Victoria Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice 2015 (No.1)

Overview

The Heavy Vehicle National Law Victoria Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice 2015 (No.1) was enacted to address the need for an exemption for certain class 3 heavy vehicles in Victoria from the mass requirements prescribed in the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation. This notice was introduced to streamline the regulation of heavy vehicle masses in participating jurisdictions, ensuring consistency while accommodating specific operational needs. Authorised under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law, it was enacted by the Parliament and aims to provide a temporary exemption, effective from 12 November 2015 until 11 November 2016, while allowing for compliance with specific mass and route conditions. This notice specifically exempts Class 3 heavy vehicles in Victoria that consist of a prime mover with a twinsteer axle group and a tandem axle group with certain tyre configurations, connected to a semitrailer with specified axle groups, from particular mass requirements under the National Regulation. However, these vehicles must adhere to defined mass limits and conditions, and are restricted to using designated areas or routes within Victoria. The exemption aims to facilitate the movement of these vehicles under controlled conditions, ensuring road safety and infrastructure integrity are maintained.

Scope and Application

The Heavy Vehicle National Law Victoria Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice 2015 (No.1) provides an exemption from certain mass requirements for specific class 3 heavy vehicles in Victoria. This notice applies to class 3 heavy vehicles consisting of a prime mover with a twinsteer axle group and a tandem axle group fitted with a certified road-friendly suspension system, connected to a semitrailer with certain axle configurations and road-friendly suspension systems. The exemption applies solely within Victoria and is effective from 12 November 2015 until 11 November 2016. While these vehicles are exempt from certain mass requirements of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation, they must adhere to specific mass limits and conditions outlined in Schedule 2 of the notice, including requirements for operators of vehicles with a tri-axle group to hold mass management accreditation. Additionally, the notice specifies the areas and routes where these vehicles can be used, which are detailed in Schedule 1 of the notice, linked to the VicRoads Higher Mass Limits network map.

Key Provisions

The primary operative sections of the Victoria Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice 2015 (No. 1) outline specific vehicles eligible for exemption from certain mass requirements, and the conditions under which they can operate. Section 7 identifies the eligible vehicle configurations, namely a Class 3 heavy vehicle consisting of a prime mover with a twinsteer axle group and a tandem axle group connected to a semitrailer with specific axle configurations. Section 8 specifies that this notice applies in Victoria. Section 9 details the exemptions from prescribed mass requirements under the National Regulation, while Section 10 sets out the mass requirements and conditions for vehicles subject to this notice. The Act imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. First, it mandates that the vehicles specified in Section 7 must comply with the mass requirements outlined in Schedule 2. Specifically, the prime mover must have a twinsteer axle group with single tyres and load sharing suspension, and a tandem axle group with dual tyres fitted with a certified road-friendly suspension system. The semitrailer must have either a tandem axle group with a combination of single and dual tyres or a tri-axle group, all with certified road-friendly suspension systems. Additionally, the operator of any vehicle fitted with a tri-axle group must hold mass management accreditation, as stated in Section 10. Furthermore, the vehicles must adhere to the total combination mass limit of 49.5 tonnes and the mass limits relating to axle spacing detailed in Table B of Schedule 2. In terms of offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach, the notice itself does not explicitly state the penalties. However, violations of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation, from which this notice exempts certain vehicles, typically result in significant penalties. Breaches can lead to fines, prosecution, and potential disqualification from driving heavy vehicles. The specific penalties for non-compliance with the mass and suspension requirements would generally be enforced under the broader regulatory framework of the National Regulation, which may include fines up to several thousand Australian dollars and potential imprisonment for serious offences.