South Australia Class 1 Low Loader Exemption Trial Notice 2026 (No.1)

HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

South Australia Class 1 Low Loader Exemption Trial Notice 2026 (No.1)

1.        Purpose

This notice grants exemptions from mass and dimension requirements for class 1 heavy combinations that include a low loader or a class 1 heavy combinations that includes a low loader dolly and low loader.

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 Low Loader Exemption Trial Notice 2026 (No.1).

1.        Commencement date

This notice commences on 23 January 2026.

1.        Expiry date

This notice expires on 22 January 2027.

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.       This notice uses the following definitions for certain axles and axle group configurations:

Closed tri-axle group (also denoted as “3 @ 1.2”) means a group of:

1.       three axles at least 1.2m apart; where
2.       the horizontal distance between the centre-lines of the outermost axles is not more than 3.2m.

Spread tri-axle group means a group of:

1.       3 axles—

1.             at least 1.8m apart (also denoted as “3 @ 1.8”); or
2.             where the distance between the 1st and 2nd axle is at least 1.2m and the distance between the 2nd and 3rd axle is at least 2.4m (also denoted as “3 @ 1.2, 2.4”); or
3.             where the distance between the 1st and 2nd axle is at least 2.4m and the distance between the 2nd and 3rd axle is at least 1.2m (also denoted as “3 @ 2.4, 1.2”); and

1.       where the horizontal distance between the centre-lines of the outermost axles is not more than 3.7m.

Closed quad-axle group (also denoted as “4 @ 1.2”) means a group of:

1.       4 axles at least 1.2m apart; where
2.       the horizontal distance between the centre-lines of the outermost axles is not more than 4.9m.

Spread quad-axle group (also denoted as “4 @ 1.2, 2.4, 1.2”) means a group of 4 axles, where:

1.       the distance between the 1st and 2nd axle is at least 1.2m; and
2.       the distance between the 2nd and 3rd axle is at least 2.4m; and
3.        the distance between the 3rd and 4th axle is at least 1.2m.

Closed quin-axle group (also denoted as “5 @ 1.2”) means a group of 5 axles at least 1.2m apart.

Spread quin-axle group (also denoted as “5 @ 1.8”) means a group of 5 axles at least 1.8m apart.

1.       In this notice:

Tyre ground contact width means:

1.       in relation to an axle, the distance between the outermost point of ground contact of the outside tyres on each end of the axle; OR
2.       in relation to an axle group, the minimum ground contact width, as defined in a), of all axles in the group.

Guide means the South Australia Class 1 Low Loader Exemption Trial Notice Operator’s Guide published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, and as amended from time to time.

1.        Application

1.       This notice applies to a class 1 heavy combination consisting of a:

1.       prime mover towing a low loader; or
2.       prime mover towing a low loader dolly and a low loader.

1.       A vehicle to which this section applies must be carrying, or designed for the purpose of carrying a large indivisible item.

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 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 or 11 of this notice.

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.        Conditions – Mass (maximum axle mass limits for prime movers and dollies)

1.       An axle group described in Column 1 of Table 1 must not exceed the mass listed in Column 2.

Table 1: Maximum masses for axles

1.       For a single steer axle, the mass in column 2 is increased by 1.0t if the prime mover is fitted with tyres of a minimum section width of 375mm.

1.    Conditions – Mass (maximum mass on dual drive tandem axle group and low loader dolly)

On a low loader with an axle group that has a minimum tyre ground contact width stated in column 1 of Table 2, the maximum combined mass of the dual-drive tandem axle group and the low loader dolly must not exceed the mass in tonnes stated for the axle configuration in column 2.

Table 2: Maximum mass on dual-drive tandem axle group and low loader dolly

1.    Conditions – Mass (maximum axle mass limits for axle groups on low loaders)

On a low loader with an axle group that has a minimum tyre ground contact width stated in column 1 of Table 3, the mass of that axle group must not exceed that mass stated for the axle configuration stated in column 2.

Table 3: Maximum masses for axles groups on low loaders

1.    Condition – Prime mover dual-drive tandem axle group requirement

A prime mover that forms part of an eligible vehicle must have a dual-drive tandem axle group.

1.    Condition – Low loader dolly axle group

1.       An axle group on a low loader dolly forming part of an eligible vehicle must:

1.       have two axles; and
2.       have a maximum of eight tyres per axle.

1.    Condition – Axle requirements for low loaders

1.       A low loader that forms part of an eligible vehicle must comply with the following conditions:

1.       the low loader must have three, four or five axles; and
2.       each axle must be fitted with a maximum of eight tyres; and
3.        each axle must be of configuration identified in column 2 of Table 3.

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 1 – combination or single vehicle
2.       section 5 – Length – rear overhang
3.        section 7 – Width
4.       section 8 – Height

1.       An exemption in 1) only applies to the extent that specific conditional dimension limits are provided in section 16 and 17 of this notice.

1.    Condition – Dimension limits

1.       For a parameter given in column 1 of Table 4, an eligible vehicle must not exceed the dimension given in column 2.

Table 4: Maximum dimensions

1.       A low loader and any low loader dolly with 4 tyres on each axle must not be wider than 2.5 m as constructed.

1.       A low loader and any low loader dolly with 8 tyres on each axle must not be wider than 2.7 m as constructed.

1.       An eligible vehicle must be loaded and operated to the smallest practicable dimension.

1.       If an eligible vehicle is higher than 4.6m, the operator must, before starting a journey consult with the third parties as stated in the Guide.

1.    Condition – Dimension (rear overhang)

1.       The rear overhang of a combination must not exceed the limits in Table 5 below, or 25% of the length of the combination, whichever is lesser.

Table 5: Maximum rear overhang

1.       In this section, rear overhang is calculated the same way as in section 5 of Schedule 6 of the MDL Regulation.

1.    Condition – Speed restrictions

1.       If the heavy vehicle is greater than 75t and up to 100t total mass, then speed is restricted to 80kph on the approved route, except where a traffic sign indicates a lower speed limit.

1.       Otherwise, if the heavy vehicle is greater than 100t total mass, then speed is restricted to 60kph on the approved route, except where a traffic sign indicates a lower speed limit.

1.    Condition – Pilots and escorts

An eligible vehicle must comply with any relevant conditions in the Escorting Guidelines For oversize and overmass vehicles and loads in South Australia.

1.    Condition – Carriage of notice

A copy of this notice must be carried at all times by a driver of an eligible vehicle operating under this notice, and the driver must produce it upon request of an authorised officer or a police officer.

1.    Condition – Stated areas or routes

1.       Pursuant to s119(1)(a) of the HVNL, an area or route stated in this section is an area or route to which this notice applies.

1.       Pursuant to section 119(2) of the HVNL, a stated map or stated list referred to in a schedule of this notice is an area or route to which this notice applies.

1.       In this section, a network is a stated map or stated list referred to under 2).

1.       An eligible vehicle complying with the conditions of this notice may operate on the following network:

Low Loaders up to 118.5t

1.       Pursuant to section 119(1)(c) of the HVNL, an eligible vehicle operating on an area or route stated in this notice must comply with any of the following conditions prescribed for or by 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.

1.       Pursuant to section 119(3), an eligible vehicle must comply with must comply with any conditions or restrictions set out in the Network and Mapping section of the Guide.

Jose Arredondo

Manager Network Access Policy

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator