Heavy Vehicle National Law

Multi State Class 3 Heavy Vehicle (Cotton Transportation) Dimension Exemption Notice 2017 (No 1)

1. Purpose

The purpose of this notice is to allow specified  Type 1 road train combinations transporting cotton modules between cotton farms and cotton gins to be exempted from prescribed dimension requirements in Schedule 6, Part 2 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation and requirements in Schedule 3 of the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation.

2.       Authorising Provision

This notice is made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) and section 61 of the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation (HV(VS)NR).

3.       Revocation

This notice revokes Part 1 of the Queensland Class 3 Heavy Vehicle (Road Train Cotton Transportation) Dimension Exemption Notice 2016.

Note:-  Part 1 of the Queensland Class 3 Heavy Vehicle (Road Train Cotton Transportation) Dimension Exemption Notice 2016 provided the same dimension exemption as the current notice applies. The exemptions from Part 1 of the Queensland-only Notice have been adopted in this Multi-state Notice in full.

4.       Title

This notice may be cited as the Multi-State Class 3 Heavy Vehicle (Road Train Cotton Transportation) Exemption Notice 2017

5.       Commencement

This Notice commences on the date of publication.

6.       Expiry

This Notice expires five years after the date of publication.

7.       Application

This notice applies to eligible vehicles operating in Queensland and New South Wales.

8.       Routes and Areas

1)      In Queensland, this notice applies to the routes and areas set out in Schedule 1

2)      In New South Wales, this notice applies to the routes and areas set out in Schedule 2.

9.       Dimension Exemption

1)      An eligible vehicle transporting round cotton modules operating under this Notice is exempt from the following requirements of Schedule 6, Part 2 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation:

a)      Section 4(2); and

b)      Section 4(3).

10.   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:

Eligible Vehicle means a road train that has no more than 2 trailers and that is no longer than 36.5 metres.

Note:-  this definition corresponds to the configuration commonly referred to as a Type 1 A-double road train.

11.   Vehicle Standards Exemption

An eligible vehicle transporting round cotton modules and operating under this part is exempted from the requirements in Schedule 3, Part 5, s29(b) of the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation.

12.   Conditions

1)      An eligible vehicle may transport up to six round cotton modules on each trailer.

2)      The trailers must not exceed any of the following dimensions:

a)      For the first trailer:

1. the distance from the front articulation point to the rear of that trailer must not be more than 12.75m; and
2. the tow coupling overhang distance between the vertical axis of the ‘Coupling’ pivot may exceed 0.3m but must be no more than 0.75m forward from the rear-most projection of the trailer.

b)      For the second trailer:

1. the radius from the centre and forward of the front articulation point must not exceed 2.45m; and
2. any extension outside of the line created by drawing a
   semi-circle with 1.9m radius from the centre and forward of the front articulation point must be positioned symmetrically about the longitudinal centreline and must lie within total 1.5m wide.

3)      Sufficient clearance must exist between the first and second trailer so no part of the load or combination can contact each other under all operating conditions, other than electrical, hydraulic or mechanical couplings:

Note:-  examples of couplings include air lines, hoses, electrical couplings and other connections required for the operation of either trailer.

DATED: 27 February 2017

Peter Caprioli

Executive Director Access

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

Schedule 1 Queensland

1. Stated Areas and Routes- Queensland

An eligible vehicle operating in Queensland may only use the type 1 and type 2 road train areas and routes shown on the Multi-combination Routes in Queensland maps published by the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

Note: the Queensland Multi-Combination Routes may be found at:

 http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/business-industry/Heavy-vehicles/Multi-combination-vehicles/Maps.aspx

Schedule 2 New South Wales

1. Conditions

1)      Trailer bracket/extensions must be minimised as far as practicable when travelling unladen.

2.       Stated Areas and Routes- New South Wales

1)        An eligible vehicle operating at GML or CML in New South Wales may use the map and/or list of routes published as ‘GML Type 1 A-double road train routes’ by the New South Wales Roads and Maritime Services at: www.rms.nsw.gov.au/rav-gml-networks.

2)        An eligible vehicle operating at HML in New South Wales may use the map and/or list of routes published as ‘HML Type 1 A-double road train routes’ by the New South Wales Roads and Maritime Services at: www.rms.nsw.gov.au/rav-hml-networks