HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW
South Australia Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Truck and Dog (Stobie Pole) Dimension Exemption Notice 2023 (No.1)
1) This notice grants exemptions from dimension requirements for a class 3 heavy vehicle consisting of a rigid truck and a dog trailer that is transporting stobie poles.
2) This notice revokes and replaces the South Australia Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Truck and Dog (Stobie Pole) 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 117 – Regulator’s power to exempt category of class 1 or 3 heavy vehicles from compliance with mass or dimension requirement.
b) section 23 of Schedule 1 – Regulator’s power to amend or repeal instrument.
3. Title
This exemption notice may be cited as the South Australia Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Truck and Dog (Stobie Pole) Dimension Exemption 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.
2) In this notice:
Extendable dog trailer means a two axle dog trailer where the rear extension of the trailer, behind the rear most axle, can extend up to a maximum of 3.7m.
Rear extension means the part of the trailer that can extend beyond the main fixed body of the trailer.
SA Power Networks means the entity trading as SA Power Networks.
Stobie pole means a pole intended for the purpose of supporting overhead electricity transmission lines, telecommunications lines, or other form communication or power transmission cable.
7. Application
1) This notice applies to a Class 3 heavy vehicle that meets all the requirements in this section.
2) This notice applies to a heavy vehicle that is a rigid truck towing an extendable dog trailer.
3) This notice only applies to a heavy vehicle that is transporting stobie poles and operated by SA power Networks, or is contracted to SA Power Networks, to perform stobie pole installation or maintenance activities.
4) This notice applies in South Australia.
5) A heavy vehicle to which this section applies and that complies with the conditions of this notice is an eligible vehicle.
8. Exemption – Prescribed dimension requirements
1) An eligible vehicle is exempt from the following dimension requirements under Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL Regulation):
a) section 3 – Length (combination or single vehicle)
b) section 5 – Length (rear overhang)
2) An exemption in 1) only applies to the extent that specific conditional dimension limits are provided in section 9 in this notice.
3) In relation to a particular vehicle or component, if this notice provides for more than one dimension limit to apply in the same circumstances, the more restrictive dimension limit applies.
9. Condition – Length
An eligible vehicle must not exceed 21.0m in length when transporting stobie poles.
Note: This exemption notice does not apply to a vehicle that is not transporting stobie poles. A vehicle that is not carrying a stobie pole is not operating under this exemption and must comply with prescribed dimension requirements.
10. Conditions – Requirement regarding Stobie poles
1) The conditions in this section apply to the dimensions, markings and loading of stobie poles transported by an eligible vehicle.
2) A stobie pole carried by an eligible vehicle must not exceed 12.0m in length.
3) Stobie poles must be loaded centrally on the trailer and the overall collective width of a load of stobie poles must not exceed 1.0m.
4) Stobie poles must be delineated with a least three sight boards as follows;
a) On the rear of the pole, one sight board displaying a vertical surface 750mm long and 300mm high to the sides and a vertical surface 400mm square to the rear.
b) Along the length of the pole, two sight boards each displaying a vertical surface of 350mm long and 400mm high to the sides
c) All vertical surfaces of the sight boards to display 100mm wide alternate red and yellow reflective stripes at an angle of 45 degrees.
d) At night or during periods of low visibility the section of pole(s) that extends past the rear of the trailer must be delineated at the end with a red stop/tail light facing to the rear and side marker lights which display an amber light to the front and a red light to the rear. Side marker lights shall be spaced no greater than 2.0m apart.
e) For the purpose of this notice ‘low visibility’ means the same as specified in section 8 of Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation.
11. Conditions – Requirements regarding delineators
1) The conditions in this section apply to delineators required by section 10.
2) When the rear extension of an extendable trailer is extended more than 1.0m, a delineator must be attached to the outer edge of the trailer on each side for the full distance along the rear extension.
3) The delineator must meet the following requirements:
a) be made of stiff or flexible weatherproof material and display 100mm wide alternate red and yellow reflective stripes at an angle of 45 degrees; and
b) the surface must be vertical and face outwards and be at least 300mm high; and
c) must comply with Class 1 or 2 of AS 1906 ‘Retro-reflective Materials and Devices for Road Traffic Control Purposes’.
4) An eligible vehicle that complies with s3 of Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation may use that section as an alternative to the requirements in subsection 3) of this section.
5) In addition to side marker lights required under Schedule 2, Division 9 of the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation or Australian Design Rule 13/.. side marker lights must be displayed, not more than 2.0m apart, along the total length of the trailer, except for the section where the delineators are fitted as specified in this section.
12. Condition – stated areas or routes
1) Subject to the restriction in 2), an eligible vehicle may travel on all roads in South Australia.
2) An eligible vehicle may only cross a railway crossing that is on the South Australia 23m B-double (GML) network.
Note: the South Australia 23m B-double (GML) network is maintained by the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport and is published on its website.
3) For the purposes of section 119(1)(a) of the HVNL, an area or network specified in this section is a stated area or route to which this notice applies.
4) An eligible vehicle operating on a network specified in this section must comply with the following conditions as specified for that network:
a) Road conditions pursuant to section 160 of the HVNL; and
b) Travel conditions pursuant to section 161 of the HVNL; and
c) Vehicle conditions pursuant to section 162 of the HVNL.
David Hourigan
Chief Regulatory and Policy Standards Officer
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator