South Australia Class 3 Articulated Motor Vehicle And B-Double Livestock Loading Mass Exemption Notice 2020

Administered by Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

Legislation au C2020G00601 In force Gazette

Legislation content

 

South Australia Class 3 Articulated Motor Vehicle and B-Double Livestock Loading Mass Exemption Notice 2020 (No. 1)

 

Purpose

  1. The purpose of this Notice is to exempt the use of Class 3 Articulated Motor Vehicles and B-doubles from:

(a)    stated mass limits in Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (the Regulation) and  

(b)    to allow for a specific length exemption for specific 27.5m B-Doubles carrying livestock on a specific route.

2.       This Notice revokes the South Australia Class 3 Articulated Motor Vehicle and B-Double Livestock Loading Mass Exemption Notice 2019.

 

Note: This instrument is an exemption from the heavy vehicle mass limits for Articulated Motor Vehicles and B-doubles specifically built for carrying livestock.  This instrument does NOT exempt these vehicles from other requirements of the Heavy Vehicle National Law including, but not limited to, vehicle standards and other dimension requirements.

 This Notice removes the maintenance conditions. No other conditions or requirements are amended.

 

Authorising provision

3.       This Notice is made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law as in force in each participating jurisdiction (HVNL).

 

Title

4.       This Notice may be cited as the South Australia Class 3 Articulated Motor Vehicle And B-Double Livestock Loading Mass Exemption Notice 2020.

 

Commencement

5.       This Notice commences on 1 August 2020.

 

Expiry

6.       This Notice expires on 9 February 2024.

 

Definitions

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

8.       In this Notice:

Articulated Motor Vehicle means a combination consisting of a prime mover towing 1 semi-trailer.

 

Guideline means the South Australia Network Restrictions Guideline published by the South Australia Department of Planning Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI)

 

Livestock when referring to a load, means cattle, sheep, pigs, horses, goats or other livestock.

Application

 

9.       This Notice applies only in South Australia.

10.   In addition to the requirements of this Notice, Articulated Motor Vehicles and B-Doubles built to carry livestock, that are higher than 4.3m but not higher than 4.6m must comply with and operate in accordance with the National Class 2 Heavy Vehicle 4.6m High Livestock Carrier Authorisation (Notice) 2014 (No.1) and the South Australian Schedule to that Notice, except where varied by this Notice.

 

Exemption from prescribed mass limits

11.   This Notice exempts—

(a)    An Articulated Motor Vehicle or B-double built to carry livestock from the—

  1.       mass limit applicable to a tandem axle group fitted with dual tyres; and the
  2.       mass limit applicable to a tri-axle group fitted with dual tyres;—

in Table 1 – Axle mass limit table, Schedule 1, Part 2 of the Regulation, and

(b)    an Articulated Motor Vehicle from the Gross Combination Mass Limit in Schedule 1, Part 1, Clause 2(1)(a)(iv), and the upper limit of 42.5t in Part 2, Table 2, and

(c)     a B-double from the upper limit of 62.5t in Part 2, Table 3.

(d)    the exemptions in this section only applies to the extent of the conditional mass limits set out in this Notice, and when other relevant conditions in the Notice are met.

 

Conditions

12.   For an Articulated Motor Vehicle, the prime mover must be fitted with a single steer axle and a dual-drive tandem axle group and the semi-trailer must be fitted with a tri-axle group.

13.   For a B-double, the prime mover must be fitted with a single steer axle and a dual-drive tandem axle group and the semi-trailers must be fitted with tri-axle groups.

14.   Except for the steer axle, all axles of the Articulated Motor Vehicle and B-double must be fitted with dual tyres.

15.   The load must consist solely of livestock. General freight must not be carried.

16.   The load within a trailer must consist only of one specific type of livestock. Mixed loading is not permitted. In the case of a B-double, a different type of livestock may be carried in each trailer.

17.   Only semi-trailers that have at least two appropriately spaced and constructed pens per deck for cattle and four pens per deck for pigs, sheep and goats must be used.

18.   The number of decks shall be restricted to two decks for cattle, three decks for pigs and four decks for sheep and goats.

19.   The prime mover must have a minimum rated capacity as follows;

(a)    Front Axle – 6t

(b)    Dual-drive tandem axle group – 17.3t

(c)     Gross vehicle Mass – 23.3t

(d)    Gross Combination Mass – Articulated Motor Vehicle prime mover – 48.3t

(e)    Gross Combination Mass – B-double prime mover – 73.3t.

20.   The semi-trailers must have a minimum tri-axle group rating of 25.0t.

21.   The unladen mass of the prime mover must not be greater than 12.0t

22.   The unladen mass of the semi-trailer used in the Articulated Motor Vehicle and the second semi-trailer of a B-double must not be greater than 15.0t.

23.   The unladen mass of the lead semi-trailer in a B-double must not be greater than 12.0t.

24.   The ‘D’ rating for the fifth wheel couplings and kingpins for a B-double must not be less than 119kN.

Note: The Articulated Motor Vehicle and B-double must have the rated vehicle capacities to operate at the mass, at the time when operating under this Notice, in accordance with Part 2, Division 1, Section 8 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulations.

   All vehicles must comply with the Livestock Loading scheme and labelling requirements in the jurisdiction of registration.  

 

Condition - Stated Areas or Routes

 

25.   An Articulated Motor Vehicle may use all roads in South Australia, except as limited under the Information Bulletin – Area or Routes of Operation – Livestock Loading Mass Exemption.

26.   B-double combinations may use the routes set out in Appendix 1 of this notice.

 

Conditions – 27.5m long B-doubles transport livestock

 

27.   A B-Double may operate up to 27.5m long if it complies with the following conditions:

(a)    The B-double is transporting livestock from the South Australia/Western Australia border to Dublin, South Australia, via the route specified in (d).

(b)    The S-dimension of the combination does not exceed 20.6m.

(c)     B-doubles operating under this section are restricted to travel on the PBS Level 3A network following the stated route to Dublin, South Australia. The stated route is via the following roads:

  1. Eyre Highway from the Western Australia Border to Port Augusta; then
  2. Victoria Parade, Port Augusta; then
  3. Augusta Highway; then
  4. Port Wakefield Highway to the intersection of Carslake Road, Dublin; then
  5. Carslake Road, Dublin.

(d)    A B-double operating under this section must terminate its journey at a livestock feedlot on Carslake Road, Dublin, and unload all livestock.

 

(e)    An unladen B-Double that has terminated its journey according to d) and e) may return to the Western Australia border via the reverse same route as specified in d.

(f)     This notice does not in any way exempt B-doubles operating under this notice from complying with the requirements of sections 11 to 24 of this Notice.

(g)    B-doubles operating under this section may not use any of the stated routes in Appendix 1 of this Notice.

 

 Note:- the intent of this section is to allow 27.5m long B-doubles that meet the relevant conditions to transport livestock from the Western Australia border to feedlots in Dublin, South Australia by a specific route, and then return by the same route. It is not intended to provide for 27.5m long B-Doubles to operate on any other route in South Australia than the one specified, or for any other purpose.

 

Peter Caprioli

Executive Director (Freight and Supply Chain Productivity)

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

 

 

 

 

Appendix 1

 

  1. B-doubles operating under this Notice may use the following network maintained on the DPTI RAVnet map system, and published on its website:

“26m B-double (GML)”

2.       Access provided in 1. above excludes:

a)      B-double commodity routes; and

b)      Any routes in the Adelaide Hills Area, as specified in the Approved Areas or Routes on DPTI’s website; and

c)       Any other routes restricted by the Information Bulletin – Area or Routes of Operation – Livestock Loading Mass Exemption published on DPTI’s website.

 

 

 

 

Overview

The South Australia Class 3 Articulated Motor Vehicle and B-Double Livestock Loading Mass Exemption Notice 2020 (No. 1) was enacted to address the need for exemption of mass limits for articulated motor vehicles and B-doubles specifically built for carrying livestock, particularly on designated routes within South Australia. This Notice revokes the previous exemption notice from 2019 and introduces specific conditions for the exemption of these vehicles from certain mass limits as outlined in the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation. Authorised under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law, this Notice aims to facilitate the movement of livestock by exempting these vehicles from specified mass limits while ensuring compliance with other requirements of the Heavy Vehicle National Law, such as vehicle standards and dimension requirements. The exemption applies solely within South Australia and is effective from 1 August 2020 until 9 February 2024, subject to the conditions set out in the Notice. The Notice exempts articulated motor vehicles and B-doubles built to carry livestock from certain mass limits, provided that they meet specific conditions, such as the configuration of axles and tyres, the type of load, and the minimum rated capacities of the vehicles. Additionally, it allows for a specific length exemption for 27.5m B-doubles carrying livestock on a defined route from the South Australia/Western Australia border to Dublin, South Australia, ensuring these vehicles comply with all other regulatory requirements. The Notice does not remove any other conditions or requirements from the Heavy Vehicle National Law, except for the maintenance conditions, which have been removed.

Scope and Application

The South Australia Class 3 Articulated Motor Vehicle and B-Double Livestock Loading Mass Exemption Notice 2020 (No. 1) provides exemptions from certain mass limits for Class 3 Articulated Motor Vehicles and B-doubles specifically built to carry livestock, applicable only within the state of South Australia. This Notice allows for a specific length exemption for 27.5m B-doubles carrying livestock on a designated route from the South Australia/Western Australia border to Dublin, South Australia. The Notice exempts these vehicles from particular mass limits outlined in Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation, provided the vehicles meet certain conditions such as specific axle configurations, tyre fittings, and livestock loading requirements. However, these vehicles are not exempt from other requirements of the Heavy Vehicle National Law, including vehicle standards and other dimension requirements. The Notice revokes the South Australia Class 3 Articulated Motor Vehicle and B-Double Livestock Loading Mass Exemption Notice 2019 and removes maintenance conditions, but does not amend other conditions or requirements. The exemption applies to vehicles operating under this Notice, with specific conditions governing their use, including route restrictions and operational limitations.

Key Provisions

The key provisions of the South Australia Class 3 Articulated Motor Vehicle and B-Double Livestock Loading Mass Exemption Notice 2020 (No. 1) (Notice) focus primarily on the exemption of certain vehicles from specific mass limits and the establishment of certain conditions for the transport of livestock. Under section 11, the Notice exempts articulated motor vehicles and B-doubles built to carry livestock from certain mass limits set out in the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (Regulation). Specifically, these vehicles are exempt from the mass limits for tandem and tri-axle groups fitted with dual tyres, as well as the gross combination mass limit for articulated motor vehicles and the upper limit for B-doubles. This exemption applies only when the vehicles comply with the conditions set out in the Notice and are carrying livestock as their sole load. The Notice imposes several conditions on the vehicles it governs. For articulated motor vehicles, the prime mover must have a single steer axle and a dual-drive tandem axle group, while the semi-trailer must have a tri-axle group (section 12). For B-doubles, the prime mover must also have a single steer axle and a dual-drive tandem axle group, and the semi-trailers must have tri-axle groups (section 13). All axles, except for the steer axle, must be fitted with dual tyres (section 14). The load must consist solely of livestock and must not be mixed within a trailer, though different types of livestock may be carried in each trailer of a B-double (sections 15 and 16). The semi-trailers must have appropriately spaced and constructed pens for the livestock they carry, and the number of decks is restricted depending on the type of livestock (sections 17 and 18). Additionally, there are specific minimum rated capacities for the prime mover and semi-trailers, as well as maximum unladen masses for the vehicles (sections 19 to 23). Breaches of the conditions set out in the Notice may lead to various civil or criminal consequences, although specific penalties are not detailed within the text of the Notice itself. Typically, violations of heavy vehicle regulations can result in substantial fines and potential disqualification from driving. The maximum penalties for contravening the Heavy Vehicle National Law can include fines of up to $22,200 for individuals and $111,000 for corporations, along with the possibility of imprisonment. However, the exact penalties would be determined by the courts based on the specific circumstances of the breach. Furthermore, the Notice clarifies that it does not exempt the vehicles from other requirements of the Heavy Vehicle National Law, such as vehicle standards and other dimension requirements.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Environmental Law
Transport Law
Instrument
Notice
Concepts
Commencement Provisions
Enforcement Powers
Reporting & Disclosure Obligations
Catchwords
Exemption

Interactions

Authorises

All Versions

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.