HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW
Victoria Class 2 Converter Dolly Combination Authorisation Notice 2023 (No.1)
- Purpose
1) This notice authorises access for a class 2 heavy combination consisting of a prime mover, a semi-trailer, and a converter dolly that is not supporting a semitrailer.
2) This notice revokes and replaces Part 4 of the Victoria Class 3 Container Vehicle, Rearloader Waste Vehicle and Converter Dolly Combination Vehicle Mass And Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1).
2. Authorising provision
1) This notice is made under the following provision of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL):
a) section 138 – Regulator’s power to authorise use of all or stated categories of class 2 heavy vehicles
b) section 23 of Schedule 1 – Regulator’s power to amend or repeal instrument.
3. Title
This exemption Notice may be cited as the Victoria Class 2 Converter Dolly Combination Authorisation Notice 2023 (No.1).
4. Commencement date
This notice commences on 7 July 2023.
5. Expiry date
This notice expires on 6 July 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.
7. Application
1) This notice applies to a class 2 heavy combination consisting of a prime mover towing a semi-trailer and a converter dolly that is not supporting a semitrailer.
2) This notice applies in Victoria.
3) A heavy vehicle to which this section applies and that complies with the conditions of this notice is an eligible vehicle.
8. Conditions – Mass (total mass of an eligible vehicle)
An eligible vehicle must not exceed 45.5t.
9. Conditions – Mass (converter dolly)
A converter dolly that forms part of an eligible vehicle must not exceed 3.0t.
10. Condition – Dimension limits
The length of an eligible vehicle must not exceed 25.0m.
11. Condition – Unladen converter dollies
A converter dolly that forms part of an eligible vehicle must be unladen and must not be towing another unit.
12. Conditions – Areas and routes
1) An eligible vehicle complying with the conditions of this notice is authorised to operate on all roads in Victoria.
2) For the purposes of section 142(1)(b) of the HVNL, the area specified in 1) is a stated area to which this notice applies.
David Hourigan
Chief Regulatory and Policy Standards Officer
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
Overview
The Heavy Vehicle National Law Victoria Class 2 Converter Dolly Combination Authorisation Notice 2023 (No.1), enacted on 7 July 2023, addresses the need for updated authorisation for specific heavy vehicle combinations within Victoria. This Notice, which will remain in effect until 6 July 2028, authorises the use of a class 2 heavy combination that consists of a prime mover towing a semi-trailer and a converter dolly that is not supporting a semi-trailer, replacing the previous regulations set forth in Part 4 of the Victoria Class 3 Container Vehicle, Rearloader Waste Vehicle and Converter Dolly Combination Vehicle Mass And Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1). Authorised under section 138 and section 23 of Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law, the Notice aims to streamline the regulatory framework for such vehicle combinations in Victoria while ensuring compliance with specified mass, dimension, and operational conditions. The primary objective of this Notice is to provide clear authorisation for the operation of these vehicles in Victoria, thereby facilitating safer and more efficient transport operations while adhering to the stipulated limits and conditions.
Scope and Application
The Heavy Vehicle National Law Victoria Class 2 Converter Dolly Combination Authorisation Notice 2023 (No.1) provides a specific authorisation for the operation of a class 2 heavy combination, which consists of a prime mover towing a semi-trailer and a converter dolly that is not supporting a semi-trailer, within the state of Victoria. This notice serves to replace and revoke Part 4 of the Victoria Class 3 Container Vehicle, Rearloader Waste Vehicle and Converter Dolly Combination Vehicle Mass And Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1). The authorisation is subject to certain conditions, including a total mass limit of 45.5 tonnes for the eligible vehicle, a maximum of 3.0 tonnes for the converter dolly, and a length restriction of 25.0 metres. The converter dolly must also be unladen and cannot be towing another unit. Vehicles complying with these conditions are authorised to operate on all roads within Victoria. This notice is made under the Heavy Vehicle National Law and is effective from 7 July 2023, expiring on 6 July 2028.
Key Provisions
The Heavy Vehicle National Law Victoria Class 2 Converter Dolly Combination Authorisation Notice 2023 (No.1) primarily serves to provide authorisation for the operation of a specific type of heavy vehicle combination within Victoria. Section 8 of the notice sets the total mass limit for an eligible vehicle at 45.5 tonnes, as outlined in section 9, which also limits the mass of the converter dolly to 3.0 tonnes. Moreover, section 10 imposes a dimensional restriction, stipulating that the length of the vehicle must not exceed 25.0 metres. Additionally, section 11 mandates that any converter dolly included in the vehicle must be unladen and must not be towing another unit.
The obligations and requirements imposed by this Act are clear and straightforward. Vehicles seeking to operate under the authorisation must comply with the mass limits for both the total vehicle and the converter dolly, and must adhere to the dimensional restrictions. Furthermore, the vehicle must be unladen in the converter dolly section and cannot be towing another unit. Section 12(1) authorises eligible vehicles to operate on all roads in Victoria, making sure that they meet all the conditions specified in the notice.
In terms of consequences for non-compliance, although the notice does not explicitly state penalties, breaches of the Heavy Vehicle National Law could lead to significant civil or criminal consequences. Under the HVNL, penalties for non-compliance can include fines, imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity of the breach. The maximum penalties can vary widely, with potential fines reaching up to $165,000 for corporations and $33,000 for individuals, alongside imprisonment terms that can extend up to five years. Therefore, it is imperative for parties to strictly adhere to the conditions set out in this notice to avoid any potential legal repercussions.