Tasmania Class 3 Transport of Export Freight Containers Mass Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1)

HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

Tasmania Class 3 Transport of Export Freight Containers Mass Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1)

1.        Purpose

1.       This Notice grants exemptions from mass requirements for a class 3 heavy vehicle that is carrying freight containers containing perishable foodstuff for export.

1.       This notice revokes and replaces Tasmania Class 3 Transport Export Freight Containers Mass Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1).

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.
2.       Section 23 of Schedule 1 – Regulator’s power to amend or repeal instrument.

1.        Title

This exemption Notice may be cited as the Tasmania Class 3 Transport Export Freight Containers Mass Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1).

1.        Commencement date

This Notice commences on 1 August 2026.

1.        Expiry date

This Notice expires on 9 February 2029.

1.        Definitions

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

1.        Application

1.       This exemption notice applies to a class 3 heavy combination that is transporting perishable foodstuff for export.
2.       This exemption notice applies to a heavy combination consisting of a:

1.       prime mover with a single steer axle and a tandem drive axle; and a

1.       semi-trailer with a tri-axle group.

1.       This exemption notice only applies to a heavy combination transporting a freight container not exceeding 12.2m in length.

1.       This notice applies in Tasmania.

1.       A heavy combination 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) only applies to an eligible vehicle to the extent that specific conditional mass limits are provided in sections 9 and 10 of this notice.

1.       In any case, any additional or conditional mass allowed under this Notice may not exceed manufacturer mass limits pursuant to section 8 of the MDL Regulation.

1.        Conditions – Mass (total mass of an eligible vehicle)

An eligible vehicle must not exceed 47.5t.

1.    Conditions – Mass (Mass limits for types of axle groups)

1.       On an eligible vehicle, an axle group described in Column 1 of Table 2 must not exceed the mass listed in Column 2.

Table 1: Maximum masses for axle groups

1.       An eligible vehicle with a complying steer axle may add 0.5t to the maximum mass listed in column 2 of Table 1.
2.       On an eligible vehicle, all axle groups must be fitted with dual tyres, other than the steer axle.

1.    Condition – Alternative Compliance Accreditation (ACA) – Mass

The operator of an eligible vehicle must hold Alternative Compliance Accreditation (ACA) – Mass or mass management accreditation granted prior to 1 August 2026.

1.    Condition – Road-friendly suspension system

All axles of the combination, other than the steer axle, must be equipped with a certified road-friendly suspension system.

1.    Condition – Container declaration documentation

1.       Each freight container must be accompanied by documentation specifying:

1.       the origin and destination of the container; and
2.       the nature of the commodity in the container.

1.    Condition – Stated areas or routes

1.       Pursuant to the authorisation granted in section 8 of this notice, an eligible vehicle may operate in the areas and on the routes specified in this section.

1.       An eligible vehicle complying with the conditions of this notice is authorised to operate on route provided in the following network

Tasmanian Declared Higher Mass Limits (HML) Network

1.       For the purposes of section 119(1)(a) of the HVNL, the route specified in this section is a route to which this notice applies.

1.       An eligible vehicle operating on the route specified in this section must comply with any of the following conditions prescribed for that 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 Arredondo

Manager, Network Access Policy

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator