Queensland Class 3 Truck and Dog (exceeding 19m up to 31.5m in length) Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2022 (No.1)

HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

Queensland Class 3 Truck and Dog (exceeding 19m up to 31.5m in length) Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2022 (No.1)

1         Purpose

(1)    This Notice provides mass and dimension exemptions for a class 3 heavy vehicle comprising of a rigid truck and dog trailer that are road train certified, and where the combination length exceeds 19m but not more than 31.5m from stated mass and dimension requirements of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL Regulation).

(2)    This Notice revokes and replaces the Queensland Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Truck Towing One Trailer exceeding 19m Up To 31.5m Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1).

2         Authorising Provision

This Notice is made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).

3         Title

This Notice may be cited as the Queensland Class 3 Truck and Dog (exceeding 19m up to 31.5m in length) Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2022 (No.1).

4         Commencement

This Notice commences on 23 November 2022.

5         Expiry

This Notice expires on 22 November 2027.

6         Definitions

(1)    Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this Notice have the same meanings as those defined in the HVNL.

(2)    In this Notice:

Dog Trailer has the same meaning of section 4 of the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation.

TMR means the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads.

Guide means the Queensland Class 3 Truck and Dog Trailer (exceeding 19m up to 31.5m in length) Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice Operator’s Guide, as published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).

7         Application

(1)    This Notice applies to a class 3 rigid truck and dog trailer combination that is:

(a)    greater than 19m but not more than 31.5m in length; and

(b)    Road train rated by the manufacturer, or certified under the following section of the Vehicle Standards Bulletin 6 (VSB6): National Code of Practice Heavy Vehicle Modifications:

1. S8 Motor vehicle road train rating
2. S11 Road train trailer rating

Note: Section S of the VSB6 relates to the certification of trailer used in road trains combinations, and mass ratings relating to motor vehicles and trailers used in road train configurations.

(2)    This Notice does not apply to a heavy vehicle combination that has a tri-drive axle group.

(3)    This Notice applies to eligible heavy vehicle combinations operating in Queensland only.

(4)    A vehicle to which this section applies is an eligible vehicle.

8         Exemption – Mass Requirements

(1)    An eligible vehicle is exempt from the following mass requirements of Schedule 1 of the MDL Regulation:

(a)    section 2(1)(a)(iv) – Total combination mass (complying steer axle)

(b)    section 2(1)(a)(vi) – Total combination mass (non-complying steer axle)

(c)     section 2 (4) – Total combination tow mass limit

(d)    section 4, Table 1 of Part 2 – Steer axle mass

(e)    section 4, Table 2 of Part 2 – Axle spacing

(2)    The exemptions in this section only apply to the extent of the conditional mass set out in sections 9 and 10 when all other conditions in the Notice are met.

9         Condition – Steer Axle Mass

The mass on the steer axle of an eligible vehicle must not exceed the axle mass limits set out in Column 2 of Table 1.

Table 1 Steer axle mass limits for tyre width

10     Condition – Axle Spacing

An eligible vehicle must comply with the axle requirements of Part 2 Table 4 – Axle spacing mass limits road train table from Schedule 1 of the MDL Regulation.

11     Exemption – Dimension Requirements

(1)    An eligible vehicle is exempt from the following dimension requirements of Schedule 6 of the MDL Regulation:

(a)    section 3(1)(a) – length of a combination or single vehicle

(2)    Subsection 1) only applies to the extent of the conditional dimensions set out in section 13 and when all other conditions in the Notice are met.

(3)    An eligible vehicle that is transporting large indivisible items is exempt from the following dimension requirements of Schedule 6 of the MDL Regulation:

(a)    section 7(1) – Width

(b)    section 8(1)(d) – Height

(4)    Subsection 3) only applies to the extent of the conditional dimensions set out in section 14 and 15, and when all other conditions in the Notice are met.

12     Condition – Length (for all eligible vehicles)

An eligible vehicle must be longer 19m and must not exceed 31.5m in length.

13     Condition – Dimension Limits (Width and height for eligible vehicles carrying large indivisible items)

(1)    An eligible vehicle that is transporting large indivisible items must comply with the following dimension conditions:

(a)    Eligible vehicles up to 2.5m wide may not exceed 4.8m in height.

(b)    Eligible vehicles greater than 2.5m wide and up to 3.2m wide may not exceed 4.6m in height.

14     Condition – Dimension Limits (Width and height travelling on the Barkley Highway)

(1)    An eligible vehicle carrying large indivisible item travelling on the Barkly Highway between the Queensland and Northern Territory border and Camooweal must not exceed the following dimension conditions:

(a)    Width – 3.5m; and

(b)    Height – 4.85m.

15     Condition - Approved Routes or Areas

(1)    An eligible vehicle may access the following networks in Queensland:

(a)    Queensland Type 1 Road Train Network

(b)    Queensland Type 2 Road Train Network

Note: Route Maps and descriptions can be found on Queensland Globe published by the Queensland Government. The network map may contain conditions that only apply to particular sections of the network, or only at particular times. Conditions like these will usually be applied through the network map itself, but may also be published in the  Guide itself.

16     Condition – Drawbar Length

(1)    An eligible vehicle must have a drawbar length:

(a)    not less than 3m; or

(b)    not more than 5m in length.

17     Condition – Requirements for loading large indivisible items

(1)    An eligible vehicle may carry one or more large indivisible items up to the conditional width and height dimension limits set out in section 14 and 15.

(2)    Any part of a load that is not a large indivisible item must not exceed the dimension requirements set out in Schedule 6 of the MDL Regulation.

Note:  This section is intended to ensure that the dimension exemptions for width and height only apply the part of the load consisting of large indivisible items.

Large indivisible items may be carried on either the truck or trailer, subject to the requirements of the load restraint guide.

18     Condition – Application of Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation

(1)    The following sections of Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation apply to eligible vehicles operating under this Notice as though the eligible vehicle were a class 1 vehicle:

(a)     Division 1 General conditions

(b)     Division 2 sections 12 and 13.

(2)    The application of Schedule 8 Division 1 – General Conditions under this Notice, does not include Section 7 (Travel restriction at night).

19     Condition – Travel restrictions

(1)    An eligible vehicle must comply with the relevant conditions outlined in the Queensland Access Conditions Guide (Route and Operational Access Conditions).

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

20     Condition – Speed Limit

An eligible vehicle is limited to a maximum of 90km/h or a post a speed sign whichever is lesser.

Peter Caprioli

Executive Director (Freight and Supply Chain Productivity)

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator