South Australia Class 1 4-Axle to 6-Axle All Terrain Mobile Crane Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1)

HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

South Australia Class 1 4-Axle to 6-Axle All Terrain Mobile 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 4 to 6-Axle All Terrain Mobile 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 4-Axle to 6-Axle All Terrain Mobile 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:

All Terrain Mobile Crane means a special purpose vehicle that has all of the following features:

(a)   two tyres per axle; and

(b)   at least 50% of its axles steerable; and

(c)   is not a truck mounted special purpose vehicle; and

(d)   on road and off-road capability.

Guide means the National Class 1 4-Axle to 6-Axle All Terrain Mobile 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 an All Terrain Mobile Crane that has 4, 5 or 6 axles.

1.     This notice applies in South Australia.

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 2 – Mass limits for a single vehicle or combination
2.     Section 3 – Mass limits for a vehicle with a particular axle space less than 2.5m
3.     section 4 – Mass limits for a single axle or axle group
4.     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 or 10 of this notice.

1.     With respect to s.8(1)(b) and (d), there is no conditional axle spacing mass limit and subsection (2) does not apply.

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

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.        Condition – Mass (total mass of an eligible vehicle)

An eligible vehicle described in Column 1 of Table 1 must not exceed the mass listed in Column 2.

 Table 1: Maximum mass for an eligible vehicle

1.    Condition – Mass limits for single axle (limited by tyre size)

A single axle of an eligible vehicle with tyre widths described in Column 1 of Table 2, must not exceed the mass stated in Column 2.

Table 2: Mass limit for single axles limited by tyre width

Note:  Axle loads limits in Table 2 above may be reduced by the tyre rating specified either by the Tyre and Rim Association of Australia, or relevant standards, or by the manufacturer of each tyre or rim in relation to inflation pressures, speeds and other relevant requirements.

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.

1.    Exemption – Prescribed dimension requirements

1.     An eligible vehicle is exempt from the following dimension requirements under Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL Regulation):

1.       section 3 – Length
2.       section 5 – Length (rear overhang)
3.        section 7 – Width

1.     An exemption in 1) only applies to the extent that specific conditional dimension limits are provided in section 13 and 14 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 limit (length and width)

1.     An eligible vehicle described in Column 1 of Table 3 must not exceed the length listed in Column 2 and the width listed in Column 3.

 Table 3: Dimension limits for an eligible vehicle

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 – Dimension limits (rear and forward)

1.     An eligible vehicle must not exceed the following rear and forward dimension limits:

1.       rear overhang of the lesser of 4.0m and 90% of the wheelbase;
2.       a projection in front of the centre of the steering wheel of 3.5m.

1.    Condition – Intelligent access condition

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
2.     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 section 402(1)(c) of Chapter 7 of the HVNL, from 1 January 2027 an eligible vehicle must be enrolled in and comply with the following approved intelligent transport system approved by Transport Certification Australia:

Telematics Monitoring Application (TMA)

1.    Condition – Speed restrictions

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

1.     the maximum speed of the vehicle 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 – 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 same meaning as specified in the Guide.

1.    Condition – Pilots and escorts (Adelaide Metropolitan and South Australia Country areas)

1.     An eligible vehicle exceeding 3.1m wide and travelling at night in the Adelaide Metropolitan area or the South Australia Country area must be accompanied by one pilot vehicle.

1.     In this section Adelaide Metropolitan area and the South Australia Country area have the same meaning as specified in the Guide. 

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.    Disapplication – Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation

1.      Pursuant to section 39(5) of the MDL Regulation, the following condition in Schedule 8 is disapplied for eligible vehicles.

1.     Section 7 – Travel restrictions at night.

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 specified in Table 4.

Table 4: Networks 4-axle to 6-axle all terrain mobile cranes

1.     A 5-axle All Terrain Mobile Crane that does not exceed 3.1m in width is permitted to travel at night (between the hours of sunset and sunrise) on the 5-axle All Terrain Crane Network.

1.     A 5 or 6-axle All Terrain Mobile Crane is permitted to travel at night (between the hours of sunset and sunrise) on the 6-axle All Terrain Crane 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 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 Arrendondo

Manager Network Access

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator