HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW
South Australia Class 1 Transport of Indivisible Items and Agricultural Vehicles Dimension Exemption Notice 2023 (No.1)
- Purpose
1) This notice grants exemptions from dimension requirements for class 1 heavy vehicles that are carrying either large indivisible items or agricultural vehicles.
2) This notice revokes the South Australia Class 1 Transport of Indivisible Items and Agricultural Vehicles Dimension Exemption Notice (No.1).
2. Authorising provision
1) This notice is made under the following provision of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL):
a) section 117 – Regulator’s power to exempt category of class 1 or 3 heavy vehicles from compliance with mass or dimension requirement.
b) section 23 of Schedule 1 – Regulator’s power to amend or repeal instrument.
3. Title
This notice may be cited as the South Australia Class 1 Transport of Indivisible Items and Agricultural Vehicles Dimension Exemption Notice 2023 (No.1).
4. Commencement date
This Notice commences on 3 November 2023.
5. Expiry date
This Notice expires on 2 November 2028.
6. Definitions
1) Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this Notice have the same meanings as those in the HVNL and its regulations.
2) In this Notice:
Adelaide Hills Area means the area described in the map of that name published in the Operator’s Guide.
Adelaide Metropolitan Area means the area described in the map of that name published in the Guide.
Agricultural vehicle, for the purpose of the notice, includes combinations of agricultural vehicles, machines or implements connected and operated by hydraulic hoses, drive shafts, or other couplings.
Guide means the South Australia Class 1 Transport of Indivisible Items and Agricultural Vehicles Dimension Exemption Notice Operator’s Guide published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, and as amended from time to time.
Note: The Guide contains explanatory material to assist in the interpretation and use of the Notice.
The Guide also contains information regarding stated areas and routes that provide access under this Notice including road, travel and vehicle conditions, as well as information regarding participating Road Manager areas.
The Guide is maintained by the Regulator and is published on its website.
Participating Road Manager means a Road Manager listed in the Participating Road Manager section of the Guide.
South Australian Country Area means an area in South Australia other than the Adelaide Metropolitan Area or the Adelaide Hills Area.
7. Application
1) This notice applies to a class 1 vehicle that is:
a) a truck; or
b) a truck towing a trailer; or
c) a prime mover towing a semi-trailer.
2) This notice applies to a class 1 vehicle that is transporting:
a) an indivisible item; or
b) an agricultural vehicle.
3) This notice applies in South Australia.
4) A heavy vehicle to which this section applies and that complies with the conditions of this notice is an eligible vehicle.
8. 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):
a) section 3 – Length (combination or single vehicle)
b) section 4 – Length (trailers)
c) section 5 – Length (rear overhang)
d) section 7 – Width
e) section 8 – Height
f) section 12 – Rear projection of load
g) section 13 – Front and side projection of load
Note: the exemption in section 8(1)(g) only applies to side projection.
2) An exemption in 1) only applies to the extent that specific conditional dimension limits are provided in section 9 to 13 in this notice.
3) In relation to a particular vehicle or component, if this notice provides for more than one dimension limit to apply in the same circumstances, the more restrictive dimension limit applies.
9. Condition – Dimension (length)
Eligible vehicles that are a combination consisting of a prime mover and semi-trailer must not exceed 25.0m.
Note: due to the function of section 8(2), any eligible vehicle that is not a combination consisting of a prime mover and a semi-trailer must not exceed prescribed dimension limits.
10. Condition – Rear Overhang
1) The rear overhang of an eligible semi-trailer operating under this notice, including the load, must not exceed the lesser of:
a) 5.5 metres; or
b) 25% of the overall length of the entire vehicle, including the load.
11. Condition – Semitrailer Kingpin dimension
1) Semi-trailers that are part of an eligible vehicle are specifically exempt from meeting the following prescribed dimension requirements in section 4(2) of Schedule 6 of the MDL Regulation:
a) 9.5m - kingpin to the centre of the axle group;
b) 12.3m - kingpin to the rear of the semi-trailer.
2) No conditional dimensions are imposed on the exempted dimensions stated in (1)(a) and (b).
Note: the effect of this section is that eligible vehicles are exempted from prescribed dimensions relating to kingpins, but no conditional dimensions are imposed.
12. Conditions – Width
1) An eligible vehicle operating under this notice must not exceed:
a) 3.5m in width when transporting a large indivisible item; or
b) 4.5m in width when transporting an agricultural vehicle.
2) In addition to 1) the following restrictions also apply:
a) the load must be carried to minimise the amount by which it exceeds 2.5m in width; and
b) the overall width of all axles or axle groups of the load carrying part of the vehicle, measured between the outer edges of the tyres, must not be less than 2.1m; and
c) any cross member, supporting frame or outrigger fitted to support the load must not protrude beyond the load by more than 50mm.
13. Condition – Height
An eligible vehicle operating under this notice must not exceed 4.9m in height.
14. Condition – Restriction on transporting a large indivisible item or an agricultural vehicle
An eligible vehicle may only transport either a large indivisible item or an agricultural vehicle.
15. Condition – Stated areas or routes
1) An eligible vehicle complying with the conditions of this notice is authorised to operate on all public roads in South Australia, except as limited:
a) by any relevant conditions set out in this notice; and
b) by any stated area or route conditions set out in the guide.
2) For the purposes of section 119(1)(a) of the HVNL, an area or route specified in this section is a stated area or route to which this notice applies.
3) An eligible vehicle operating on an area or route specified in this section must comply with the following conditions as specified for a route or area:
a) Road conditions pursuant to section 160 of the HVNL; and
b) Travel conditions pursuant to section 161 of the HVNL; and
c) Vehicle conditions pursuant to section 162 of the HVNL.
16. Condition – Night travel
1) An eligible vehicle may not travel at night if it exceeds any of the following dimensions:
a) width - 3.1m wide
b) height - 4.6m high
c) for an articulated vehicle. length - 22.0m in length
17. Condition - Travel in the Adelaide Metropolitan Area
An eligible vehicle must not travel in the Adelaide Metropolitan Area between the hours of 7am to 9am and 4pm to 6pm, Monday to Friday inclusive.
18. Condition - Travel in the Adelaide Hills Area
An eligible vehicle must not travel in the Adelaide Hills area if it exceeds 3.05m wide and/or 19.0m long.
19. Condition – Pilot and Escorts
Drivers of pilot vehicles must operate in accordance with the Escorting Guidelines for Oversize and Overmass Vehicles and Loads in South Australia, published by South Australia Department for Infrastructure and Transport.
Peter Austin
Director, Policy Implementation
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator