HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

 Queensland Higher Mass Limits Declaration 2022 (No.1)

1)      Purpose

1)      The purpose of this Declaration is to authorise heavy vehicles eligible to use Higher Mass Limits (HML) on stated areas and routes, during stated hours of stated days and to state the conditions under which they may be used.

2)      This Notice revokes and replaces the Queensland Higher Mass Limits Declaration 2019 (No.1).

Note:  This version amends the Intelligent Access System conditions in section 11. All other conditions and access are the same as previous versions.

The Queensland Higher Mass Limits Operator’s Guide (Operator’s Guide) provides more information for operation under this Declaration. The Operator’s Guide is maintained and published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).

2)      Authorising Provision

This Declaration is made under section 12 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (the National Regulation).

3)      Title

This Declaration may be cited as the Queensland Higher Mass Limits Declaration 2022 (No.1).

4)      Commencement

This Declaration commences on 5 December 2022.

5)      Expiry

This Declaration expires on 10 February 2024.

6)      Definitions

1)      Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this Declaration have the same meanings as those defined in the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).

2)      In this Declaration:

Performance based standards (PBS) have the same meaning provided under Chapter 1 of the HVNL.

7)      Application

1)      This Declaration applies to an eligible vehicle operating in Queensland that complies with the provisions of this Declaration.

8)      Eligible Vehicles

1)      An eligible vehicle operating under this Notice means:

a)      A heavy vehicle that complies with the HML requirements in Schedule 5 of the National Regulation.

b)      PBS vehicle approved to operate at HML.

2)      As an exception to 1), a vehicle that is a bus may not operate under this Notice.

9)      Conditions – Tri-drive prime mover restriction in a B-double and road train combinations

1)      Access for tri-drive prime movers in a B-double or a road train combination is not authorised under this Declaration.

2)      In this section, tri-drive prime mover means a prime mover with a drive axle group consisting of three axles, all of which are in contact with the road.

10)  Conditions - Stated areas or routes

1)      An eligible vehicle operating in Queensland may access the following network:

a)      A HML vehicle of a category stated in Column 1 of Table 2 is authorised to be used on the stated areas or routes set out in Column 2.

b)      A HML vehicle that is a 23 metre B-double may operate on connecting 23 and 25 metre B-double and road train routes to a radial distance of 500m from the National Road Network in Queensland.

c)       A HML vehicle that is a 25 or 26 metre B-double may operate on connecting 25 metre B-double and road train routes to a radial distance of 500m from the National Road Network in Queensland.

d)      A HML vehicle that is a Type 1 road train may operate on connecting road train routes to a radial distance of 500m from the National Road Network in Queensland.

e)      A HML vehicle that is a Type 2 road train may operate on connecting Type 2 road train routes to a radial distance of 500m from the National Road Network in Queensland.

 Table 2-Routes and areas for eligible HML vehicles

Note: Queensland Networks approved under this Declaration can be located on the Queensland Globe website, published and maintained by the Queensland Government.

11)  Intelligent Access Conditions

1)      Pursuant to s402(1)(a) and (b) of Chapter 7 of the HVNL, the following conditions of this Notice are intelligent access program conditions:

a)      any condition relating to mass or dimensions; and

b)      any condition relating to stated areas or routes to which the authority applies, including any relating to speed or time of travel.

2)      Pursuant to s402(1)(c) of Chapter 7 of the HVNL, an eligible vehicle must be monitored by an approved intelligent transport system as set out in this section.

3)      An eligible vehicle must be enrolled in and comply with the following approved intelligent transport system, approved by Transport Certification Australia:

a)      For vehicles enrolled from 1 December 2022 – Telematics Monitoring Application

b)      For vehicles enrolled before 1 December 2022 – Intelligent Access Program

Note:  the option in subsection (1)(b) to comply using IAP will be removed from 1 June 2024.

4)      In this section, Intelligent Access Program means the approved intelligent transport system of that name administered by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads.

5)      At the time of operation under this notice, an eligible vehicle to which this section applies must be enrolled in and be compliant with the conditions of the required approved intelligent transport system.

12)  Conditions – Intelligent Access Conditions (Self Declaration)

1)      This section applies to an eligible vehicle if it is operating under an approved intelligent access system under section 11.

2)      If an approved intelligent transport system utilises a Self-Declared Input Device (SDID), the relevant information must be entered into the SDID by:

a)      the driver, if the SDID is fitted in or on the vehicle; or

b)      the participating operator, if the SDID is fitted in a place other than the place mentioned in subsection (a).

3)      The relevant information must be true and accurate and must be re-entered irrespective of the mass of the vehicle whenever:

a)      there is a change to the vehicle mass or configuration; or

b)      if prompted by the SDID.

4)      For the purpose of this subsection relevant information means information relating to the mass or configuration of the vehicle.

Peter Caprioli

Executive Director (Freight and Supply Chain Productivity)

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator