HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW
Tasmania Class 1 Special Purpose Vehicle Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1)
- Purpose
This notice grants exemptions from mass and dimension requirements for class 1 special purpose vehicles in Tasmania and provides conditions for access under the Heavy Vehicle Access Management System (HVAMS).
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.
3. Title
This notice may be cited as the Tasmania Class 1 Special Purpose Vehicle Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1).
4. Commencement date
This notice commences on 12 August 2024.
5. Expiry date
This notice expires on 11 August 2029.
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:
Heavy Vehicle Access Management System (HVAMS) means the system of that name maintained by the Tasmanian Department of State Growth for the purpose of providing vehicle networks under this notice.
Vehicle code means a code generated by the HVAMS when a set of vehicle parameters are validated.
Vehicle network means the network accessible to a given eligible vehicle based on that vehicle’s parameters validated by the HVAMS.
Vehicle parameters means the characteristics and attributes of an eligible vehicle required and validated by the HVAMS and used to generate a vehicle network. Vehicle parameters include, but are not limited to, the following:
a) Vehicle type, as specified by the HVAMS;
b) Dimensions;
c) Axle spacings, masses, steering and load sharing details;
d) Tyre size and ground contact widths;
e) Travel mode, as specified by the HVAMS; and
f) Telematics conditions, if specified by the HVAMS.
7. Application
1) This notice applies to a class 1 special purpose vehicle that has vehicle parameters validated under the HVAMS and is operating on a vehicle network specified for it by the HVAMS.
2) This notice applies in Tasmania.
3) A heavy vehicle to which this section applies and that complies with the conditions of this notice is an eligible vehicle.
8. 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):
a) section 2 – Mass limits for a single vehicle or combination
b) section 4 – Mass limits for a single axle or axle group
c) section 5 – Mass limits relating to axle spacing generally
2) The exemptions in 1) only apply to an eligible vehicle to the extent that a vehicle parameter exceeds that mass requirement, to the effect that:
a) where an eligible vehicle does not have a vehicle parameter that exceeds an exempted mass requirement, the corresponding exemption does not apply; and
b) where an eligible vehicle does have a vehicle parameter that exceeds an exempted mass requirement, the corresponding exemption only applies to the extent of that parameter.
9. Exemption – Prescribed dimension requirements
1) An eligible vehicle is exempt from the following dimension requirements under Schedule 6 of the MDL Regulation:
a) section 3 – Length (combination or single vehicle)
b) section 5 – Length (rear overhang)
c) section 7 – Width
d) section 8 – Height
2) The exemptions in 1) only apply to an eligible vehicle to the extent that a vehicle parameter exceeds that dimension requirement, to the effect that:
a) where an eligible vehicle does not have a vehicle parameter that exceeds an exempted dimension requirement, the corresponding exemption does not apply; and
b) where an eligible vehicle does have a vehicle parameter that exceeds an exempted dimension requirement, the corresponding exemption only applies to the extent of that parameter.
10. Conditions – Intelligent access program 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:
a) any vehicle parameter relating to mass or dimension; and
b) any condition relating to a vehicle network to which this notice applies.
2) Pursuant to section 402(1)(c) of Chapter 7 of the HVNL, an eligible vehicle must be enrolled in and comply with an approved intelligent transport system listed in 3) if required by the HVAMS as a vehicle parameter for a given vehicle network.
3) Approved intelligent transport systems specified by the HVAMS include:
Telematics Monitoring Application (TMA)
11. Disapplication of Schedule 8 Conditions – Specified emergency vehicles
1) The following conditions from Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation do not apply to an eligible vehicle that is a specified emergency vehicle:
a) Section 2(1)(c) - warning flags; and
b) Section 5(1)(a) - distance between side marker lights; and
c) Section 41(b) - 20mm black border on warning sign; and
d) Section 41(b) - 10mm edge of border on warning sign; and
e) Section 41(c) - manufacturers name/logo, brand/class on warning sign; and
f) Section 45(1) - dimensions of warning signs; and
g) Section 46(2)(a) - 200mm high lettering on warning sign; and
h) Section 46(2)(b) - position of lettering in relation to warning sign.
2) In this section, specified emergency vehicle means an eligible vehicle operated by an agency specified by the HVAMS.
12. Disapplication of Schedule 8 Conditions – Pilot vehicles
1) Section 26(1) of Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation does not apply to a vehicle acting as a pilot for an eligible vehicle.
2) A pilot vehicle subject of (1) must be a rigid vehicle with not more than 3 axles.
Note: This section replaces the mass restrictions on pilot vehicles under Schedule 8 and allows vehicles heavier than 4.5t to act as pilot vehicles. All other requirements of section 26 of Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation apply.
3) Section 30(1) of Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation does not apply to a vehicle acting as a pilot for an eligible vehicle operating under this notice.
Note: This section removes the restriction on where a single pilot vehicle must be positioned. As a result, a pilot vehicle may travel to the front or rear of the Eligible Vehicle where appropriate to provide adequate warning to other road users. All other requirements of section 30 of Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation apply.
13. Disapplication of Schedule 8 Conditions – Eligible vehicles
1) This section does not apply to specified emergency vehicles or pilot vehicles.
2) Section 7 of Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation does not apply to an eligible vehicle.
14. Conditions – Carriage of a HVAMS Vehicle Code
1) The vehicle code generated by the HVAMS when a set of vehicle parameters are validated must be carried by the driver of an eligible vehicle.
2) The vehicle code must be produced by the driver if required by an authorised officer.
15. Condition – Speed restrictions
1) An articulated steering crane must comply with the following conditions:
a) the maximum speed of the vehicle must not exceed 80km/h; and
b) an 80km/h maximum speed sign must be fitted to the rear of the vehicle; and
c) a warning decal in the cabin visible from the driver’s position must display a maximum speed limit of 80km/h.
16. Condition – Stated areas or routes
1) Pursuant to section 119(1)(a) of the HVNL, a vehicle network generated by the HVAMS for an eligible vehicle is the stated area or route to which this notice applies for that eligible vehicle is the stated area or route to which this notice applies for that eligible vehicle.
2) A vehicle network generated by the HVAMS is a stated map pursuant to section 119(2)(b) of the HVNL.
3) An eligible vehicle must comply with any of the following conditions prescribed for it by the vehicle network generated by the HVAMS:
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.
Peter Austin
Director, Policy Implementation
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator