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

HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

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

1.        Purpose

1.     The purpose of this notice is to allow for an efficient sugar cane harvest and to protect the road infrastructure network by appropriate administrative procedures and compliance activities in accordance with the Queensland Sugar Mass Management Scheme (SMMS).

1.     This notice revokes and replaces the Queensland Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Sugar Mass Management Scheme Exemption Notice 2025 (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 a category of class 1 or 3 heavy vehicles from compliance with mass or dimension requirements.
2.     Section 23 of Schedule 1 – Regulator’s power to amend or repeal instrument.

1.        Title

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

1.        Commencement date

This notice commences on 1 August 2026.

1.        Expiry date

This notice expires on 31 July 2031.

1.        Definitions

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

1.     In this notice, definitions from the following notices apply:

1.     National Class 2 B-Double Authorisation Notice, as amended from time to time.

1.     In this notice:

 Registered Sugar Mill means a sugar mill that:

1.     is registered with the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (the Department) under the Queensland Sugar Mass Management Scheme (SMMS);
2.     operates under a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department; and
3.     is listed in the Queensland Sugar Mass Management Scheme Participation Guide as an eligible destination for the transportation of bulk sugar cane by a Class 3 eligible vehicle; and
4.     complies with the requirements outlined in this Exemption Notice and the Queensland Sugar Mass Management Scheme Participation Guide.

Guide means the Queensland Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Sugar Mass Management Scheme Exemption Notice Operator’s Guide published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), as amended from time to time.

network means a map or stated route, including a list or database, presented electronically or otherwise, that represents the stated areas and stated routes authorised under this notice.

Queensland Sugar Mass Management Scheme Participation Guide means the guide of that name published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and maintained by Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads.

1.        Application

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

1.     This notice applies to a heavy vehicle listed in the operator’s guide that is a:

1.     prime mover towing a semitrailer; or
2.     B-double

1.     A prime mover mentioned in 2) must have

1.     a single steer axle; and
2.     a dual-tired tandem drive axle.

1.     A heavy vehicle must be
   1.     fitted with four tyres per axle (except for steer axle), and
   2.     fitted with conforming axle/axle groups.
       
2.     A heavy vehicle must be registered with a registered sugar mill.

1.     This notice applies to a heavy vehicle that is transporting sugar cane directly from a farm to a Registered Sugar Mill listed in the Queensland Sugar Mass Management Scheme Participation Guide.
2.     A heavy vehicle must be operated in accordance with the requirements of the Queensland Sugar Mass Management Scheme Participation Guide.
3.     This notice applies in Queensland.
4.     A heavy vehicle to which this section applies and that complies with the conditions of this notice is an eligible vehicle.

1.        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):

1.     section 2 – Mass limits for a single vehicle or combination
2.     section 4 – Mass limits for a single axle or axle group
3.      section 5 – Mass limits relating to axle spacing generally

1.       An exemption in 1) applies to an eligible vehicle only to the extent that specific conditional mass limits are provided in sections 9, 10, 11 of this notice.

1.       To be clear, if this notice provides for 2 or more mass limits imposing different mass limits that apply in the same circumstances, the lower or lowest mass limit applies, and the other mass limit or mass limits must be disregarded.

1.       Regardless of any conditional masses prescribed in this notice an eligible vehicle must not exceed manufacturer mass limits as defined in section 8(8) of the MDL Regulation.

1.        Conditions – Mass limits for a combinations

The mass of an eligible vehicle described in Column 1 of Table 1 in Schedule 1 of this notice must not exceed the corresponding total mass specified in Column 2.

1.    Conditions – Mass limits for a single axle or axle group

On an eligible vehicle, the mass on a single axle or axle group described in Column 1 of Table 2 in Schedule 2 of this notice must not exceed the mass limit stated in column 2.

1.    Condition – Mass limits relating to axle spacing generally

1.       The mass of a type of eligible vehicle listed below must not exceed the mass limits relating to an axle spacing value corresponding to Column 2 of the relevant axle spacing mass limit table in Schedule 2 of this notice:

1.     For an eligible vehicle that is a prime mover towing a semitrailer — Table 3
2.     For an eligible vehicle that is a B-double —Table 4

1.       Despite subsection 11(1) an eligible vehicle can exceed the relevant axle space limit by the amount specified in the axle mass deduction amount stated in Column 3 of Table 2 in Schedule 2 of this notice for each axle or axle group being measured.

1.    Condition – stated areas and routes

1.       Pursuant to section 119(1)(a) of the HVNL this notice applies to an area or route stated in this section.

1.       An eligible prime mover towing a semitrailer combination has access to all state-controlled roads and road-related areas in a 200km radius from the registered sugar mill, except as restricted in the Guide.

1.       An eligible vehicle described in column 1 of Table 1 may operate on the state-controlled roads in a 200km radius from the registered sugar mill on the networks stated in column 2, as published by the Regulator pursuant to s119(2) of the HVNL.

Table 1 — Stated areas and routes for categories of eligible vehicles

1.       In this section, network means a stated map or list pursuant to s119(2) of the HVNL.
2.       Regardless of any access granted under this section, an eligible vehicle must comply with any conditions or restrictions applied to a given area or route by the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements in the Guide.
3.       An eligible vehicle operating on an area or route specified in a schedule must comply with any of the following conditions prescribed for that area or route:

1.     Road conditions pursuant to section 160 of the HVNL; and
2.     Travel conditions pursuant to section 161 of the HVNL; and
3.      Vehicle conditions pursuant to section 162 of the HVNL.

Jose Arredondo
Manager Network Access Policy
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

Schedule 1 – Eligible Vehicle Mass Limits

Pursuant to section 9 of the notice

Table 1 —Maximum Mass Limits.

Schedule 2 - Axle mass tables

Pursuant to section 10 of the notice

Table 2 — Axle mass limits table – Sugar Mass Management Scheme

Pursuant to section 11(1)(a) of the notice.

Table 3 —Axle spacing mass limits general table (prime mover towing a semitrailer)

Pursuant to section 11(1)(b) of the notice

Table 4— Axle spacing mass limits B-double table