HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

Australian Defence Force Class 1 and 3 Heavy Vehicle Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1)

1.        Purpose

This notice grants exemptions from mass and dimension requirements for class 1 and 3 vehicles operated by or under the direction of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). This notice provides conditions for access under the National Automated Access System (NAAS).

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 a category of class 1 or 3 heavy vehicles from compliance with mass or dimension requirements.

1.        Title

This notice may be cited as the Australian Defence Force Class 1 and 3 Heavy Vehicle Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1).

1.        Commencement date

This notice commences on 21 January 2026.

1.        Expiry date

This notice expires on 19 January 2031.

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:

Australian Defence Force vehicle (ADF vehicle) means a vehicle that is operated by, or under the direction of, the Australian Defence Force.

Note:  ADF vehicles must regard the Australian Defence Force Road Transport Exemption Framework for additional operational requirements.

Australian Defence Force Road Transport Exemption Framework means the Framework made under the Defence (Road Transport Legislation Exemption) Act 2006 (Cth) and under clause 20 of the Inter-Governmental Agreement for Regulatory and Operational Reform in Road, Rail and Intermodal Transport 2003.

Participating Jurisdiction means a state or territory using the National Automated Access System to display routes for ADF eligible vehicles.

NAAS means National Automated Access System (The NAAS) as maintained by participating jurisdictions for the purpose of providing vehicle networks under this notice.

Vehicle network means the network accessible to a given eligible vehicle based on that vehicle’s parameters validated by the NAAS.

Vehicle parameters means the characteristics and attributes of an eligible vehicle validated by the NAAS. Vehicle parameters include, but are not limited to, the following:

1.       Vehicle type, as specified by the NAAS;
2.       Dimensions;
3.        Axle spacings, masses, steering and load sharing details;
4.       Tyre size and ground contact widths.

1.        Application

1.       This notice applies to a class 1 or 3 heavy vehicle operated by or under the direction of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with vehicle parameters validated under the NAAS and operating on a vehicle network specified for it by the NAAS.

1.       This notice applies in a participating jurisdiction

1.       A heavy vehicle to which this notice applies 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 section 1) only applies to the extent as specified via the vehicle parameters and validated under the NAAS.

1.       Condition – Mass

An eligible vehicle must not exceed the mass conditions set out in the NAAS.

1.    Exemption – Prescribed dimension requirements

1.       An eligible vehicle is exempt from the following dimension requirements under Schedule 6 of the MDL Regulation:

1.       section 3 – Length (combination or single vehicle)
2.       section 4 – Length (trailers)
3.        section 5 – Length (rear overhang)
4.       section 6 – Length (trailer drawbars)
5.       section 7 – Width
6.         section 8 – Height
7.        section 12 – Rear projection of load
8.       section 13 – Front and side projection of load

1.       An exemption in 1) only applies to an eligible vehicle to the extent that conditional dimension limits are provided by the NAAS.

1.    Condition – Dimension

An eligible vehicle must not exceed the dimensions conditions set out by the NAAS.

1.    Disapplication of Schedule 8 Conditions 

1.       Pursuant to section 39(5) of the MDL Regulation, under this notice the conditions in Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation relating to class 1 vehicles are disapplied.

1.       Clause (1) does not apply to Defence vehicles where there is no corresponding provision in the Australian Defence Force Road Transport Exemption Framework.

1.    Condition – Stated areas or routes

1.       Pursuant to section 119(1)(a) of the HVNL, a vehicle network generated by the NAAS for an eligible vehicle is the stated area or route to which this notice applies for that eligible vehicle.

1.       A vehicle network generated by the NAAS is a stated map pursuant to section 119(2)(b) of the HVNL.

1.       An eligible vehicle must comply with any of the following conditions prescribed for it by the vehicle network generated by the NAAS:

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.

Jose Arredondo

Manager Network Access Policy

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator