Queensland Class 3 Heavy Vehicle (Port of Brisbane Mass Management Scheme) Mass Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1)

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Legislation au C2026G00350 In force Gazette

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HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

Queensland Class 3 Heavy Vehicle (Port of Brisbane Mass Management Scheme) Mass Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1)

  1.        Purpose

 

The purpose of this notice is to allow for the operation of eligible vehicles at masses equivalent to the Higher Mass Limits (HML) within the confines of, and on roads under the control of, the Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd.

 

This notice replaces and revokes the Queensland Class 3 Heavy Vehicle (Port of Brisbane Mass Management Scheme) Mass Exemption Notice 2022 (No.1)

 

  1.        Authorising Provision

 

  1.       This Notice is made under the following provision of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL):

 

  1.       section 117 – Regulator’s power to exempt category of class 1 or 3 heavy vehicles from compliance with mass or dimension requirement.
  2.       Section 23 of Schedule 1 – Regulator’s power to amend or repeal instrument.

 

  1.        Commencement

 

This notice commences on 1 August 2026.

 

  1.        Expiry

 

This notice expires on 30 June 2027.

 

  1.        Title

 

This notice may be cited as the Queensland Class 3 Heavy Vehicle (Port of Brisbane Mass Management Scheme) Mass Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1).

 

  1.        Definitions

 

  1.       In this notice:

eligible vehicle means:

  1.       a tandem drive rigid truck; or
  2.       a tandem drive prime mover; or
  3.        a tandem or tri-axle semitrailer; or
  4.       a tandem or tri-axle dolly trailer; or
  5.       a B-double.

Note: This notice does not apply to any of the following classes of vehicles:

  • Truck and dog trailer combinations; and
  • Truck and pig trailer combinations; and
  • Pig trailers (except converter dollies used in multi-combinations); and
  • Single drive axle trucks; and
  • Single axle trailers; and
  • Vehicles that operate under permit for access to the road network, excess dimension or mass; and
  • Vehicles operating under mass concession schemes or guidelines that allow above regulatory mass limits.

 

National regulation means the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation.

 

  1.        Application

 

This notice applies to an eligible vehicle in Queensland.

 

  1.        Exemption from 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 National Regulation:

 

  1.       Section 2(1)(a)(iv); and
  2.       Section 2(1)(b); and
  3.        Section 2(2); and
  4.       Section 2(4); and
  5.       Section 4; and
  6.         Section 5(1), (2) and (3).

 

  1.        Conditions – Mass (Axle mass limits)

 

  1.       The additional mass on the axle group for an eligible vehicle operating under this notice must not be more than the following:

 

  1.       a 0.5t increase on a tandem axle group fitted with dual (i.e. 8) tyres, to 17t; and
  2.       a 2.5t increase on a tri-axle group with dual (i.e.12) tyres, to 22.5t; and
  3.        a 1.0t increase on an axle group with single tyres on 1 axle and dual tyres on the other axle (a 6-tyred tandem axle group), to 14t.

 

  1.    Conditions – Mass Management

 

  1.       The operator of an eligible vehicle fitted with a tri-axle group must:

 

  1.       hold Alternative Compliance Accreditation (ACA) – Mass or mass management accreditation granted prior to 1 August 2026, and display evidence of accreditation on the towing vehicle carrying higher mass limits; or
  2.       be accredited under another mass scheme approved or recognised by Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads.

 

  1.       A driver for a vehicle mentioned in Section 7 (1)(a) must produce a NHVAS interception book to an Authorised Officer when requested.

 

  1.    Conditions – States Areas and Routes

 

This notice applies to all roads, within the confines of and under the control of the Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd, mentioned in Appendix A of this Notice.

 

Jose Arredondo

Manager Network Access Policy

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator


Appendix A: Areas and Routes within Port of Brisbane Precinct

 

 

Overview

The Queensland Class 3 Heavy Vehicle (Port of Brisbane Mass Management Scheme) Mass Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1) was enacted to address the need for managing the mass of certain heavy vehicles within the Port of Brisbane, ensuring operational efficiency while maintaining safety standards. This notice replaces the previous exemption notice from 2022, reflecting updated requirements and conditions to better align with current operational practices and safety regulations. The notice was introduced under the authority of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), specifically section 117, which empowers the regulator to exempt certain heavy vehicles from mass or dimension requirements, and section 23 of Schedule 1, which allows for the amendment or repeal of such exemptions. This legislative instrument was enacted by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and aims to provide a streamlined process for the operation of eligible heavy vehicles at higher mass limits within the Port of Brisbane, subject to specific conditions that ensure the safety and integrity of the road network. The notice specifies the types of vehicles eligible for exemption and the conditions under which they may operate, including mass limits and accreditation requirements for vehicle operators.

Scope and Application

The Queensland Class 3 Heavy Vehicle (Port of Brisbane Mass Management Scheme) Mass Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1) applies to specific types of vehicles within Queensland, namely tandem drive rigid trucks, tandem drive prime movers, tandem or tri-axle semitrailers, tandem or tri-axle dolly trailers, and B-doubles. This notice provides an exemption from certain mass requirements under the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation, but excludes certain vehicle classes such as truck and dog trailer combinations, truck and pig trailer combinations, and vehicles operating under certain permits or concession schemes. The exemption operates within the jurisdiction of Queensland and is confined to roads under the control of the Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd. It sets specific conditions for the additional mass that can be carried on different types of axle groups, and requires that operators of certain vehicles must hold specific accreditations or display evidence of such accreditations. The notice also specifies that it applies to all roads within the Port of Brisbane Precinct as detailed in Appendix A. This notice, which commences on 1 August 2026 and expires on 30 June 2027, is made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law, which empowers the regulator to exempt certain heavy vehicles from compliance with mass or dimension requirements.

Key Provisions

The Queensland Class 3 Heavy Vehicle (Port of Brisbane Mass Management Scheme) Mass Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1) (Notice) primarily seeks to exempt eligible vehicles from certain mass requirements under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL). Section 117 of the HVNL empowers the regulator to exempt certain heavy vehicles from compliance with mass or dimension requirements. This Notice, therefore, exempts eligible vehicles from several mass limits outlined in Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation, such as Section 2(1)(a)(iv), Section 2(1)(b), Section 2(2), Section 2(4), Section 4, and Section 5(1), (2) and (3) (Sections 2 and 3). The Notice imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. For instance, operators of eligible vehicles must ensure that the additional mass on the axle groups of their vehicles does not exceed the specified limits: 0.5t increase on a tandem axle group with dual (8) tyres, to 17t; a 2.5t increase on a tri-axle group with dual (12) tyres, to 22.5t; and a 1.0t increase on an axle group with single tyres on one axle and dual tyres on the other (a 6-tyred tandem axle group), to 14t (Section 4). Furthermore, operators of eligible vehicles with a tri-axle group must either hold Alternative Compliance Accreditation (ACA) – Mass or mass management accreditation granted before 1 August 2026 and display evidence of such accreditation on the towing vehicle carrying higher mass limits, or be accredited under another mass scheme approved or recognised by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads. Drivers of these vehicles must also produce a NHVAS interception book to an Authorised Officer when requested (Section 5). Failure to comply with the conditions set out in the Notice may result in various penalties and consequences. Although specific penalties are not outlined in the Notice, breaches of the Heavy Vehicle National Law may generally result in fines or other penalties as prescribed by the law. Non-compliance with the Notice could also lead to vehicle impoundment or suspension of the vehicle operator's licence. Furthermore, if the Notice is interpreted as a breach of the National Regulation, it could potentially lead to civil or criminal liability under the applicable legislation (Sections 6 and 7). In summary, the Notice provides an exemption from certain mass requirements for eligible vehicles operating within the Port of Brisbane, subject to specified conditions. It places obligations on vehicle operators and drivers to ensure compliance with the Notice, and non-compliance may result in penalties under the relevant legislation.

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Area of Law
Transport Law
Instrument
Gazette Notice
Concepts
Commencement Provisions
Exemptions & Exclusions
Conditions – Mass Management

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.