HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

National Class 3 Truck and Dog Trailer Mass Exemption Notice 2023 (No.1)

1. Purpose

This notice exempts truck and dog trailer combinations from stated prescribed mass requirements in Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (the MDL Regulation) and provide access for those vehicles on specified networks under specified conditions.

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.

3.       Title

This exemption notice may be cited as the National Class 3 Truck and Dog Trailer Mass Exemption Notice 2023 (No.1).

4.       Commencement date

This notice commences on 22 November 2023.

5.       Expiry date

This notice expires on 21 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 National Heavy Vehicle Class 3 Truck and Dog Trailer Mass Operator’s Guide.

Note: The Guide is published and maintained by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.

7.       Application

1)      This exemption notice applies to a class 3 heavy vehicle that is a combination consisting of a rigid truck towing a dog trailer, and on which:

a)      the truck has a single steer axle or a twinsteer axle group at the front, and a dual-drive tandem axle group at the rear; and

b)      the dog trailer has either a single axle or a tandem axle group at the front, and a tandem axle group at the rear.

2)      This notice applies in the following participating jurisdictions:

a)      the Australian Capital Territory;

b)      New South Wales;

c)       Queensland;

d)      South Australia; and

e)      Victoria.

3)      This notice applies in a participating jurisdiction subject to the conditions provided in the body of this notice and the conditions of the Schedule relevant to that jurisdiction.

4)      A heavy vehicle to which this section applies and that complies with the conditions of this notice and a relevant schedule 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 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, 10, and 11 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 (total mass of an eligible vehicle)

An eligible vehicle operating in a given participating jurisdiction must not exceed the total mass limits provided in the schedule for that jurisdiction.

10.   Condition –Axles spacing for eligible vehicles greater than 46.5t in total combination mass

1)      An eligible vehicle that has a total combination mass greater than 46.5t and with an axle spacing greater than 14.0m must not exceed the mass limits set out in Table 1.

Table 1 Axle spacing mass limits for axle spacing exceeding 14.0m

Note: This table has the effect of providing higher masses for axle spacings greater than 14.0m. For axle spacings up to 14.0m, an eligible vehicle must still comply with the axle spacing mass limits specified in Table 2 (Axle spacing mass limits general table) of Schedule 1 in the MDL Regulation.

 The masses for axle spacings follow the same rules here as in section 5 of Schedule 1 of the MDL Regulation.

2)      A maximum combination mass limit stated in Table 1 is increased by 0.5t if the axle spacing includes a steer axle to which the steer axle mass exception limits apply.

11.   Condition - 4-axle dog trailer towed mass ratio

Where an eligible vehicle consists of a rigid truck towing a 4-axle dog trailer, the mass of the trailer must not exceed the mass of the truck by more than 25%.

12.   Condition – Suspension requirements

1)      The drive axle group of the truck and all axles of the dog trailer must be fitted with:

a)      air suspension with effective dampers; or

b)      certified road friendly suspension.

13.   Conditions – Maximum length of combination

An eligible vehicle must not exceed 19.0m in length.

14.   Conditions – Areas and routes

1)      An eligible vehicle complying with the conditions of this notice is authorised to operate on the areas and routes specified in a Schedule of this notice.

2)      For the purposes of section 119(1)(a) of the HVNL, an area or route specified in a Schedule of this notice is a stated area or route to which this notice applies.

3)      An eligible vehicle operating on an area or route specified in this notice or its Schedules must comply with the following conditions as specified 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

Schedule 1 Australian Capital Territory

1. Application

This Schedule applies in the Australian Capital Territory.

2.       Condition – Stated routes and areas (Networks)

1)      Pursuant to the authorisation granted in section 14 of this notice, an eligible vehicle meeting the requirements of this notice and this Schedule may operate on the following networks published by the Transport Canberra and City Services (ACT):

Approved Routes for National Class 3 Heavy Vehicles 19m Truck & Dog Trailer Combination Mass Exemption

2)      An eligible vehicle operating on a network under this section must comply with all road, vehicle and travel conditions that apply to that network at the time of travel.

Note: The network in this section are maintained by Transport Canberra and City Services and is published on its website.

3.       Conditions – Mass (total mass of an eligible vehicle)

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

a)      in the case of an eligible vehicle consisting of a rigid truck with 3 axles towing a dog trailer with 3 axles – 48t;

b)      in the case of an eligible vehicle consisting of a rigid truck with 4 axles towing a dog trailer with 3 axles – 50t;

c)       in the case of an eligible vehicle consisting of a rigid truck with 3 or 4 axles towing a dog trailer with 4 axles – 50t.

2)      If an eligible vehicle has a complying steer axle, that vehicle may operate at up to 0.5t more than the mass limits set out in 1).

4.       Condition – 3-axle dog trailer towed mass ratio

Where an eligible vehicle consists of a rigid truck towing a 3-axle dog trailer, the mass of the trailer must not exceed that mass of the truck by more than 25%.

Note: This is in addition to the towed mass ratio condition for 4-axle dog trailers in section 11 of the notice.

5.       Conditions – height of load on 3-axle dog trailers

The height of the load on a dog trailer with 3 axles must not exceed 3.5m.

Schedule 2 New South Wales

1. Application

This Schedule applies in New South Wales.

2.       Conditions – Mass (total mass of an eligible vehicle)

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

a)      in the case of an eligible vehicle consisting of a rigid truck with 3 axles towing a dog trailer with 3 axles – 48t;

b)      in the case of an eligible vehicle consisting of a rigid truck with 4 axles towing a dog trailer with 3 axles – 50t;

c)       in the case of an eligible vehicle consisting of a rigid truck with 3 or 4 axles towing a dog trailer with 4 axles – 50t.

2)      If an eligible vehicle has a complying steer axle, that vehicle may operate at up to 0.5t more than the mass limits set out in 1).

3.       Condition – Stated routes and areas (Networks)

1)      Pursuant to the authorisation granted in section 14 of this notice, an eligible vehicle meeting the requirements of this notice and this schedule may operate on all roads in New South Wales, except as specified below.

2)      Access to all roads under 1) is limited by the list of conditions provided in the Guide, and an eligible vehicle must not access routes and areas specified in that list, including:

a)      non-participating road manager areas, and

b)      restricted routes and areas.

4.       Condition – 3-axle dog trailer towed mass ratio

Where an eligible vehicle consists of a rigid truck towing a 3-axle dog trailer, the mass of the trailer must not exceed that mass of the truck by more than 25%.

Note: this is in addition to the towed mass ratio condition for 4-axle dog trailers in section 11 of the notice.

5.       Conditions – maximum axle spacing on 3-axle dog trailers

The extreme axle spacing for a dog trailer with 3 axles must be at least 4.3m.

6.       Conditions – height of load on 3-axle dog trailers

The height of the load on a dog trailer with 3 axles must not exceed 3.5m.

Schedule 3 Queensland

1. Application

This Schedule applies in Queensland.

2.       Conditions – Mass (total mass of an eligible vehicle)

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

a)      in the case of an eligible vehicle consisting of a rigid truck with 3 or 4 axles towing a dog trailer with 3 axles – 45t;

b)      in the case of an eligible vehicle consisting of a rigid truck with 3 or 4 axles towing a dog trailer with 4 axles – 50t.

2)      If an eligible vehicle has a complying steer axle, that vehicle may operate at up to 0.5t more than the mass limits set out in 1).

3.       Condition – Stated routes and areas (Networks)

1)      Pursuant to the authorisation granted in section 14 of this notice, an eligible vehicle meeting the requirements of this notice and this schedule may operate on all roads in Queensland, except as specified below.

2)      Access to all roads under 1) is limited by the list of conditions provided in the Guide, and an eligible vehicle must not access routes and areas specified in that list, including:

a)      non-participating road manager areas, and

b)      restricted routes and areas.

3)      Conditions – maximum axle spacing

The extreme axle spacing for a dog trailer with 3 axles must be a minimum of 3.8m.

Schedule 4 South Australia

1. Application

This Schedule applies in South Australia.

2.       Conditions – Mass (total mass of an eligible vehicle)

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

a)      in the case of an eligible vehicle consisting of a rigid truck with 3 or 4 axles towing a dog trailer with 3 axles – 45t;

b)      in the case of an eligible vehicle consisting of a rigid truck with 3 or 4 axles towing a dog trailer with 4 axles – 50t.

2)      If an eligible vehicle has a complying steer axle, that vehicle may operate at up to 0.5t more than the mass limits set out in 1).

3.       Conditions – maximum mass for trailers

1)      The mass of a dog trailer that is part of an eligible vehicle must not exceed:

a)      for a trailer with three axles – 22.5t

b)      for a trailer with four axles – 27.5t

4.       Condition – Stated routes and areas (Networks)

1)      Pursuant to the authorisation granted in section 14 of this notice, an eligible vehicle meeting the requirements of this notice and this schedule may operate on all roads in South Australia, except as specified below.

2)      Access to all roads under 1) is limited by the list of conditions provided in the Guide, and an eligible vehicle must not access routes and areas specified in that list, including:

a)      non-participating road manager areas, and

b)      restricted routes and areas.

5.       Condition – draw bar length

The length of the dog trailer drawbar when measured from the centre-line of the towing pivot to the centre-line of the leading axle or axle group of the trailer must be longer than 3.0m but not longer than 5.0m.

Schedule 5 Victoria

1. Application

This Schedule applies in Victoria.

2.       Conditions – Mass (total mass of an eligible vehicle)

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

a)      in the case of an eligible vehicle consisting of a rigid truck with 3 or 4 axles towing a dog trailer with 3 axles – 45t;

b)      in the case of an eligible vehicle consisting of a rigid truck with 3 or 4 axles towing a dog trailer with 4 axles – 50t.

2)      If an eligible vehicle has a complying steer axle, that vehicle may operate at up to 0.5t more than the mass limits set out in 1).

3.       Conditions – maximum mass for trailers

1)      The mass of a dog trailer that is part of an eligible vehicle must not exceed:

a)      for a trailer with three axles – 22.5t

b)      for a trailer with four axles – 27.5t

4.       Condition – Stated routes and areas (Networks)

1)      Pursuant to the authorisation granted in section 14 of this notice, an eligible vehicle meeting the requirements of this notice and this schedule may operate on all roads in Victoria, except as specified below.

2)      Access to all roads under 1) is limited by the list of conditions provided in the Guide, and an eligible vehicle must not access routes and areas specified in that list this includes:

a)      non-participating road manager areas, and

b)      restricted routes and areas.

5.       Conditions – Axle spacing requirements

1)      In the case of an eligible vehicle consisting of a rigid truck with 3 or 4 axles towing a dog trailer with 3 axles:

a)      the wheelbase of the motor vehicle must be a minimum of 4.3m; and

b)      the distance from the centre of the front axle of the dog trailer to the centre of the rear axle of the dog trailer must be a minimum of 3.8m.

2)      In the case of an eligible vehicle consisting of a rigid truck with 3 or 4 axles towing a dog trailer with 4 axles:

a)      the wheelbase of the truck must be a minimum of 4.5m and the wheelbase of the dog trailer must be a minimum of 5m; or

b)      the wheelbase of the truck must be a minimum of 4.9m and the wheelbase of the dog trailer must be a minimum of 4.5m.