South Australia Class 1 2-Axle up to 28t Articulated Steering Crane Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1)

HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

South Australia Class 1 2-Axle up to 28t Articulated Steering Crane Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1)

1.       Purpose

This notice grants exemptions from mass and dimension requirements under the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL Regulation), for class 1 heavy vehicles that are 2-axle articulated steering cranes.

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.

1.        Title

This notice may be cited as the South Australia Class 1 2-Axle up to 28t Articulated Steering Crane Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1).

1.        Commencement date

This notice commences on 6 February 2026.

1.        Expiry date

This notice expires on 5 February 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:

Articulated steering crane means a crane which is steered by the use of an articulated point located between the front axle and rear axle or axle group and has a boom projecting to the front of the vehicle that functions as a crane.

Guide means the South Australia Class 1 up to 28t 2-Axle Articulated Steering Crane Mass and Dimension Exemption Operator’s Guide published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, and as amended from time to time.

HVNL means the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

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

1.       Application

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

1.     This notice applies to a heavy vehicle that is a 2-axle articulated steering crane fitted with dual tyres on each axle and has a maximum Gross Vehicle Mass of 28t.

1.     This notice applies in South Australia subject to the conditions provided in the body of this notice.

1.     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 4 – Mass limits for a single axle or axle group

1.     An exemption in (1) applies to an eligible vehicle only to the extent of the specific conditional mass limit provided in section 9 of this notice.

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

1.       Condition – Mass (Mass limits for types of axle groups)

The mass on an axle of an eligible vehicle must not exceed 14.0t.

1.    Exemption – Prescribed dimension requirements

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

1.     section 5 – Length (rear overhang)
2.     section 7 – Width

1.     An exemption in 1) only applies to the extent that specific conditional dimension limits are provided in section 11 of this notice.

1.     To be clear, if this notice provides for more than one dimension limit that may apply in the same circumstances the more restrictive dimension limit applies.

1.    Condition – Dimension limits (rear overhang and width)

1.     The rear overhang of an eligible vehicle must not exceed the lesser of:

1.     4.0m; or
2.     90% of the distance between the centre-line of the front axle and the rear overhang line.

1.     An eligible vehicle must not exceed 3.1m in width.

1.     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.

1.    Condition – Axle Spacing and Ground Contact Width

1.     An eligible vehicle must meet the minimum widths specified in Table 1:

Table 1: Minimum widths

1.     In this section Ground contact width means in relation to an axle, the distance between the outermost point of ground contact of the outside tyres on each end of the axle.

1.    Condition – Forward projection

1.     The forward projection of an eligible vehicle must not exceed 5.5m.

1.     In this section forward projection means the distance from the centre of the steering wheel to the furthest projection of the vehicle to the front.

1.    Condition – Speed restrictions for eligible vehicle

1.     An eligible vehicle must comply with the following conditions:

1.     the maximum speed must not exceed 80km/h.
2.     an 80km/h maximum speed sign must be fitted to the rear of the vehicle.
3.     a warning decal in the cabin visible from the driver’s position must display a maximum speed limit of 80km/h.

1.    Condition – Vehicle condition (additional warning pattern)

1.     An eligible vehicle must display a warning pattern of the type and design described in (2) on the left and right sides and extremity of any rigid projection extending more than 1.2m in front or to the rear of the body of the eligible vehicle.

1.     For subsection (1), the pattern must cover an area of at least 0.16m2 and consist of diagonal stripes at least 150mm wide and alternatively coloured red and white, or black and white.

Note:  This section is in addition to the requirements set out in Schedule 8, section 17(2) of the MDL Regulation about rear marking plates and warning patterns.

1.    Condition – Intelligent access program conditions (IAP conditions)

1.     Pursuant to section 402(1)(a) and (b) of Chapter 7 of the HVNL, the following conditions of this notice are intelligent access program conditions:

1.     any condition relating to mass or dimensions; and

1.     any condition relating to stated areas or routes to which the authority applies, including any relating to speed or time of travel.

1.     Pursuant to s402(1)(c) of Chapter 7 of the HVNL, an eligible vehicle must be enrolled in and comply with an approved intelligent transport system approved by Transport Certification Australia:

Telematics Monitoring Application

1.    Condition – Hours of operation

Travel within the Adelaide metropolitan area is prohibited between the hours of 7am to 9am and 4pm to 6pm Monday to Friday inclusive.

1.    Condition – Pilots and escorts (Adelaide Hills Area)

1.     An eligible vehicle exceeding 3.0m wide and operating in the Adelaide Hills area during daylight hours must be accompanied by one pilot vehicle.

1.     An eligible vehicle that is no greater than 3.0m wide and operating in the Adelaide Hills area at night must be accompanied by one pilot vehicle.

1.     An eligible vehicle exceeding 3.0m wide and operating in the Adelaide Hills area at night must be accompanied by two pilot vehicles.

1.     In this section, Adelaide Hills area has the meaning as specified in the Guide.

1.    Condition – Carriage of extra equipment

1.     An eligible vehicle may carry up to 1.0t of equipment related to the special purpose of the vehicle.

1.     The 1.0t allowed under (1) is not extra mass in addition to other conditions in this notice.

Note:  This section is intended to limit the amount of extra equipment carried by an SPV within conditional limits, not provide an extra mass above the conditional axle mass limit of 14t per axle.

1.    Disapplication of Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation

1.     Pursuant to section 39(5) of the MDL Regulation, under this notice the conditions in Part 1 of Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation relating to class 1 eligible vehicles that are less than 3.1m wide are disapplied:

1.     Section 2(1) and (2) – Warning signs and flags.

Note:  This section has the effect of providing an articulated steering crane with the same requirements for warning signs and flags as articulated steering cranes less than 3.1m wide under the National Class 1 Special Purpose Vehicle (up to 40t total mass) Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1).

1.    Condition – Stated areas or routes

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

1.     For the purposes of section 119 (1)(a) of the HVNL, an area or route stated in this section is a stated area or route to which this notice applies.

1.     In this notice a reference to a network is a reference to a map or stated route pursuant to section 119(2) of the HVNL.

1.     An eligible vehicle may operate on the routes and areas provided in the following network:

South Australia 2 Axle Pick & Carry Crane, 4 tyres per axle, up to 28t network

1.     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.

1.     In this section:

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.

1.     An eligible vehicle operating on an area or route authorised by this section 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