HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

South Australia Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle Dimension Exemption Trial Notice 2025 (No.1)

1.        Purpose

This notice grants exemptions from dimension requirements for class 1 heavy vehicles that are transporting a large indivisible item and that do not exceed prescribed mass requirements.

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 South Australia Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle Dimension Exemption Trial Notice 2025 (No.1).

1.        Commencement date

This notice commences on 23 January 2025.

1.        Expiry date

This notice expires on 22 January 2030.

1.        Definitions

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

1.       In this notice:

Guide means the South Australia Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle Dimension Exemption Trial Notice Operator’s Guide published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, and as amended from time to time.

Extendable trailer means a trailer the main deck of which can be lengthened to provide a greater load supporting area.

Tyre ground contact width means:

1.       in relation to an axle, the distance between the outermost point of ground contact of the outside tyres on each end of the axle; OR
2.       in relation to an axle group, the minimum ground contact width, as defined in a), of all axles in the group.

1.        Application

1.       This notice applies to a class 1 heavy combination consisting of a:

1.       rigid truck; or
2.       rigid truck towing one trailer; or
3.        prime mover towing a semitrailer; or
4.       prime mover towing an extendable semitrailer.

1.       A prime mover mentioned in subsection 1) must be fitted with a single steer axle and a dual-drive tandem axle group.

1.       A vehicle to which this section applies must be carrying, or designed for the purpose of carrying a large indivisible item.

1.       This notice applies in South Australia.

1.       A heavy vehicle to which this section applies and that complies with the conditions of this notice is an eligible vehicle.

1.        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):

1.       section 3 – Length – combination or single vehicle
2.       section 5 – Length – rear overhang
3.        section 7 – Width
4.       section 8 – Height

1.       An exemption in 1) only applies to the extent that specific conditional dimension limits are provided in section 9 and 10 of this notice.

1.        Condition – Dimension limits

1.       An eligible vehicle of a category stated in column 1 of Table 1 must not exceed a dimension stated in columns 2 to 3.

Table 1: Maximum dimensions

1.       An eligible vehicle must not exceed a height limit stated in column 2 of Table 2 while operating within the corresponding area of column 1.

Table 2: Maximum heights

1.       A trailer must not be wider than 2.5 m as constructed.

1.       An eligible vehicle must be loaded and operated to the smallest practicable dimension.  

1.       If an eligible vehicle is higher than 4.6m, the operator must, before starting a journey consult with the third parties as stated in the Guide.

1.    Condition – Dimension (rear overhang)

1.       The rear overhang of an eligible vehicle must not exceed the limits in Table 3 below, or 25% of the length of the combination, whichever is lesser.

Table 3: Maximum rear overhang

1.    Conditions – Pilots and escorts

1.       An eligible vehicle must comply with any relevant conditions in the Escorting Guidelines for Oversize and Overmass Vehicles and Loads in South Australia.

1.    Condition – Deck height limit for loads over 4.8m high

1.       A loaded vehicle higher than 4.8m must carry its load on an eligible vehicle or trailer with a deck height no more than 1.2m above the ground.

1.    Condition – Carriage of notice

1.       A copy of this notice must be carried at all times by a driver of an eligible vehicle operating under this notice, and the driver must produce it upon request of an authorised officer or a police officer.

1.    Condition – Stated areas or routes

1.       Pursuant to s119(1)(a) of the HVNL, an area or route stated in this section is an area or route to which this notice applies.

1.       Pursuant to section 119(2) of the HVNL, a stated map or stated list referred to in a schedule of this notice is an area or route to which this notice applies.

1.       In this section, a network is a stated map or stated list referred to under 2).

1.       An eligible vehicle complying with the conditions of this notice may operate on the following network:

5.0m wide OS combinations (Up to 42.5t)

1.       Pursuant to section 119(1)(c) of the HVNL, an eligible vehicle operating on an area or route stated in this notice must comply with any of the following conditions prescribed for or by 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.       Pursuant to section 119(3), an eligible vehicle operating in an area or route stated in this notice must comply with any conditions or restrictions set out in the Network and Mapping section of the Guide.

Jose Arredondo

Manager – Network Access Policy

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator