Grain Harvest Management Scheme) Mass Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1)

HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

Queensland Class 3 Heavy Vehicle (Grain Harvest Management Scheme) Mass Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1)

1. Purpose

The purpose of this notice is to allow for an efficient grain harvest and to protect the road infrastructure network through eliminating gross overloading by appropriate administrative procedures and compliance activities in accordance with the Queensland Grain Harvest Management Scheme (GHMS).

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 notice may be cited as the Queensland Class 3 Heavy Vehicle (Grain Harvest Management Scheme) Mass Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1).

4.       Commencement

This notice commences on 1 July 2024.

5.       Expiry

This notice expires on 30 May 2029.

6.       Definitions

In this notice—

AgForce means AgForce Queensland Farmers Ltd.

Approved GHMS receiver means—

a)      the closest depot that is accepting the grain being delivered and that is operated by the same entity that is purchasing or has contracted to purchase the grain; or

b)      another GHMS receiver approved by Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads.

GTSN Truck Book means the document of that name published by the NHVR that provides recognisable configurations referred to in this notice.

Note: the GTSN Truck Book is available on the NHVR website and from AgForce.

Eligible vehicle means a heavy vehicle that is —

a)      of a recognisable configuration; and

b)      making deliveries of grain, oil seeds or pulses directly from a farm to the nearest approved GHMS receiver.

Queensland Grain Harvest Management Scheme Participation Guide means the booklet of that name published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).

Note: the booklet is available on the AgForce website.

Recognisable configuration means a configuration provided for in the GTSN Truck Book.

Note: the GTSN Truck Book is available on the NHVR website and from AgForce.

7.       Application

This notice applies to eligible vehicles in Queensland.

8.      Exemption - Prescribed mass requirements

1)      This notice exempts a vehicle to which it applies from the following general mass limits specified in Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL Regulation):

a)      Section 2(1)(a)(iv), (v) and (vi); and

b)      Section 2(1)(b); and

c)       Section 4; and

d)      Section 5(1), (2) and (3).

9.      Condition - Maximum permissible mass

1)      The mass of an eligible vehicle operating under this notice must not be more than—

a)      7.5% over general mass limit applying to the vehicle combination; and

b)      10% over general mass limit applying to an axle or axle group mass for the vehicle; and

c)       notwithstanding a) and b) above, an eligible vehicle must not exceed manufacturer mass limits as defined in section 8(8) of the MDL Regulation. 

2)      An eligible vehicle is not entitled to have the benefit of a mass exemption in the MDL Regulation in addition to the mass limits provided under this notice.

Note: A table of truck configurations, code numbers and permitted mass limits is available on the NHVR website and from AgForce.

3)      A registered operator for an eligible vehicle must be registered with AgForce for the purposes of this notice.

4)      An eligible vehicle must be operated in accordance with the requirements of the Queensland Grain Harvest Management Scheme Participation Guide.

5)      A person operating an eligible vehicle under this notice shall indemnify Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and their employees, against any claim, action or process for any damage or injury due to the use of vehicles under this notice.

10.   Conditions - Areas or routes

1)      This notice applies to all roads in Queensland except to the extent excluded by the Queensland Grain Harvest Management Scheme Participation Guide.

2)      An eligible vehicle operating on an area or route specified in this section must comply with any of the conditions specified for those routes or areas in accordance with:

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