HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

National Class 3 Euro VI Vehicle (wide-spaced twinsteer) Mass Exemption Notice 2025 (No.1)

  1.        Purpose

 

This notice grants exemptions from prescribed mass requirements for Euro VI vehicles (twinsteer) and makes provision for them to operate with a pair of steerable axles up to 2.5m apart.

 

Note: This is an interim notice which is intended to apply until such time as the Heavy Vehicle National Law is amended to incorporate twinsteer axle groups with axle spacings up to 2.5m apart.

 

  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 National Class 3 Euro VI Vehicle (wide-spaced twinsteer) Mass Exemption Notice 2025 (No.1).

 

  1.        Commencement date

 

This notice commences on 3 October 2025.

 

  1.        Expiry date

 

This notice expires on 2 October 2026.

 


  1.        Definitions

 

In this notice:

 

Wide-spaced twinsteer axle group means an arrangement of two steerable axles on a Euro VI vehicle (twinsteer):

 

  1.       where each axle has single tyres; and
  2.       is fitted to a motor vehicle; and
  3.        is connected to the same steering mechanism; and
  4.       where the horizontal distance between the centre-lines of each axle is greater than 2.0m but not more than 2.5m.

 

Guide means the National Class 3 Euro VI Vehicle (wide spaced twinsteer) Mass Exemption Operator’s Guide published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, and as amended from time to time.

 

  1.        Application

 

  1.       This notice applies to a class 3 vehicle that is a Euro VI vehicle (twinsteer) that is fitted with wide-spaced twinsteer axle group, and is:

 

  1.       a truck; or
  2.       a truck towing a trailer; or
  3.        a prime mover towing a semi-trailer.

 

  1.       This notice does not apply to a PBS vehicle.

 

  1.       This notice applies in all participating jurisdictions.

 

  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 all prescribed mass requirements under the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL Regulation).

 

  1.       With respect to Schedule 1 Section 3 of the MDL Regulation, the exemption under this section only applies to the steerable axles that make up a Wide-spaced twinsteer axle group.

Note: MDL Regulation Schedule 1 section 3 concerns mass limits for a vehicle with a particular axle space less than 2.5m.

  1.       This exemption only applies to an eligible vehicle to the extent provided under section 9 of this notice.

 

  1.        Condition – Application of mass requirements to wide-spaced twinsteer axle groups

 

The mass limits that apply to an eligible vehicle are the same as they would be under Schedules 1 to 5B of the MDL Regulation, as though a reference to a twinsteer axle was a reference to a wide-spaced twinsteer axle group.

 

  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.       An eligible vehicle may operate on any road or road related area except as restricted by the Guide.