Heavy Vehicle National Law
Multi-State Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle Dimension Exemption Notice 2023 (No.2)
1. Purpose
1) This Notice provides dimension exemptions, conditions of access and networks for eligible vehicles transporting an indivisible item, but that do not meet regulation dimension limits.
2) This Notice revokes and replaces the Multi-State Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicles Dimension Exemption Notice 2023 (No.1).
Note: This Notice corrects a dimension referenced in Table 4 of the Victoria schedule. No amendments to conditions are made.
2. Application
1) This Notice applies to a heavy vehicle, whether laden or unladen, that exceeds a dimension requirement in the Heavy Vehicle National Law and:
a) is carrying, or designed for the purpose of carrying, a large indivisible item, including, for example, a combination including a low loader; but
b) is not a road train or B-double, or carrying a freight container designed for multi-modal transport.
2) Where a vehicle to which this section applies is laden, the load must consist of one or more large indivisible items.
3) This Notice applies in each participating jurisdiction.
4) A vehicle to which this Notice applies is an eligible vehicle.
3. Commencement
This Notice commences on 14 June 2023.
4. Expiry
This Notice expires on 30 April 2025.
5. Definitions
1) Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this Notice have the same meanings as those defined in the HVNL.
2) In this Notice:-
HVNL means the Heavy Vehicle National Law.
MDL National Regulation means the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation.
Participating jurisdiction means the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria.
6. Exemption from prescribed dimension requirements
1) This Notice exempts an eligible vehicle to which it applies from the following dimension requirements in Schedule 6 of the MDL National Regulation to the extent provided in this Notice, including its Schedules:
a) section 3(1)(a) – Length—general; and
b) section 4(2) – Length—trailers; and
c) section 5(1)(a) and (b) - Length—rear overhang; and
d) section 7(1)—Width; and
e) section 8(d)—Height; and
f) sections 13(a)(ii) and 13(b)(ii)—Front and side projection of load.
Note: Sections 13(a)(ii) and 13(b)(ii) of the MDL National Regulation only refer to the side projection of a load (for a truck, and a combination, respectively).
2) The exemption under section 6(1)(c) relating to rear overhang does not apply to a truck or truck and trailer combination.
7. Conditions - General conditions for all participating jurisdictions
1) If a load on an eligible vehicle can be safely loaded in more than one way, it must be loaded in a way that minimises the dimensions of the vehicle and its load to the greatest extent practicable.
2) A loaded vehicle higher than 4.8m must carry its load on an eligible vehicle or trailer with a deck height no more than 1.2m above the ground.
8. Conditions - Operation of Schedules
1) A vehicle operating under this Notice must comply with the conditions set out in the Schedule for a participating jurisdiction where the vehicle is being used.
2) The conditions in a given Schedule only apply in the relevant participating jurisdiction, and operate in conjunction with the provisions in the main body of this Notice.
Note: The exemptions in this Notice are subject to conditions set out in Schedule 8 of the Regulation applying to Class 1 heavy vehicles.
David Hourigan
Chief Regulatory and Policy Standards Officer
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
Schedule 1 Australian Capital Territory
1. Application
The provisions in this this Schedule only apply in the Australian Capital Territory
2. Vehicles and vehicle categories
1) This Schedule applies to an eligible vehicle comprised of:
a) a truck; or
b) a truck and trailer combination; or
c) a prime mover towing:
i. a low loader; or
ii. a low loader dolly and a low loader; or
iii. a semitrailer; or
iv. a jinker trailer.
3. Conditions - Maximum permissible dimensions
1) An eligible vehicle must not exceed a dimension limit applying to the vehicle in Table 1.
Table 1: Maximum Dimension Limits
Eligible Vehicle | Width (m) | Length (m) | Height (m) |
Truck | 5.0 | 12.5 | 5.0 |
Truck and trailer combination | 19.0 |
Prime mover and trailer combination | 30.0 |
2) The rear overhang of a prime mover and trailer combination must not exceed the limits in Table 2, or 25% of the length of the combination, whichever is lesser.
Table 2 - Maximum rear overhang - prime mover and trailer combination
Length of vehicle and load (m) | Maximum Rear overhang (m) |
Over | Up to and including |
- | 25.0 | 5.5 |
25.0 | 26.0 | 6.4 |
26.0 | 27.0 | 6.7 |
27.0 | 28.0 | 7.0 |
28.0 | 29.0 | 7.3 |
29.0 | 30.0 | 7.6 |
4. Conditions - Stated Areas and Routes
1) An eligible vehicle may operate on the stated routes and areas specified in the ACT Load Carrying Vehicles Stated Routes and Areas.
Note: The ACT Load Carrying Vehicles Stated Routes and Areas document is published on the NHVR website.
5. Conditions - Travel time
1) An eligible vehicle over 4.5m wide operating in the hours of darkness must complete its journey by 7.00AM.
6. Conditions – Maximum deck height
1) Section 7(2) in the body of the notice relating to maximum deck height does not apply to vehicles operating under this schedule.
7. Conditions - Pilot and escort vehicles
1) An eligible vehicle operating under this notice must comply with the Pilot and Escort Conditions set out in Part 6 of the Additional Conditions Booklet published by the Australian Capital Territory Government, as amended from time to time.
Note: The Additional Conditions Booklet is published on the Roads ACT website.
Schedule 2 New South Wales
1. Application
The provisions in this this Schedule only apply in New South Wales.
2. Definitions for this Schedule
1) In this Schedule:
Operator’s Guide means the New South Wales Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle Operator’s Guide as published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, as amended from time to time.
3. Vehicles and vehicle categories
2) This Schedule applies to an eligible vehicle comprised of:
d) a truck; or
e) a truck and trailer combination; or
f) a prime mover towing:
v. a low loader; or
vi. a low loader dolly and a low loader; or
vii. a semitrailer; or
viii. a jinker trailer.
4. Conditions - Maximum permissible dimensions
1) An eligible vehicle must not exceed a dimension limit applying to the vehicle in Table 1.
Table 1: Maximum Dimension Limits
Eligible Vehicle | Width (m) | Length (m) | Height (m) |
Truck | 5.0 | 12.5 | 5.0 |
Truck and trailer combination | 19.0 |
Prime mover and trailer combination | 30.0 |
2) The rear overhang of a prime mover and trailer combination must not exceed the limits in Table 2, or 25% of the length of the combination, whichever is lesser.
Table 2 - Maximum rear overhang - prime mover and trailer combination
Length of vehicle and load (m) | Maximum Rear overhang (m) |
Over | Up to and including |
- | 25.0 | 5.5 |
25.0 | 26.0 | 6.4 |
26.0 | 27.0 | 6.7 |
27.0 | 28.0 | 7.0 |
28.0 | 29.0 | 7.3 |
29.0 | 30.0 | 7.5 |
5. Areas or routes to which this Schedule applies
1) An eligible vehicle:
a) may operate on ‘NSW Oversize Overmass Load Carrying Vehicles Network Approved Routes’ specified on the map titled ‘NSW Oversize Overmass Load Carrying Vehicles Network’ published by Transport for NSW (TfNSW); and
b) an eligible vehicle that is higher than 4.3m may only operate on a route that is also approved for 4.6m high vehicles as displayed on the ‘NSW Oversize Overmass Load Carrying Vehicles Network’ map.
Note: The relevant online maps are maintained by TfNSW and published on its website. Further details are available in the Operator’s Guide.
6. Conditions – General
1) An eligible vehicle that is authorised to use a route specified in section 5 of this Schedule must do so in accordance with any condition, including any restriction on the hours or days of operation, specified in the Operator’s Guide or the relevant network map.
7. Conditions - Pilot and escort vehicles
1) An eligible vehicle that is authorised to use a route specified in section 5 of this Schedule must do so in accordance with any pilot and escort vehicle condition specified in the Operator’s Guide or the relevant network map.
Schedule 3 Queensland
1. Application
The provisions in this Schedule only apply in Queensland
2. Definitions in this Schedule
1) In this Schedule:
Access Conditions Guide means the Queensland Access Conditions Guide published on the Queensland Government Publications Portal that contains further specific information referenced in this Schedule.
Critical Road has the same meaning as in the Access Conditions Guide.
House removal trailer means a specifically built trailer designed to elevate the deck of the trailer to remove and relocate houses and other dwellings.
Load platform means a trailer specifically designed for the movement of large loads with the trailer having all of the following features:
a) at least five rows of axles; and
b) a minimum of 1.6m axle spacing; and
c) at least 8 tyres per axle row; and
d) at least 50% of axle rows are steerable: and
e) may be constructed of multiple platform modules.
Low loader means a semitrailer with a loading deck no more than 1.2m above the ground.
Major Road has the same meaning as in the Access Conditions Guide.
Oversize vehicle or combination means a vehicle or combination, including any large indivisible item, that has dimensions that do not comply with the prescribed dimension requirements in the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation.
Pilot and Escort Guideline means the Guideline for Pilot and Escort Operations in Queensland published on the Queensland Government Publications Portal that contains further specific information referenced in this Schedule.
Queensland Excess Mass and Dimension Conditions means the route and area conditions, and including the Conditions of Operation Database restrictions, available on the TMR website.
Rear-end steering unit means a steerable axle group at the rear of the vehicle.
TMR means the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads.
3. Vehicles and vehicle categories
1) This Schedule applies to an eligible vehicle comprised of:
a) a truck; or
b) a truck and trailer combination; or
c) a prime mover towing—
i. a low loader; or
ii. a low loader dolly and a low loader; or
iii. a house removal trailer; or
iv. a load platform; or
v. a low loader dolly and a platform; or
vi. a semitrailer; or
vii. an extendable trailer; or
viii. a jinker trailer; or
ix. a low loader dolly and a jinker trailer.
4. Conditions – Rear overhang
1) The rear overhang of a prime mover and trailer combination described in Table 2 must not exceed 5.5m or 25% of the length of the combination, whichever is the least.
2) For a prime mover and trailer combination not described in Table 2, the rear overhang limit in Table 1 applies.
Table 1: Maximum rear overhang for vehicles over 25m in length
Length of Vehicle and Load (m) | Maximum rear overhang (m) |
Over | Up to and Including |
25.0 | 25.25 | 6.82 |
25.25 | 25.50 | 6.89 |
25.50 | 25.75 | 6.95 |
25.75 | 26.00 | 7.02 |
26.00 | 26.25 | 7.09 |
26.25 | 26.50 | 7.16 |
26.50 | 26.75 | 7.22 |
26.75 | 27.00 | 7.29 |
27.00 | 27.25 | 7.36 |
27.25 | 27.50 | 7.43 |
27.50 | 27.75 | 7.49 |
27.75 | 28.00 | 7.56 |
28.00 | - | 7.60 |
3) If part of the load or equipment projects more than 5.5m behind the rear overhang line of a prime mover semitrailer combination, both sides of the projection must be highlighted with a warning pattern.
5. Conditions - Dimensions for vehicles that do not require a pilot or escort - day time travel
1) No pilot or escort is required for an eligible vehicle up to the dimension limits in Table 2.
Table 2: Maximum dimensions for vehicles without a pilot or escort - daytime travel
Vehicle | Width (m) | Length (m) | Height (m) |
Truck | 3.5 | 12.5 | 4.6 |
Truck and trailer combination | 3.5 | 19.0 | 4.6 |
Prime mover and trailer combination | 3.5 | 25.0* | 5.0 |
* A prime mover towing a low loader with or without a low loader dolly or an extendable trailer may travel on approved B-double or road train routes to a maximum length of 26.0m.
6. Conditions - Dimension for vehicles that do not require pilots or escorts - night time travel
1) An eligible vehicle that does not exceed 3.1m in width and/or 25m in length is permitted to travel at night-time without a pilot or escort; and
2) Despite 1) prime mover and trailer combinations that do not exceed 3.1m in width and/or 26m in length are permitted to travel at night-time on an approved B-double or road train route without a pilot or escort.
7. Conditions - Dimension for vehicles requiring pilots or escorts - day time travel
1) Pilots and/or escorts are required for an eligible vehicle up to the limits in Table 3 for day time travel.
Table 3: Maximum dimension limits with pilots or escorts - day time travel
Vehicle | Critical Roads Width (m) | Other Roads Width (m) | Length (m) | Height (m) |
Truck | 4.5 | 5.5 | 12.5 | 4.6 |
Truck and trailer combination | 4.5 | 5.5 | 19.0 | 4.6 |
Prime mover and trailer combination | 4.5 | 5.5 | 35.0 | 5.0 |
8. Conditions - Routes and Areas
1) An eligible vehicle operating under this Notice may operate on all roads in Queensland, subject to compliance with:
a) the Queensland Excess Mass and Dimension Conditions; and
b) the Access Conditions Guide; and
c) the Pilot and Escort Guideline as it relates to Load Carrying Vehicles.
9. Conditions - Laden vehicles
1) In instances where only one large indivisible item is carried by a truck and trailer combination, it must be carried on the truck and not on the trailer.
2) In instances where more than one large indivisible item is carried, it is permissible to carry excess dimension large indivisible items on the truck and on the trailer unless otherwise restricted in this Schedule.
3) An oversize vehicle combination longer than 30m transporting a large indivisible item must have a rear-end steering unit.
10. Condition – Heavy vehicle standards exemptions
1) A low loader or load platform operating under this Notice is exempt from compliance with Schedule 2, section 34(1) of the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation.
11. Condition – Unladen dollies and trailers
1) An unladen low loader, low loader dolly, house removal trailer, load platform or jinker is permitted to operate under the requirements of this Schedule provided they are not constructed wider than:
a) 2.5m where there are 4 tyres on each axle; or
b) 2.7m where there are 8 tyres on each axle; or
c) 3.5m for a load platform where the ATM is 100t or greater; or
d) 3.5m for a house removal trailer; or
e) 3.5m for a load platform or module used to form a load platform.
2) The distance from the rear overhang line to the rear of an unladen low loader, house removal trailer or load platform combination must not be greater than 3.7m.
3) Despite 2) the distance from the rear overhang line to the rear of the unladen low loader, house removal trailer or load platform may exceed 3.7m provided:
a) the low loader or house removal trailer has 4 or more axles or the load platform has 5 or more axles; and
b) the distance from the centre of the last 2 axles, including steerable axles, to the rear of the low loader or load platform is not greater than 3.7m.
4) The distance from the front articulation point to the centre of the axle group (rear overhang line) for an unladen low loader, house removal trailer or load platform may exceed 9.5m.
5) The distance from the front articulation point to the rear of the unladen low loader, house removal trailer or load platform may exceed 12.3m.
Schedule 4 South Australia
1. Application
The provisions in this Schedule only apply in South Australia.
2. Definitions for this Schedule
1) In this Schedule:
DPTI means the South Australia Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure.
Operator’s Guide means the South Australia Load Carrying Vehicle’s Operator’s Guide.
3. Vehicles and vehicle categories
1) This Schedule applies to an eligible vehicle comprised of:
a) a truck; or
b) a truck and trailer combination; or
c) a prime mover towing—
i. a low loader; or
ii. a low loader dolly and a low loader; or
iii. a semitrailer; or
iv. a jinker trailer.
4. Conditions - Maximum permissible dimensions
1) An eligible vehicle must not exceed a dimension limit applying to the vehicle in Table 1.
Table 1: Maximum dimension limits
Vehicle | Width (m) | Length (m) | Height |
Truck | 4.6 | 12.5 | 5.0 |
Truck and trailer combination | 19.0 |
Prime mover and trailer combination | 30.0 |
2) The rear overhang of a prime mover and trailer combination must not exceed the limits in Table 2, or 25% of the length of the combination, whichever is lesser.
Table 2: Maximum rear overhang - prime mover and trailer combination
Length of vehicle and load (m) | Maximum rear overhang (m) |
Over | Up to and including |
- | 25.0 | 5.5 |
25.0 | 26.0 | 6.4 |
26.0 | 27.0 | 6.7 |
27.0 | 28.0 | 7.0 |
28.0 | 29.0 | 7.3 |
29.0 | 30.0 | 7.6 |
5. Areas or routes to which this Schedule applies
1) An eligible vehicle up to 2.5 metres wide, 23 metres long or 4.6 metres high with a total mass of up to 42.5 t may operate on route specified on the maps titled ‘23m 42.5t low loader 24 hr’ or ‘23m 42.5t low loader day only’.
2) An eligible vehicle up to 3.5 metres wide, 25 metres long, or 5.0 metres high with a total mass of no greater than 59.5 t may operate on route specified on the map titled ‘25m 59.5t low loader’.
3) An eligible vehicle up to 4.0 metres wide, 30 metres long, or 5.0 metres high with a total mass of no greater than 100t may operate on route specified on the map titled ‘4.0m wide up to 100t low loader’.
4) An eligible vehicle up to 4.6 metres wide, 30 metres long, or 5.0 metres high with a total mass of no greater than 100t may operate on route specified on the map titled ‘4.6m wide up to 100t low loader’.
5) An eligible vehicle must only travel on a route specified in section 5 of this Schedule for that category of vehicle and in accordance with any condition or limitation specified for that route.
Note: Although this section references mass limits, mass exemptions are not provided by this Notice. The references to mass are intended to identify the networks and assist in operating with the Multi-State Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle Mass Exemption Notice, which uses the same networks.
6. Conditions - General
1) An eligible vehicle must comply with a condition applying to the route or area specified on a RAVnet map in section 5 of this Schedule.
2) An eligible vehicle must comply with the Additional Conditions section of the Operator’s Guide.
3) An eligible vehicle that is not wider than 3.1 metres in width or longer than 22 metres can travel at night on road networks managed by road managers listed in Night Travel - Participating Road Managers section of the Operator’s Guide.
4) Travel is not permitted in the Adelaide Metropolitan Area between the hours of 7:00am to 9:00am, and 4.00pm to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday inclusive.
Note: Adelaide Metropolitan Area is defined in the Operator’s Guide.
5) No part of any cross member used to support the load carried on an eligible vehicle shall protrude laterally more than 50mm from the point of support of the load.
6) If an eligible vehicle is higher than 4.3m, the operator must, before starting a journey consult with the Relevant Third Parties as stated in the Operator’s Guide.
7. Conditions - Pilot and escort vehicles
1) An eligible vehicle operating under this Notice must comply with the Pilot and Escort Conditions set out in the South Australia Escorting Guidelines for oversize and overmass vehicles and loads published by DPTI, as amended from time to time.
Note: The South Australia Escorting Guideline is published in the heavy vehicle section of the South Australian Government website.
Schedule 5 Victoria
1. Application
The provisions in this Schedule only apply in Victoria.
2. Definitions for this Schedule
1) In this Schedule:
Certified pilot vehicle means a pilot vehicle driven by a driver who has a minimum of twelve months comprehensive experience in piloting oversize loads; and successfully completed a training program detailed on VicRoads website through a Registered Training Organisation.
Freeway has the meaning provided in the Road Rules.
Holiday period means a period of three or more consecutive days consisting of any of the following:
a) a State-wide school holiday;
b) a public holiday; or
c) a Saturday; or
d) a Sunday.
Rural area means an area of operation in Victoria other than the following, as specified in the Oversize & Overmass (OSOM) map in section 5 of this Schedule:
a) Colac Surf Coast Area;
b) Gippsland Ranges Area;
c) Melbourne and Geelong Urban Area;
d) Mountainous Area; and
e) Otway Area.
Road Rules has the same meaning as it has in section 5 of the HVNL.
S-dimension means the distance between the kingpin on the trailer and the rear overhang line.
Urban area means an area declared to be an urban area under the Road Safety (Vehicles) Regulations 2009 (Vic) or the MDL National Regulation.
3. Vehicles and vehicle categories
1) This Schedule applies to an eligible vehicle comprised of -
a) a truck; or
b) a truck and trailer combination; or
c) a prime mover towing—
i. a low loader; or
ii. a low loader dolly and a low loader; or
iii. a semitrailer; or
iv. a jinker trailer.
4. Maximum permissible dimensions condition
1) An eligible vehicle must not exceed a dimension limit applying to the vehicle in Table 1.
Table 1: Maximum dimension limits
Vehicle | Width (m) | Length (m) | Height |
Truck | 5.0 | 12.5 | 5.0 |
Truck and trailer combination | 19.0 |
Prime mover and trailer combination | 30.0 |
2) The rear overhang of a prime mover and trailer combination must not exceed the limits in Table 2, or 25% of the length of the combination, whichever is lesser.
Table 2 - Maximum rear overhang - prime mover and trailer combination
Length of vehicle and load (m) | Maximum Rear overhang (m) |
Over | Up to and including |
- | 25.0 | 5.5 |
25.0 | 26.0 | 6.4 |
26.0 | 27.0 | 6.7 |
27.0 | 28.0 | 7.0 |
28.0 | 29.0 | 7.3 |
29.0 | 30.0 | 7.6 |
5. Areas or routes to which this Schedule applies
1) An eligible vehicle may only operate on the routes specified in Victoria's Oversize & Overmass (OSOM) load carrying maps on the VicRoads website.
6. Conditions - Travel times
1) An eligible vehicle that is authorised to use a route specified in section 4 of this Schedule must do so in accordance with any condition, including any restriction on the hours and days of operation, specified for that route.
2) Travel is permitted at daytime and at night in accordance with the requirements of this Schedule.
3) Subject to subsections (4) to (8), an eligible vehicle described in Table 3 may only be operated on a route or in an area in Table 3 on a day mentioned in column A during a time mentioned in column B to D for that route or area.
Table 3: Time of day travel restrictions
Road or Area | A | B | C | D |
Day | Vehicle Dimensions |
Not wider than 3.1m or longer than 22.0m | Not wider than 3.5m or longer than 26.0m | Wider than 3.5m or longer than 26.0m |
Melbourne and Geelong urban areas | Monday – Saturday | At all times | 9.00am-4.00pm 12.00am-6.00am 6:00pm-Sunset |
Sunday & public holidays | At all times | 12.00 am-Sunset |
Rural Area | Sunday to Saturday, inclusive | At all times | Sunrise-sunset |
Freeways and Hume Highway | Sunday to Saturday, inclusive |
Note: A reference in Table 3 to ‘Monday – Friday’ means a day other than a public holiday.
4) An eligible vehicle may operate on Coode Road, Appleton Dock Road, MacKenzie Road or Anderson Road in West Melbourne at any time.
5) An eligible vehicle that is more than 4.6m high must not be operated after sunset outside the Melbourne and Geelong urban areas.
6) An eligible vehicle must not travel from 23 December to 3 January inclusive on:
a) the Calder Highway; or
b) the Hume Highway; or
c) the Northern Highway; or
d) a freeway outside the Melbourne & Geelong urban areas.
7) An eligible vehicle must not travel on the Melba Highway or Warburton Highway on:
a) a weekend or public holiday; or
b) the day before the start of a holiday period; or
c) the last day of a holiday period.
8) An eligible must comply with night travel lighting conditions when travelling—
a) on the Princes Freeway between Laverton and Geelong between 1.00am and 5.00am; or
b) in the Melbourne or Geelong urban area during the hours of darkness.
c) In this sub section-
night travel lighting conditions means the conditions set out in section 5 (Side and rear markers and warning lights for oversize vehicles used at night) of Schedule 8 of the MDL National Regulation.
7. Condition - Skid Rails
1) Non-conductive skid rails must be attached to the top of the load on an eligible vehicle if the vehicle is higher than 4.8m and the vehicle travels under tram wires.
8. Condition – Convoys
1) An eligible vehicle must not travel in a convoy.
9. Condition - Carriage of documents
1) The driver of an eligible vehicle must carry the VicRoads information bulletin, Height under Structures for Permit Vehicles – June 2007 and Height Clearance on Roads (when in excess of 4.3m) and produce it to an authorised officer on request.
10. Condition - Communication with other entities
1) Before the commencement of any journey, the operator of an eligible vehicle must contact an entity mentioned in column 1 of Table 4 where the eligible vehicle will or may reasonably be expected to meet any of the conditions set out in column 3.
Table 4 – Third party communication details
Entity/ Category of infrastructure | Mandatory Steps | Vehicle characteristics |
Citylink | Contact Citylink to advise it of the intended movement and obtain a reference number; and At least 30 minutes before travelling on Citylink (the southern link, western link or batman avenue) contact Citylink to confirm the intended travel and to obtain advice on traffic conditions any road works and lane closures. | Any eligible vehicle |
Eastlink Tollway M3 | Contact EastLink to advise it of the intended movement; and At least 30 minutes before travelling on EastLink, contact EastLink to confirm the intended travel and to obtain advice on traffic conditions, any road works and lane closures. | Any eligible vehicle |
Peninsula Link | Contact Peninsula Link to advise it of the intended movement; and At least 30 minutes before travelling on Peninsula Link, contact Peninsula Link to confirm the intended travel and to obtain advice on traffic conditions, any road works and lane closures. | Any eligible vehicle |
Department of Transport | Contact Department of Transport to obtain approval for travel | Where the driver or operator of an eligible vehicle may cross a railway crossing and the vehicle exceeds any of the following dimensions— (a) 5.0m wide; or (b) 4.9m high; or (c) 26.0m long. |
Department of Transport | Contact Department of Transport to obtain approval for travel | Where the driver or operator of an eligible vehicle may to cross a tramway and the vehicle exceeds any of the following dimensions: (a) 3.0m wide; or (b) 4.3m high; or (c) 26.0m long. |
Note: Contact details for organisations in the table are available on the Third parties and other entities contact information page on the NHVR website.
11. Conditions - Pilots and Escorts (Melbourne and Geelong Urban Area)
1) An eligible vehicle operating in the Melbourne and Geelong Urban Area that is mentioned in column 1 of Table 5 or Table 6 must be accompanied by a pilot vehicle:
a) mentioned in column 2; and
b) positioned in accordance with column 3
Table 5- Pilot vehicle requirements – vehicles without a low loader dolly
Vehicle characteristics | Pilot vehicle requirements | Positioning |
Rear overhang exceeds 5.2m, and where the S-dimension is up to 9.5m and the width is up to 2.5m | One certified pilot vehicle | Rear of the vehicle |
S-dimension exceeds 14.2m, the width exceeds 4.4m and where the rear overhang is up to 3.7m | One certified pilot vehicle | Front of the vehicle |
S-dimension exceeds 14.2m, the width 4.4m and the rear overhang 5.9m. | Two certified pilot vehicles | One in front and on to the rear of the vehicle |
Table 6- Pilot vehicle requirements – vehicles with a low loader dolly
Vehicle characteristics | Pilot vehicle requirements | Positioning |
Rear overhang exceeds 6.0m, and where the S-dimension is up to 9.5m and the width is up to 2.5m | One certified pilot vehicle | Rear of the vehicle |
S-dimension exceeds 13.6m, the width exceeds 4.4m and where the rear overhang is up to 3.7m | One certified pilot vehicle | Front of the vehicle |
S-dimension exceeds 13.6m, the width 4.4m and the rear overhang 5.7m. | Two certified pilot vehicles | One in front and on to the rear of the vehicle |
12. Conditions - Pilots and Escorts (Rural areas)
1) An eligible vehicle operating in a rural area with or without a dolly must be accompanied by:
a) a certified pilot vehicle positioned at the rear of an eligible vehicle when the rear overhang of the vehicle exceeds 6.0m; or
b) a pilot vehicle or a certified pilot vehicle in the circumstances specified in Figure 1.

Figure 1 – Pilot requirements in rural areas