HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

South Australia Class 3 Livestock Transportation Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1)

1.        Purpose

1.       This notice grants exemptions from mass and dimension requirements for class 3 heavy combinations that are used for the transportation of livestock.

1.       This notice revokes and replaces the South Australia Class 3 Livestock Transportation Exemption Notice 2023 (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 South Australia Class 3 Livestock Transportation Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2026 (No.1).

1.        Commencement date

This notice commences on 1 April 2026.

1.        Expiry date

This notice expires on 2 November 2028.

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, definitions from the National Class 2 Road Train Authorisation Notice, as amended from time to time, apply.

1.       In this notice:

Guide means the South Australia Class 3 Livestock Transportation Exemption Notice Operator’s Guide, as amended from time to time.

Livestock means alpacas, buffalo, camels, cattle, deer, emus, goats, horses, ostriches,

pigs, poultry and sheep or another animal specified in the Guide.

1.        Application

1.       This notice applies to a class 3 heavy vehicle that meets all the requirements in this section.

1.       This notice applies to a heavy vehicle that is a:

1.       prime mover towing a semitrailer;
2.       B-double; or
3.        road train combination described in Table 1.

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 3 – Mass limits for a vehicle with a particular axle space less than 2.5m
3.        section 4 – Mass limits for a single axle or axle group
4.       section 5 – Mass limits relating to axle spacing generally

1.       An exemption in 1) only applies to an eligible vehicle to the extent that specific conditional mass limits are provided in sections 9, 10 and 11 of this notice.

1.       If, in relation to a particular vehicle or component, this notice provides for two or more mass limits imposing different mass limits that apply in the same circumstances, the lower mass limit applies, and the other mass limit must be disregarded.

1.       In any case, any additional or conditional mass allowed under this notice must not exceed manufacturer mass limits pursuant to section 8 of the MDL Regulation.

1.       Conditions – Mass limits (total combination mass)

An eligible vehicle mentioned in column 1 with a steer axle mentioned in column 2 must not exceed the total combination mass in column 3 of Table 1.

Table 1: Total combination mass limits

1.    Conditions – Mass limits (axles)

1.       An axle group on an eligible vehicle must not exceed the following masses:

1.       dual-drive tandem axle group – 17.3t
2.       tri-axle group on a semitrailer forming part of a prime mover towing a semitrailer or B-double – 25.0t
3.        tri-axle group on any trailer forming part of a road train – 23.0t
4.       tandem axle group on any trailer forming part of a road train – 17.3t

1.    Condition – Mass (Euro VI vehicles)

1.       For an eligible vehicle that is a Euro VI vehicle the maximum mass specified in column 3 of Table 1 is increased by 0.5t.

1.       An eligible vehicle that is a Euro VI vehicle may transfer 0.5t from its steer axle group to the drive axle group.

1.       In this section Euro VI vehicle means one of the following:

1.       Euro VI vehicle (complying steer axle)
2.       Euro VI vehicle (single steer axle)
3.        Euro VI vehicle (twinsteer)

1.    Conditions – Axle requirements

1.       A prime mover must be fitted with a dual-drive tandem axle group.

1.       A semitrailer forming part of a prime mover towing a semitrailer or a B-double must have a tri-axle group.

1.       All axles, other than steer axles, must have dual tyres.

1.    Condition – Road friendly suspension

1.       An eligible vehicle must have functioning certified road friendly suspension fitted to the following axle groups:

1.       dual-drive tandem axle group; and
2.       tri-axle group on any trailer; and
3.        tandem axle group on any trailer forming part of a road train.

1.    Condition – Transport of livestock only

An eligible vehicle must only transport livestock.

1.    Condition – D rating of fifth wheel couplings and kingpins on B-doubles

The D rating for a fifth wheel coupling or kingpin in a B-double combination must not be less than 119kN.

1.    Exemption – Prescribed dimension requirements (B-doubles)

1.       An eligible vehicle that is a B-double is exempt from the following dimension requirement under Schedule 6 of the MDL Regulation:

1.       section 3 – Length (combination or single vehicle)

1.       The exemption in 1) only applies to an eligible vehicle that is a B-double and complies with the conditions in section 17.

1.       If, in relation to a particular vehicle or component, this notice provides for more than one dimension limit that apply in the same circumstances, the lower dimension limit applies, and the other dimension limit must be disregarded.

1.    Condition – Length (B-doubles)

1.       An eligible vehicle that is a B-double must:

1.       not exceed 27.5m in length; and
2.       have an S dimension that does not exceed 20.6m.

1.    Condition – Stated areas or routes

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

1.       For the purposes of 119(2)(b) of the HVNL, a network is a stated area or route to which this notice applies.

1.       In this notice, Network means a map, list or database, presented either electronically or otherwise, that represents the stated areas and stated routes authorised under this notice.

1.       An eligible vehicle described in column 1 may use the network stated in column 2 of Table 2.

Table 2: Networks for eligible vehicles

1.         Regardless of any access granted under this section, an eligible vehicle must comply with any conditions or restrictions applied to a stated area or route in the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements in the Guide.

1.       Before operating on a stated area or route the operator of an eligible vehicle must meet any requirements made by another law relevant to operating that vehicle on that stated area or route.

1.       An eligible vehicle operating on an area or route specified in this section must comply with the following conditions for those routes and areas:

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