HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW
South Australia Class 3 Livestock Transportation Exemption Notice 2023 (No.1)
1) This Notice grants exemptions from mass and dimension requirements for class 3 heavy combinations that are used for the transportation of livestock.
2) This Notice revokes the South Australia Class 3 Articulated Motor Vehicle and B-Double Livestock Loading Mass Exemption Notice 2020 (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 Livestock Transportation Exemption Notice 2023 (No.1).
4. Commencement date
This Notice commences on 3 November 2023.
5. Expiry date
This Notice expires on 2 November 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:
Guide means the South Australia Class 3 Livestock Transportation Mass Operator’s Guide, as amended from time.
Livestock has the same meaning as in the Animal Welfare Regulations 2012 (SA).
3) In this notice, definitions from the National class 2 B-Double Authorisation Notice, as amended from time to time, apply.
7. Application
1) This exemption notice applies to a class 3 heavy vehicle that meets all the requirements in this section.
2) This exemption notice applies to a heavy vehicle that is:
a) a prime mover towing a semi-trailer; or
b) a B-double.
3) This notice only applies to a vehicle specified in 1) if that vehicle is transporting livestock.
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 mass requirements
1) An eligible vehicle is exempt from the following mass requirements under Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL Regulation):
a) section 2 – Mass limits for a single vehicle or combination
b) section 3 – Mass limits for a vehicle with a particular axle space less than 2.5m
c) section 4 – Mass limits for a single axle or axle group
d) section 5 – Mass limits relating to axle spacing generally
2) An exemption in 1) only applies to an eligible vehicle to the extent that specific conditional mass limits are provided in sections 9 and 10 of this Notice, or in a Schedule.
3) If, in relation to a particular vehicle or component, this notice provides for two or more mass limits imposing different mass limits that apply in the same circumstances, the lower mass limit applies, and the other mass limit must be disregarded.
4) In any case, any additional or conditional mass allowed under this Notice may not exceed manufacturer mass limits pursuant to section 8 of the MDL Regulation.
9. Conditions – mass limits (total combination mass)
1) An eligible vehicle must not exceed the following total mass limits:
a) A combination consisting of a prime mover and a semitrailer – 48.3t
b) A combination that is a b-double – 73.3t
10. Conditions – mass limits (axles)
1) An axle on an eligible vehicle must not exceed the following masses:
a) steer axle – 6.0t
b) dual-drive tandem axle group – 17.3t
c) tri-axle group on semitrailer – 25.0t
Note: The steer axle mass is absolute. No further concessions may be applied.
11. Conditions – vehicle configuration and axle requirements
1) The axles of a prime mover of an eligible vehicle must be:
a) a single steer axle; and
b) a dual-drive tandem axle group.
2) Any semitrailer that is part of an eligible vehicle must have a tri-axle group.
3) All axles on an eligible vehicle other than the steer axle must have dual tyres.
12. Condition – transport of livestock only
The load of an eligible vehicle must be entirely composed of livestock, and no other type of load may be transported.
13. Condition – D rating of fifth wheel couplings and kingpins on B-doubles
The D rating for a fifth wheel coupling or kingpin in a B-double combination must not be less than 119kN.
14. Exemption – Prescribed dimension requirements (b-doubles)
1) An eligible vehicle that is a b-double 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)
2) The exemption in 1) only applies to an eligible vehicle that is a B-double and complies with the conditions in section 15.
3) If, in relation to a particular vehicle or component, this notice provides for more than one dimension limit that apply in the same circumstances, the lower dimension limit applies, and the other dimension limit must be disregarded.
15. Condition – length (b-doubles)
1) An eligible vehicle that is a B-double complying with the conditions of this section:
a) must not exceed 27.5m in length; and
b) must have an S dimension that does not exceed 20.6m.
16. Condition – stated areas or routes
1) An eligible vehicle that is a prime mover towing a semitrailer has general access.
2) An eligible vehicle that is a b-double up to 26.0m in length is authorised to operate on routes specified in the following network:
26m B Double (GML)
4) An eligible vehicle that is a b-double up to 27.5m and complying with section 15 of this notice in length is authorised to operate on the 27.5m B-double stated areas or routes in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements in the Guide.
5) Regardless of any access granted under this section, an eligible vehicle must comply with any conditions or restrictions applied to a stated area or route in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements in the Guide.
6) For the purposes of section 119(1)(a) of the HVNL, an area or route specified in this section is a stated area or route to which this notice applies.
7) In this section, general access means access to all roads except as restricted by the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements in the Guide.
8) An eligible vehicle operating on an area or route specified in this section must comply with the following conditions for those routes and areas:
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.
Peter Austin
Director, Policy Implementation
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator