Heavy Vehicle National Law

Victoria Class 1 Agricultural Vehicle Exemption Notice 2017 (No.1)

Purpose

This notice exempts certain Agricultural vehicles from mass and dimension requirements.

Note: This Notice replaces Schedule 2 Part 5 of the Victoria Consolidated National Heavy Vehicle Mass and Dimension Exemption (Notice) 2014 (No. 1).

2. Authorising Provision

This notice is made under Section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

3. Commencement

This notice commences 9 November 2017.

4. Expiry

This Notice expires five years after it commences.

5. Title

This Notice may be cited as the Victoria Class 1 Agricultural Vehicle Exemption Notice 2017.

6. Definitions

(1) Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this Notice have the same meanings as those defined in the HVNL.

(2) In this Notice

Area means area of operation described in the “Oversize Agricultural Vehicles network map”, specifically:

a) Zone 1

b) Zone 2

c) Zone 3

d) Zone 4

e) Zone 5

Eligible vehicle means an agricultural vehicle that exceeds the mass or dimension requirements of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).

MDL National Regulation means the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation.

Network means the Oversize Agricultural Vehicles Network maintained by VicRoads.

Tow Mass Ratio means the maximum mass limit that can be towed by a vehicle.

7. Application - Areas

This notice applies to eligible vehicles operating in Victoria.

8. Conditions and Areas

Specific exemptions and conditions apply in specific areas set out in the Oversize Agricultural Vehicles Network maintained by VicRoads.

Note: The relevant network map is maintained by VicRoads and available on the heavy vehicle network maps webpage.

9. Exemptions – Mass

(1) Vehicles operating under this notice are exempt from the following mass requirements in Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL Regulation):

a) Section 2(1)(b);

b) Section 4 and Table 1 (Axle mass limits table); and

c) Section 5(1) and Table 2 (Axle spacing mass limits general table).

10. Conditions – Mass

(1) The overall mass of an eligible vehicle must not exceed:

a) 45t;and

b) the mass on an axle that has the number and width of tyres specified in Column 1 of Table 1 must not be more than the mass limits set out in Column 2 and axle group mass limits set out in Column 3 of the Table opposite the description of that axle or axle group

Table 1- Conditional Mass limits

Item No.	Column 1 Number and width of tyres on an axle	Column 2 Mass limit (t)	Column 3 Axle Group Mass limit (t)
1	Axle fitted with 2 tyres and a tyre width less than 16 inches	10	20 on tandem axle group 27 on tri-axle group
2	Axle fitted with 2 tyres and a tyre width at least 16 inches	12	24 on tandem axle group
3	Axle fitted with 4 tyres and a ground contact width less than 2.51m	9	N/A
4	Axle fitted with 4 tyres and a ground contact width at least 2.51m but not more than 3.5m	10.5	N/A
5	Axle fitted with 4 tyres and a ground contact width more than 3.5m	12	N/A

Note: Masses cannot exceed the mass specified by the manufacturer of the tyre and/or vehicle.

11. Exemptions and conditions– Height

(1) An eligible vehicle (excluding an agricultural trailer) is exempt from the following provision of Schedule 6 of the MDL Regulation:

a) Section 8 – Height;

(2) The maximum height for an exempt vehicle under this section (excluding an agricultural trailer) must not be more than 4.6m.

(3) When being used on approved roads in Zone 4, an agricultural vehicle (excluding an agricultural trailer) must not be higher than 5m.

Note: An agricultural trailer must comply with the prescribed dimension requirements relating to height.

12. Exemptions and conditions– Rear Overhang

(1) An eligible vehicle (excluding an agricultural trailer) is exempt from the following provision of Schedule 6 of the MDL Regulation:

a) Section 5 – Rear Overhang;

(2) The rear overhang for an eligible vehicle (excluding an agricultural trailer, auger, conveyor, field bin, harvester or comb trailer) exempt under this section must not exceed a rear overhang of 4.5m in all other areas.

(3) The rear overhang for an eligible vehicle auger or conveyor, exempt under this section must not exceed a rear overhang of:

a) 10m when using approved roads in Zone 4; and

b) 8.0m in all other areas

(4) The rear overhang for an eligible vehicle that is a field bin, harvester or comb trailer must not exceed a rear overhang of:

a) 6.5m when being used in the Zone 4; and

b) 4.5m in all other areas.

13. Exemptions and conditions– Length

(1) An eligible vehicle that is an auger, conveyor or agricultural combination (that excludes an agricultural trailer) is exempt from the following provision of Schedule 6 of the MDL Regulation:

a) Section 3 – Length

(2) An agricultural vehicle that is not an auger or conveyor or an agricultural combination or an agricultural trailer must not be longer than 15m when using approved roads in Zone 1 and 2.

(3) An agricultural vehicle that is an auger or conveyor must not be longer than 16m when using approved roads in Zone 1 and Zone 2.

(4) An agricultural implement (that excludes an agricultural trailer) must not be longer than 25m when using approved roads in Zone 4.

(5) An agricultural vehicle that is an agricultural combination that excludes an agricultural trailer must not be longer than 25m.

(6) When using approved roads in Zone 4, an eligible vehicle (excluding an agricultural trailer) that is an agricultural combination must:

a) not be longer than 35m; and

b) may only tow up to two vehicles so long as at least one of those vehicle is an agricultural vehicle.

(7) An agricultural vehicle referred to in s13(6) must not be used—

a) on roads marked as Main Roads on the Network; or

b) on a road between sunset and sunrise.

(8) The length of an agricultural vehicle that is an agricultural combination that includes an agricultural trailer must not be more than 19m.

(9) For the purpose of this section, a comb trailer carrying a comb header is not an agricultural trailer.

14. Exemptions and conditions– Width

(1) An eligible vehicle that is an auger, conveyor or agricultural combination (that excludes an agricultural trailer) is exempt from the following provision of Schedule 6 of the MDL Regulation:

a) Section 7(1) – Width

(2) An eligible vehicle (excluding an agricultural trailer) that is used in an area or route specified in Column 1 of Table 2, must not be wider than the width set out in Column 2 of that Table, opposite the area or route.

Table 2- Conditional Width limits

Item No.	Column 1 Agricultural area of operation	Column 2 Width limit (m)
1	Zone 1	2.5
2	Zone 2	3.5
3	Zone 4	6.5

15. Conditions – Prohibited Bridges

(1) An agricultural vehicle that has a mass more than the following mass limits must not be used on a prohibited bridge within the network:

a) mass on an axle fitted with 2 tyres – 6.0t;

b) mass on an axle with 4 tyres – 10t;

c) mass of the vehicle– 42.5t.

Note: Prohibited bridges are described and set out in the Oversize Agricultural Vehicles Network maintained by VicRoads as provided in s8 of this Notice.

16. Conditions applicable to certain areas or routes

(1) A condition of Schedule 8 to the MDL National Regulation that is specified in Column 2 of Table 3 does not apply to an agricultural vehicle referred to in column 1 of Table 3 when being used in the areas or routes specified in column 3 of that Table subject to the conditions specified in column 4 of that Table.

Table 3- Conditions Applicable to Certain Routes and Areas

(Unless specified, all references are to Schedule 8 of the National Regulation)

Item No.

Column 1

Type of class 1 heavy

vehicle

Column 2

Provision of

Schedule 8 not

applying

Column 3

Areas or routes

Column 4

Conditions

Agricultural vehicle or

agricultural combination

Requirement to

display a warning

2(1) and 20(2)

Zones 1,2 and 4

The vehicle is only—

crossing a road; or
being used on a road-related area beside the road.

Agricultural vehicle

other than an

agricultural trailer

Requirement to

display a warning

light in

sections 4 and

20(1)

Zones 1,2 and 4

The vehicle is only—

crossing a road; or
being used on a road-related area beside the road.

Agricultural vehicle or

agricultural

combination

The requirement

to be

accompanied by a

pilot vehicle in

section 21

Zones 1,2 and 4

The vehicle is only—

crossing a road; or
being used on a road-related area beside the road; and

it is safe to travel without a pilot vehicle.

Item No.

Column 1

Type of class 1 heavy

vehicle

Column 2

Provision of

Schedule 8 not

applying

Column 3

Areas or routes

Column 4

Conditions

Agricultural vehicle

that is a boom sprayer

wider than 3.1m or

longer than 22m

Travel restrictions

at night in section

Zone 4

The vehicle is no wider than 3.5m;
the combination is no longer than 25m when the vehicle is being towed;
the vehicle has a yellow rotating warning light conforming with sections 35 and 36
an OVERSIZE warning sign conforming with Division 2 of Part 3 is fitted to the rear of the vehicle;
a delineator conforming with section 3 Regulation is attached to the rear of any rear-projecting spray booms that project more than 2m from the body of the vehicle;
the rear-projecting spray booms do not project more than 4.5m from the centre of the rear axle or axle group; the vehicle complies with the lights requirements of Part 6 of Schedule 2 of the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation;
if the spray booms project to the rear more than 1.2m past the stop, turn and brake lights, an additional red light is affixed to the end of each boom that can be seen from at least 200m; and
the vehicle is not used on a main road or prohibited road.

Agricultural auger; or

Agricultural conveyor

Requirement in

clause 44(2)

Zone 4

An OVERSIZE warning sign conforming to Division 2 of Part 3

is fitted on the rear of the vehicle.

Item No.

Column 1

Type of class 1 heavy

vehicle

Column 2

Provision of

Schedule 8 not

applying

Column 3

Areas or routes

Column 4

Conditions

A field bin (a trailer

that is a bulk bin used

exclusively for holding

grain)

Requirement to

display a warning

light in sections 4

and 20(1)

Zones 1,2 and 4

The towing vehicle displays a warning light complying with section 35(1)

Agricultural vehicle

that is a combination

which includes a field

bin (a trailer that is a

bulk bin used

exclusively for holding

grain)

Requirement to be

accompanied by a

pilot vehicle in

section 7

Zones 1,2 and 4

When travelling along a sealed road the combination is kept wholly to the left of the centre of the road except when overtaking or signalling an intention to turn; and
it is safe to travel without a pilot vehicle; and
does not exceed a combination length of 25.0 metres

17. Conditions regarding warning devices for agricultural vehicles

(1) In addition to the requirements of Schedule 8 to the MDL National Regulation, an agricultural vehicle that is an auger, conveyor or harvester comb carried on a comb trailer, must have displayed at the sides of the rear a pattern covering an area of at least 0.16 m2 and consisting of diagonal stripes at least 150mm wide and alternately coloured—

a) red and white; or

b) black and white.

18. Conditions regarding freeways

Where access to a freeway is granted under the Network, Section 22 of Schedule 8 of the MDL National Regulation does not apply to an agricultural vehicle or agricultural combination operating under this Notice.

19. Exemption from operating conditions

(1) An eligible vehicle is exempt from:

a) Section 21 — Pilot vehicle requirements for agricultural vehicles or combinations

b) Section 23 — Agricultural implements not to carry goods or passengers

c) Schedule 1, Section 2 (4) — Mass limits for a single vehicle or combination

20. Conditions — Pilot Vehicle

(1) The exemption in Section 19(1)(a) only applies if an agricultural combination complies with the minimum limits described in column 2 of Table 4 below when using approved roads in Zone 4 unless otherwise specified.

Table 4 Pilot Vehicle Conditions

Item No	Column 1 Dimensions	Column 2 Minimum limits	Column 3 Number of pilots	Column 4 Positioning of pilot vehicle
1	Combination Length	30m on arterial roads only	2 pilots	Front and Rear of combination
2	Width	5m	2 pilots	Front and Rear of combination
3	Rear Overhang	6.5m	1 pilot	Rear of combination
4	Tow Mass Ratio	1:1.2 in an 80km/h zone or above	1 pilot	Rear of combination
5	Height*	5m	1 Escort	Front of combination
* an escort is only required if the agricultural combination is crossing under overhead powerlines.

(2) For the purposes of this Sub-section, ‘arterial road’ has the same meaning as in the Road Management Act 2004 (Vic).

21. Condition — Transport a load

(1) The exemption in Section 19(1)(b) applies if an agricultural implement is carrying a load and does not exceed the mass limit described set out in this notice.

22. Conditions — Tow mass ratio

(1) The exemption in Section 19(1)(c) applies if the mass of an agricultural implement or trailer that:

d) not braked is:

1.2 times more than the mass of the towing vehicle or lower tow mass ratio specified by the manufacturer when the speed limit exceeds 25km/h.
1.5 times more than the mass of the towing vehicle or lower tow mass ratio specified by the manufacturer when the speed limit does not exceed 25km/h.

e) braked and complies with Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 38/00 – Trailer Brake Systems) 2006 is:

iii. 3.0 times more than the tow mass ratio of the towing vehicle or lower towed ratio specified by the manufacturer.

DATED: 9 November 2017

Peter Caprioli

Executive Director Access

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator