HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

Queensland Class 1 (Port of Brisbane) Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2025 (No.1)

 

  1.        Purpose

 

This notice grants exemptions from mass and dimension requirements for class 1 heavy vehicles that are transporting an indivisible item on roads managed by the Port of Brisbane.

 

  1.        Authorising provision

 

  1.       This notice is made under the following provision of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL):

 

  1.       section 117 – Regulator’s power to exempt category of class 1 or 3 heavy vehicles from compliance with mass or dimension requirement.
  1.        Title

 

This notice may be cited as the Queensland Class 1 (Port of Brisbane) Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2025 (No.1).

 

  1.        Commencement date

 

This notice commences on 20 January 2025.

 

  1.        Expiry date

 

This notice expires on 19 January 2030.

 


  1.        Definitions

 

1)     Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this notice have the same meaning as those in the HVNL and its regulations.

 

2)     In this notice:

Guide means the Queensland Class 1 (Port of Brisbane) Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice Operator’s Guide published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, and as amended from time to time.

Ground contact width means the distance between the outermost points of ground contact of the outside tyres on each end of an axle.

Figure 1: Illustration of ground contact width of an axle.

Figure 1: Illustration of ground contact width of an axle

 

Overall axle spacing of a drive-dolly combination means the horizontal distance between the centre of the leading drive axle of the prime mover and the centre of the rearmost axle of the dolly in a prime mover-dolly combination.

 

Oversize tri-axle group means a group of 3 axles, in which the horizontal distance between the centre lines of the outermost axles is more than 3.2m.

 

Platform trailer means a trailer specifically designed for the movement of an indivisible item and having all of the following features:

a)     at least five axle rows; and

b)     a maximum of ten axle rows; and

c)      a minimum of 1.6m longitudinal spacing between axle rows; and

d)     at least 8 tyres per axle row; and

e)     at least 50% of axles are steerable.

Note:  A platform trailer may be constructed of multiple platform modules.

 

Platform trailer rear overhang means the distance from a point midway between the last two axles on the platform trailer to the rear of the vehicle including any load.

Queensland Access Conditions Guide means the Queensland Access Conditions Guide published by the Queensland Government.

Queensland Excess Mass and Dimension Conditions means the route and area conditions, and including the Conditions of Operation Database, maintained and published by TMR.

TMR means the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads.

  1.        Application

 

  1.       This notice applies to a class 1 heavy vehicle that meets all the requirements in this section.

 

  1.       This notice applies to a heavy vehicle, that is:

a)      carrying, or designed for the purpose of carrying, a large indivisible item, including, for example, a combination including a low loader; but

b)     is not a road train or B-double, or carrying a freight container designed for multi-modal transport.

 

  1.       This notice applies on roads managed by the Port of Brisbane.

 

  1.       A heavy vehicle to which this section applies and that complies with the conditions of this notice and its schedules is an eligible vehicle.
  1.        Exemption from prescribed dimension requirements

 

  1.       This notice exempts an eligible vehicle from the following dimension requirements in Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL Regulation) to the extent provided in this notice, including its schedules:

 

a)     section 3– Length—general;

b)     section 4 – Length—trailers;

c)      section 5- Length—rear overhang;

d)     section 7—Width;

e)     section 8—Height;

f)       section 13—Front and side projection of load.

  1.       The exemption under section 8 of this notice relating to rear overhang does not apply to a truck or truck and trailer combination.

 

  1.       An exemption in 1) only applies to the extent that specific conditional dimension limits are provided in the body of this notice and in Schedule 1.
  1.        Exemption from prescribed mass requirements

 

  1.       This notice exempts an eligible vehicle from the following mass requirements in Schedule 1 of the MDL Regulation to the extent provided in this notice, including its schedules:

a)     section 2 - Mass limits for a single vehicle or combination;

b)     section 4 as it relates to the conditional mass limits specified in this notice;

c)      section 5– Mass limits relating to axle spacing generally.

 

  1.       An exemption in 1) only applies to the extent that specific conditional mass limits are provided in the body of this notice and in Schedule 2.

 

  1.       Regardless of any conditional masses prescribed in this notice an eligible vehicle must not exceed manufacturer mass limits as defined in section 8(8) of the MDL Regulation.


  1.    Conditions - General mass conditions

 

1)     The mass of an eligible vehicle must not be more than the lower of:

a)     the sum of the mass limits specified in this notice for the axles or axle groups in the combination; or

b)     the mass for the vehicle specified in this notice; or

c)      manufacturer’s ratings.

 

2)     The mass on a dual-drive tandem axle group on a prime mover must not be more than 18.5t.

 

3)     When an eligible vehicle uses a low loader dolly to carry a load, the mass on the prime mover’s dual-drive tandem axle group must be at least 14t.

 

4)     A tyre on the prime mover’s steer or drive axle must be no less than 279mm wide.

 

  1.    Condition – Stated areas or routes

 

  1.       An eligible vehicle complying with the conditions of this notice is authorised to operate on areas and routes stated in this section.

 

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

 

  1.       In this notice a reference to a network is a reference to a map or stated route pursuant to section 119(2) of the HVNL.

 

  1.       An eligible vehicle that is a truck or a truck and trailer up to 19m long may operate on the routes and areas provided in the following network:

19m OSOM Network

  1.       An eligible vehicle that is a prime mover towing a semitrailer, low loader with or without a dolly that is up to 35m long may operate on the routes and areas provided in the following network:

35m OSOM Network

  1.       An eligible vehicle that is a prime mover towing a platform trailer with or without a dolly that is up to 40m long may operate on the routes and areas provided in the following network:

40m OSOM Network

  1.       Regardless of any access granted under this section, an eligible vehicle must comply with any conditions or restrictions applied to a given area or route by the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements in the Guide.

 

  1.       In this section:

network means a map or stated route, including a list or database, presented electronically or otherwise, that represents the stated areas and stated routes authorised under this notice.

 

  1.       An eligible vehicle operating on an area or route specified in a schedule must comply with any of the following conditions prescribed for that area or route:

 

  1.       Road conditions pursuant to section 160 of the HVNL; and
  2.       Travel conditions pursuant to section 161 of the HVNL; and
  3.        Vehicle conditions pursuant to section 162 of the HVNL.
  1.    Conditions - Operation of Schedules

 

1)     A vehicle operating under this notice must comply with the conditions set out in the schedules.

 

 

Jose Arredondo

Manager Network Access Policy

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

 

 


Schedule 1: Dimension Limits
 

  1.        Application - Vehicles and vehicle categories

 

1)     This schedule applies to an eligible vehicle comprised of:

 

a)     a truck; or

b)     a truck and trailer combination; or

c)      a prime mover towing—

  1.             a low loader; or
  2.             a low loader dolly and a low loader; or
  3.             a load platform; or
  4.             a low loader dolly and a platform; or
  5.             a semi-trailer; or
  6.             a jinker trailer; or
  7.             a low loader dolly and a jinker trailer.

 

  1.        Conditions - Maximum permissible dimensions

 

1)     An eligible vehicle must not exceed a dimension limit applying to the vehicle in Table 1.

 

Table 1: Eligible vehicle dimension limits

Vehicle

Width (m)

Length (m)

Height (m)

Truck

5.5

12.5

6.7

Truck and Trailer

5.5

19.0

6.7

Prime Mover and Semi-Trailer

5.5

26.0

6.7

Prime Mover and Low Loader

5.5

26.0

6.7

Prime Mover, Dolly and Low Loader

5.5

35.0

6.7

Prime Mover and Platform

5.5

40.0

6.7

Prime Mover, Dolly and Platform Trailer

5.5

40.0

6.7

 

  1.        Conditions – Rear overhang

 

1)     The rear overhang of an eligible vehicle up to 25.0m in length must not exceed 5.5m or 25% of the length of the combination, whichever is the least. 

2)     For a prime mover and trailer combination not described in Table 2, the rear overhang limit in (1) applies.

 


Table 2: Maximum rear overhang for vehicles over 25m in length

Length of Vehicle and Load (m)

Maximum rear overhang (m)

Over

Up to and Including

25.00

25.25

6.82

25.25

25.50

6.89

25.50

25.75

6.95

25.75

26.00

7.02

26.00

26.25

7.09

26.25

26.50

7.16

26.50

26.75

7.22

26.75

27.00

7.29

27.00

27.25

7.36

27.25

27.50

7.43

27.50

27.75

7.49

27.75

28.00

7.56

28.00

-

7.60

 

3)     If part of the load or equipment projects more than 5.5m behind the rear overhang line of a prime mover semitrailer combination, both sides of the projection must be highlighted with a warning pattern.

 

  1.        Conditions - Laden vehicles

 

1)     In instances where only one large indivisible item is carried by a truck and trailer combination, it must be carried on the truck and not on the trailer.

 

2)     In instances where more than one large indivisible item is carried, it is permissible to carry excess dimension large indivisible items on the truck and on the trailer unless otherwise restricted in this Schedule.

 

3)     An oversize vehicle combination longer than 30m transporting a large indivisible item must have a rear-end steering unit.

 

  1.        Condition – Unladen dollies and trailers

 

1)     An unladen low loader, low loader dolly, load platform or jinker is permitted to operate under the requirements of this Schedule provided they are not constructed wider than:

 

a)     2.5m where there are 4 tyres on each axle; or

b)     2.7m where there are 8 tyres on each axle; or

c)      3.5m for a load platform where the ATM is 100t or greater; or

d)     3.5m for a load platform or module used to form a load platform.

 

2)     The distance from the rear overhang line to the rear of an unladen low loader, or load platform combination must not be greater than 3.7m.

 

3)     Despite 2) the distance from the rear overhang line to the rear of the unladen low loader, or load platform may exceed 3.7m provided:

 

a)     the low loader has 4 or more axles or the load platform has 5 or more axles; and

b)     the distance from the centre of the last 2 axles, including steerable axles, to the rear of the low loader or load platform is not greater than 3.7m.

 

4)     The distance from the front articulation point to the centre of the axle group (rear overhang line) for an unladen low loader, or load platform may exceed 9.5m.

 

5)     The distance from the front articulation point to the rear of the unladen low loader, or load platform may exceed 12.3m.

  1.        Condition – Pilots and escort requirements

 

  1.       An eligible vehicle operating under this Schedule must comply with the requirements relating to pilots and escorts prescribed in the following documents:

 

  1.        Safe Movement Guideline | Pilot and Escort Operations in Queensland;
  2.       Queensland Access Conditions Guide;
  3.        Queensland Class 1 (Port of Brisbane) Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice Operator’s Guide.

 


Schedule 2: Mass Limits
 

  1.        Application - Vehicles and vehicle categories

 

1)     This Schedule applies to an eligible vehicle that is comprised of a dual-drive tandem axle prime mover towing —

a)     a low loader fitted with 2, 3, or 4 axles; or

b)     a platform trailer; or

c)      a single or tandem axle low loader dolly and a low loader mentioned in (a); or

d)    a single or tandem axle low loader dolly and a platform trailer mentioned in (b).

 

2)     A prime mover mentioned in subsection (1) may be fitted with either a single steer axle or twin steer axle group but must be fitted with a dual-drive tandem axle group.

 

3)     A vehicle mentioned in subsection (1) is an eligible vehicle in this Schedule.

 

  1.        Maximum permissible mass of an eligible vehicle

 

An eligible vehicle must not exceed a mass limit applying to the vehicle in Table 3.

 

Table 3: Mass limits – Low loader (with or without dolly)

Vehicle

Mass (t)

Prime Mover and Low Loader

82

Prime Mover, Dolly and Low Loader

113

 

  1.        Mass limits - Trailers

 

1)     The mass on an axle group of a trailer must not be more than the mass limit stated in Table 4, for the stated axle group configuration and minimum axle group ground contact width specified.


Table 4: Mass limits for low loader axle groups

Minimum axle group ground contact width (m)

Number and spacing of axles in axle group (spacing in metres)

1

2 @ 1.2

2 @ 1.8

3 @ 1.2

Oversize tri-axle group >3.2 overall

3 @ 1.8

4 @ 1.2

4 @ 1.2, 2.4, 1.2, or

5 @ 1.2

4 tyred axle mass limit (t)

2.4

9

18.5

18.5

25

27

27

30

35

8 tyred axle mass limit (t)

2.4

12

21

21.5

25

27

27

30

35

2.6

12.5

21

23

26

28

29

31.5

36

2.7

12.5

21

24

27

29

31

33

37

2.8

13.5

22

25

28

30

33

34

39

2.9

13.5

22

26

29

31

34.5

35

40

3.0

15.5

24

27

30

32

36

36

41

3.1

15.5

24

28

31

33

37.5

37.5

42

3.2

16.5

26

29

32

34

39

39

43

3.3

16.5

26

30

33

35

40

40

44

3.4

16.5

27

30.5

34

36

41

41

46

3.5

16.5

27

31

35

37

42

42

47

3.6

17.5

28

31.5

36

38

43

43

48

3.7

17.5

28

32

37

39

44

44

49

3.8

18

30

33

38

40

45

45

50

3.9

18

30

33.5

39

40

46

46

51

4.0

18

31

34

40

40

47

47

52

4.1

18

31

34

40

40

48

48

53

4.2

18

31

34

40

40

48

49

54

4.3

18

32

34

40

40

48

50

55

4.4

18

33

34

40

40

48

51

56

4.5

18

34

34

40

40

48

52

57

4.6

18

34

34

40

40

48

52.5

57.5

 

  1.        Mass limits - Dollies

 

1)     The combined mass on a tandem drive tandem axle group of a prime mover with a single or tandem axle dolly combination must not be more than stated in Table 5 or 6.

 


Table 5: Prime mover (tandem drive) with single axle dolly

Minimum dolly ground contact width (m)

Number and spacing of axles in axle group (spacing in metres)

2.8

3.0

3.2

3.4

3.6

3.8

4.0

4 tyred axle mass limit (t)

2.4

25

26

27

28

29

30

30

8 tyred axle mass limit (t)

2.4

25

26

27

28

29

30

30

2.6

26

27

28

29

30

31

31

2.8

27

28

29

30

31

32

32

3.0

28

29

30

31

32

33

34

3.2

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

3.4

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

3.6

31

32

33

34

35

36

36

3.8

31

32

33

34

35.5

36.5

36.5

4.0

31

32

33

34

35.5

36.5

36.5

4.2

31

32

33

34

35.5

36.5

36.5

 

Table 6: Prime mover (tandem drive) with tandem axle dolly

Minimum dolly ground contact width (m)

Number and spacing of axles in axle group (spacing in metres)

3.6

3.8

4.0

4.2

4.4

4.6

4.8

5.0

5.2

5.4

5.6

5.8

6.0

4 tyred axle mass limit (t)

2.4

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

39.5

40

8 tyred axle mass limit (t)

2.4

29

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

39.5

40

2.6

30

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

40.5

41

2.8

31

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

41.5

42

3.0

32

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

42.5

43

3.2

33

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

43.5

44

3.4

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

43.5

45

45.5

3.6

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

46.5

3.8

35.5

36.5

37

38.5

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

4.0

35.5

37

38

39

40.5

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

4.2

35.5

37

38

39.5

41

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

4.4

35.5

37

38

39.5

41.5

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

4.6

35.5

37

38

39.5

41.5

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

52

 


  1.        Mass limits – Platform trailers

 

1)     The mass limits specified in this section relate to the platform trailer. For the mass limits of the rest of the combination (that is, acceptable mass limits of the prime mover with or without a dolly), refer to Table 3, 5 and 6.

2)     Table 7 specifies the mass limits and associated criteria that are applicable for a platform trailer combination (5 Axles and above).  Each axle of the platform trailer must be fitted with 8-tyres per axle.

Table 7: Platform trailer mass limits

Ground Contact Width (m)

Minimum Axle Spacing (m)

Maximum allowable mass of each platform trailer axle (t)

Lane Restriction

>3.2

1.6

18

Heavy Load Platform Path

 

  1.        Conditions - Carriage of items that are not goods

 

1)     An eligible vehicle combination carrying a special purpose vehicle or agricultural vehicle may also carry up to 1.0t of additional equipment, tools, substances, or detached parts to be used in conjunction with the vehicle being carried.

Note:  Examples of items covered in this section include blades, buckets, or rippers.