Heavy Vehicle National Law

Queensland Class 1 Heavy Vehicles (Cotton Harvester) Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2017 (No.1)

1. Purpose

The purpose of this notice is to exempt specified models of cotton harvester from stated prescribed mass  and dimension requirements in  the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation.

1. Authorising Provision

This notice is made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

2.       Commencement

This notice commences on 1 July 2017.

3.       Expiry

This notice expires on 30 June 2022.

2.       Title

This notice may be cited as the National Class 1 Heavy Vehicles (Cotton Harvester) Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2017.

3.       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—

Agricultural pilot means a person directly associated with primary production who has held an open or provisional driver’s license for at least 12 months, or is an accredited pilot vehicle driver or accredited escort vehicle driver appointed by the Chief Executive of the Department of Transport and Main Roads, to carry out pilot duties under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Act 1995, section 21.

Form 4 Guideline means the Guideline for Excess Dimension: Vehicles Carrying Indivisible Articles; Special Purpose Vehicles and Vehicles that require a Pilot or Escort, in Queensland Form Number 4.

Form 14 Guideline means the Guideline for Excess Dimension Agricultural Vehicles and Agricultural Combinations; Vehicle and Drivers Form Number 14.

Eligible Harvester means a harvester specified in Appendix 3 Eligible Harvesters, and that does not exceed the mass and dimension requirements, or other conditions set out in this Notice.

Zone 2 means the area indicated in the Heavy Vehicle Zone Maps which can be accessed using the following link: www.tmr.qld.gov.au/business-industry/Heavy-vehicles/Multi-combination-vehicles/Maps.aspx

Zone 3 means the cotton growing areas adjoining Zone 2 that lie within the local government boundaries of the Balonne Shire Council and the Maranoa Regional Council.

4.       Application

This Notice applies to the movement of eligible harvesters on State controlled roads in Queensland.

Note— An operator seeking to move an eligible harvester on a local road will need to apply to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator for a mass and dimension exemption permit.

5.       Dimension Exemptions

1)      For routes in Zone 2 eligible harvesters operating under this Notice are exempt from the following prescribed dimension requirements in Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation:

(i)     Section 7(1); and

(ii)    Section 8.

2)      For routes in Zone 3 eligible harvesters operating under this Notice are exempt from the following prescribed dimension requirements in Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation:

(i)     Section 8.

Note— For relevant areas in zone 3 Form 14 width exemptions apply

6.       Mass Exemptions

Eligible harvesters operating under this Notice are exempt from certain prescribed mass requirements in Table 1 Axle Mass Limits Table in Part 2 Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation.

7.       Conditions -Dimension

1)      In zones 2 and 3 the height of an eligible harvester must not exceed 5.3m.

2)      In zone 2 the width of an eligible harvester must not exceed 5.5m.

Note— In all other instances, eligible harvesters are limited in dimension by the requirements of Form 14.

8.       Conditions -Mass

1)      complies with the following mass specifications:

(a)    front axle mass not to exceed 18 tonnes;

(b)    rear axle mass not to exceed 13 tonnes; and

(c)     does not exceed the manufactures gross mass rating for the vehicle.

9.       Compliance with Form 14 Guideline

1)      While operating under this notice, harvesters must comply with the Form 14 Guideline except for the following sections:

a)      4.1 General Requirements – Dimensions;

b)      4.2 Pilot/Escort/Police Conditions - Widths Exceeding General Requirements;

c)       4.3 Pilot/ Escort/ Police Conditions - Rear Overhang;

d)      7.10 Letter of No Objection;

e)      9.2 Escort Vehicle Requirements; and

f)        13 Traffic Control.

10.   Pilot and Escort requirements by type or road and distance of travel

An eligible harvester which exceeds 5 metres in width but is not more than 5.5m in width may travel on a road in Zone 2 but must comply with the obligations set out in Table 1 Pilot and Escort Requirements of this Notice.

Table 1 Pilot and Escort Requirements

11.   Pilot, Escort and Traffic Control operating requirements

1)      An operator of an eligible harvester must comply with the following requirements contained in the Form 4 Guidelines:

(a)    Pilot/ Escort vehicles and operating requirements - section 13; and

(b)    Traffic Control Recommendations - section 15.

12.   Areas & Routes

This Notice applies to the areas set out in Appendix 1 of this Notice.

13.   Structures

1)      Where the height dimension of an eligible harvester is likely to interfere with overhead structures, including cables, or falls within any specified exclusion zone for overhead wires for electrical, communication or rail authorities, approval to operate must be obtained from the relevant authority.

Note— To identify an exclusion zone see the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013, Schedule 2 Parts 2 and 3.

2)      An eligible harvester may only cross state controlled structures such as a bridge or culvert on a road that has been assessed as safe for travel and that is specified in Appendix 1 of this Notice. 

3)      An eligible harvester is not permitted to:

(a)    cross a timber bridge; or

(b)    travel on a structure that is shown as “no go” in Appendix 2.

Note—  Where a structure is shown as a “no go” consideration must be given to another route that can bypass the structure or to floating the harvester across the structure.

4)      When crossing a bridge the driver must:

(a)    wait until the bridge is free of all other vehicles;

(b)    travel along the bridge centre-line; and

(c)     ensure the vehicle does not exceed 10kph.

14.   Trip Planning and registers

1)      Prior to travel an operator of an eligible harvester must:

(a)    consider the route including what structures the harvester may have to negotiate while travelling along that route, to ensure that travel along that route will not cause disruption to services or damage to property; and

(b)    obtain information about any “conditions of operation” from the Department of Transport and Main Roads website at www.tmr.qld.gov.au/business-industry/Heavy-vehicles/Excess-mass-and-dimensions/Excess-mass-and-dimension-conditions.aspx

2)      The operator of and eligible harvester vehicles must keep a trip plan and trip register of all movements undertaken under this notice and make these available upon request to an authorised officer.

(a)    A trip plan and register must contain at least the following details:

(i)     start time, date and location;

(ii)    end time, date and location;

(iii)  drivers details;

(iv)  planned route;

(v)    actual route if different from planned route and reason for diversion; and

(vi)  a copy of the “Do Not Cross Structure” maps relevant to the journey that can be found at http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/business-industry/Heavy-vehicles/Heavy-vehicle-guidelines-and-class-permits.aspx

15.   Temporary road closures or limitations

1)      The operator of an eligible harvester must observe requirements imposed in connection with:

(a)    a temporary road closure; or

(b)    heavy or prolonged rain affecting the road.

16.   Exclusion of prescribed conditions

The application of Schedule 8 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation to this notice is expressly excluded.

17.   Conditions -General

1)      The driver of the eligible harvester operating under this exemption must keep in the driver’s possession a copy of this notice and must produce the notice to an authorised officer when requested.

2)      If two requirements of this notice, allowing movement, are in conflict, then the operator of an eligible harvester should adopt the requirement that provides the greatest safeguards.

3)      An operator operating under this Notice shall indemnify the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads and its employees, against any claim, action or process for damage or injury that may be sustained against them due to the use of vehicles as specified.

4)      An eligible vehicle operating under this notice must be configured in travel mode as set out in the manufacturer’s specifications.

Note-  “Travel Mode” is a specific term used in John Deer technical manuals to that refers to a vehicle configuration that allows the vehicle to operate on roads for the purpose of transportation, as opposed to operating as a harvester in the field.

Dated: 21 June 2017

Sal Petroccitto

Chief Executive Officer

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

Appendix 1 State Controlled Roads Assessed for travel by eligible harvesters

Dalby cotton growing area

Note: Crossing Myall Creek in Dalby the vehicle is to travel in the centre of the two lanes in the direction of travel and vehicles may travel on the opposite side of the bridge in the opposite direction.

Appendix 1 Cont.

Emerald and Banana cotton growing areas

Appendix 1 Cont.

St George and Goondiwindi cotton growing areas

Appendix 2 “No Go Structures”

Reference to maps for “Do Not Cross” Structures

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/business-industry/Heavy-vehicles/Heavy-vehicle-guidelines-and-class-permits.aspx

Appendix 3 Eligible Cotton Harvesters

The following table provides the specific manufacturer’s types of cotton harvesters eligible for operation under this notice. No further vehicles may be used in combination with the specified harvesters, except as stated.