HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

South Australia Class 1 Platform Trailer Exemption Trial Notice 2025 (No.1)

1.        Purpose

This notice grants exemptions from mass and dimension requirements for class 1 heavy combinations that include a platform trailer.

1.        Authorising provision

1.       This trial 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 Platform Trailer 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 Platform Trailer Exemption Trial Notice Operator’s Guide published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, and as amended from time to time.

Platform trailer means a modular trailer designed for the movement of an indivisible item.

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 axle group.

1.        Application

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

1.       prime mover towing a platform trailer; or
2.       prime mover towing a low loader dolly and a platform trailer.

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 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):

1.       section 2 – Mass limits for a single vehicle or combination
2.       section 4 – Mass limits for a single axle or axle group
3.        section 5 – Mass limits relating to axle spacing generally

1.       An exemption in 1) applies to an eligible vehicle only to the extent that specific conditional mass limits are provided in sections 9 to 11 of this notice.

1.       To be clear, if this notice provides for more than one mass limit that may apply in the same circumstances the more restrictive mass limit applies.

1.        Conditions – Mass (maximum axle mass limits)

1.       An axle described in Column 1 of Table 1 must not exceed the mass listed in Column 2.

Table 1: Maximum axle mass limits on prime movers, low loader dollies, and platform trailers

1.    Conditions – Mass (reduced platform combination axle mass limits)

1.       An axle described in Column 1 of Table 2 must not exceed the mass listed in Column 2.

Table 2: Reduced platform combination axle mass limits

1.    Conditions – Mass (maximum mass on dual-drive tandem axle group and low loader dolly)

1.       This section applies where an eligible vehicle includes a low loader dolly.

1.       Where the axle group of a low loader dolly has a minimum dolly ground contact width (GCW) stated in column 1 of Table 3, the maximum combined mass of the dual-drive tandem axle group and the low loader dolly must not exceed the mass in tonnes stated for the axle configuration in column 2.

Table 3: Maximum mass on dual-drive tandem axle group and low loader dolly

1.    Condition – Prime mover tyre section width

1.       A tyre on a prime mover steer axle or drive axle group must not be less than 279mm wide.

1.    Condition – Prime mover dual-drive tandem axle group requirement

1.       A prime mover that forms part of an eligible vehicle must have a dual-drive tandem axle group.

1.    Condition – Low loader dolly axle group

1.       An axle group on a low loader dolly forming part of an eligible vehicle must:

1.       have two axles; and
2.       have a maximum of eight tyres per axle.

1.    Condition – Axle requirements for platform trailers

1.       A platform trailer that forms part of an eligible vehicle must comply with the following conditions:

1.       it must have a minimum of five and a maximum of ten axles; and
2.       each axle must be fitted with at least eight tyres; and

1.       The distance between centre points of any two adjacent axles on a platform trailer must be a minimum of:

1.       for a platform trailer with five axles – 1.2m; or
2.       for a platform trailer with more than five axles – 1.6m.

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 17 and 18 of this notice.

1.       To be clear, if this notice provides for more than one dimension limit that may apply in the same circumstances the more restrictive dimension limit applies.

1.    Condition – Dimension limits (general)

1.       A low loader dolly with 4 tyres on each axle must not be wider than 2.5 m as constructed.

1.       A low loader dolly with 8 tyres on each axle must not be wider than 2.7 m as constructed.

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

1.    Condition – Dimension limits (maximum axle mass limits)

1.       For a parameter given in column 1 of Table 4, an eligible vehicle must not exceed the dimension given in column 2.

Table 4: Maximum dimensions

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 limits (reduced platform combination axle mass limits)

1.       For a parameter given in column 1 of Table 5, an eligible vehicle must not exceed the dimension given in column 2.

Table 5: Maximum dimensions

1.    Condition – Dimension (rear overhang)

1.       The rear overhang of an eligible vehicle must not exceed 5.5m  or 25% of the length of the combination, whichever is lesser.

1.       In this section, the rear overhang of a platform trailer is measured from the midpoint of the last two axles of the axle group to the rear of the trailer or the load.

1.    Conditions – Pilots and escorts

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 – Carriage of notice

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.    Conditions – Speed restrictions

1.       If the heavy vehicle is greater than 75t and up to 100t total mass, then speed is restricted to 80kph on the approved route, except where a traffic sign indicates a lower speed limit.

1.       Otherwise, if the heavy vehicle is greater than 100t total mass, then speed is restricted to 60kph on the approved route, except where a traffic sign indicates a lower speed limit.

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 may operate on the network listed in Table 6 that describes that eligible vehicle.

Table 6: Stated areas and routes for specific eligible vehicles

1.       An eligible vehicle operating on a network listed in Table 6 must comply with:

1.        the mass conditions as described in section 9 of this notice; and
2.       the dimension conditions described in sections 18 and 19 of this notice.

1.       An eligible vehicle consisting of a prime mover towing only a platform trailer may operate on the:

‘Reduced masses platform combinations’ network,

if it complies with:

1.        the mass conditions described in section 10 of this notice; and
2.       the dimension conditions described in section 18 and 20 of this notice.

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 must comply with any restrictions or conditions set out in the Network and Mapping section of the Guide.

Jose Arredondo

Manager – Network Access Policy

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator