Victoria Class 3 Grain Harvest Management Scheme Mass Exemption Notice 2017 (No. 1)

Overview

The Victoria Class 3 Grain Harvest Management Scheme Mass Exemption Notice 2017 (No. 1) was enacted to address the need for specific mass exemptions for heavy vehicles involved in the transportation of grain within Victoria. This Notice, made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), allows for eligible vehicles to operate under certain conditions while being exempt from specific prescribed mass requirements set out in the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation. The exemption is intended to facilitate the efficient movement of grain during the harvest season in conjunction with the Victorian Grain Harvest Management Scheme (GHMS). The Notice applies to eligible vehicles that are enrolled in and comply with the GHMS and are transporting grain from the loading site to a registered participating grain receiver. This Notice was issued by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and is designed to streamline grain transportation by providing a clear framework for mass exemptions while ensuring compliance with the broader regulatory environment. It sets out specific conditions for vehicle eligibility, mass limits, and operational requirements, ensuring that participating vehicles meet necessary safety and registration standards. The Notice also stipulates that a copy of the exemption must be carried on the vehicle and produced upon request, facilitating enforcement and compliance checks by authorised officers.

Scope and Application

The Victoria Class 3 Grain Harvest Management Scheme Mass Exemption Notice 2017 applies to eligible heavy vehicles operating in Victoria that are enrolled in and comply with the requirements of the Victorian Grain Harvest Management Scheme (GHMS) and are transporting grain from the place where it was loaded to a participating grain receiver. This notice, made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law, exempts eligible vehicles from certain prescribed mass requirements specified in Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation. Eligible vehicles include rigid trucks with two or more axles, rigid trucks towing dog trailers, prime mover and semitrailer combinations, and B-doubles with specified axle and length limits. Vehicles must operate on specified networks maintained by VicRoads and comply with vehicle standards and registration requirements, including first registration on or after 1 January 2002, and compliance with Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 80/00 - Emission Control for Heavy Vehicles) 2005. The notice outlines conditional mass limits for various vehicle types, and allows for a steer axle mass exception under certain conditions. The Notice is effective from the date of its publication and expires five years later. The Notice is subject to various conditions, including compliance with the GHMS, the carriage of a copy of the Notice in the vehicle's driving compartment, and adherence to specified mass limits. The Notice provides for exemptions from certain mass requirements under the National Regulation and specifies the areas or routes on which eligible vehicles may operate. It also allows for a steer axle mass exception under certain conditions, which may increase the mass limit by 0.5 tonnes. The Notice operates in conjunction with the GHMS and is administered by VicRoads, the Victorian state Road Authority.

Key Provisions

The Victoria Class 3 Grain Harvest Management Scheme Mass Exemption Notice 2017 (No. 1) provides exemptions from certain prescribed mass requirements for heavy vehicles operating within the scope of the Victorian Grain Harvest Management Scheme (GHMS). This notice operates in conjunction with the National Regulation, specifically Schedule 1, to allow certain vehicles to operate with mass exemptions. Eligible vehicles under this notice include rigid trucks with two or more axles, rigid trucks towing dog trailers, prime mover and semitrailer combinations, and B-doubles, all of which must adhere to specific length and axle limitations (sections 6 and 7). The Notice exempts these vehicles from various mass limits such as those in Sections 2(1)(a)(iv), 2(1)(b), 2(2), 2(4), Section 4, and Sections 5(1) and (2) of the National Regulation, as well as parts of Table 1, 2 & 3 in Part 2 (section 8). Vehicles that qualify under this exemption must be enrolled in and comply with the requirements of the GHMS, which includes transporting grain from the loading site to a participating grain receiver. Additionally, these vehicles must adhere to specific vehicle standards and registration requirements. They must have been first registered on or after January 1, 2002, and comply with Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 80/00 - Emission Control for Heavy Vehicles) 2005 (section 11). A copy of this Notice must be carried in the driving compartment of the vehicle and produced upon request by a police officer or an authorised officer (section 10). The maximum loaded mass of the vehicle must also not exceed the conditional mass limits specified in Table 1 of the Notice, although there is an exception for steer axle mass limits (section 12 and 13). Any breach of the conditions set forth in this Notice may lead to various civil or criminal consequences. For instance, if a vehicle does not comply with the specified mass limits or fails to carry a copy of the Notice, it may be subject to fines or other penalties under the National Law. The maximum penalties for such offences are not explicitly stated in the Notice but would generally align with the penalties outlined in the Heavy Vehicle National Law and associated regulations. Non-compliance could also result in the vehicle being deemed unfit for operation until the issues are rectified, potentially causing delays and additional costs for the operators involved.