HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

Queensland Class 3 Tandem Drive Axle (Cane Haulout Truck) Flotation Tyres Mass Exemption Notice 2025 (No. 1)

1.        Purpose

1.       This notice grants an exemption from a mass requirement for class 3 heavy vehicles that are cane haulout trucks fitted with flotation tyres.
2.       This notice revokes and replaces the Queensland Class 3 Tandem Drive Axle (Cane Haulout Truck) Flotation Tyres Mass Exemption Notice 2022 (No.1).

1.        Authorising provision

1.       This notice is made under the following provisions 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.
2.       section 23 of Schedule 1 – Regulator’s power to amend or repeal instrument.

1.        Title

This notice may be cited as the Queensland Class 3 Tandem Drive Axle (Cane Haulout Truck) Flotation Tyres Mass Exemption Notice 2025 (No.1).

1.        Commencement date

This notice commences on 29 August 2025.

1.        Expiry date

This notice expires on 30 June 2027.

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:

Cane haulout truck means a heavy vehicle that is constructed and used for hauling sugar cane from the field to a mill or transportation point.

Flotation Tyres means:

1.       Alliance MPT382 flotation tyres, size 600/50R22.5; or
2.       BKT MPTFL633 PERFORMA 164J flotation tyres, size 600/50R22.5

1.       Application

1.       This notice applies to a heavy vehicle that is a cane haulout truck fitted with flotation tyres:

1.       Transporting sugar cane from the field to a transport facility or mill nominated by the operator or farmer, including unladen return trips, of a radius of not more than 40km; or
2.       Returning to a home base, commencing new operations, travelling for maintenance or repairs, or travelling for inspections or registration, provided that the vehicle is unladen.

1.       This notice applies in Queensland.

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 requirement under Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL Regulation):

1.       section 4 – Mass limits for a single axle or axle group

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

1.        Conditions – Mass (tandem axle drive group)

1.       The mass on the tandem axle drive group of an eligible vehicle must not exceed 16.5t.
2.       While operating under this notice, a cane haulout truck must comply with mass and speed limit ratings for flotation tyres set out in Appendix 1 of this notice.

1.    Conditions – 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.

(2) For the purposes of section 119(1)(a) of the HVNL, this notice applies to all roads in Queensland.

1.    Condition – Tandem axle drive group

An eligible vehicle must have a drive axle group consisting of a tandem axle fitted with flotation tyres.

1.    Condition – Record keeping

1.       The operator of an eligible vehicle must maintain written records that show how the following risks are managed for each journey:

1.       Tyre inflation pressure; and
2.       Axle mass loading when the vehicle will operate on road.

1.    Condition – Vehicle Modification

1.       An eligible vehicle fitted with flotation tyres must comply with Modification Code D3 (Fitting of non-standard rear wheel components) of the National Code of Practice Heavy Vehicle Modifications (VSB6), except when either of the following circumstances applies:

1.       Fitment of flotation tyres is an original vehicle manufacturer’s approved option and manufacturer’s requirements for fitting flotation tyres are complied with; or

1.       The cane haulout truck was fitted with flotation tyres and operating under the Queensland Class 3 Tandem Drive Axle (Cane Haulout Truck) Flotation Tyres Mass Exemption Notice 2017 prior to 1 July 2022 and documented evidence is available showing that when fitted with flotation tyres the cane haulout vehicle speedometer calibration, speed limiting and braking performance complies with vehicle standards requirements.

Jose Arredendo

Manager Network Access Policy

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

Appendix 1: Mass and speed limit ratings for flotation tyres