HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW
National Class 2 4.6m high and/or 25m Long Vehicle Carrier Authorisation Notice 2024 (No.1)
Purpose
(a) To authorise the use of Vehicle Carriers from 4.3 metres to 4.6 metres in height, or from 19 metres to 25 metres in length, or both, in stated areas or on stated routes, during stated hours of stated days; and
(b) To state the conditions under which these Vehicle Carriers may be used.
Note: The Heavy Vehicle National Law provides that a Vehicle Carrier (as defined in this notice) is a class 2 heavy vehicle. That means that a Vehicle Carrier is a restricted access vehicle and the operator requires an authorisation from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator before the vehicle may be used on public roads. This instrument is an authorisation that declares the routes on which Vehicle Carriers may be used, subject to compliance with certain conditions. This instrument does not exempt the Vehicle Carrier from other requirements of the Heavy Vehicle National Law including, but not limited to, mass and dimension requirements.
Authorising Provision
2. This notice is made under section 138 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).
Title
3. This notice may be cited as the National Class 2 4.6m High and/or 25m Long Vehicle Carrier Authorisation Notice 2024 (No.1).
Commencement
4. This notice commences on 10 February 2024.
Expiry
5. This notice expires on 9 February 2029.
Definition
6. Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this notice have the same meanings as in the HVNL or regulations made under the HVNL.
7. In this notice—
‘National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice’ means the current national notice of that name providing access to Class 2 B-Doubles.
‘National Class 2 Road Train Authorisation Notice’ means the current national notice of that name providing access to Class 2 Road Trains.
‘Vehicle Carrier’ means a heavy vehicle that is a combination designed and built to carry vehicles on more than one deck that, together with its load is longer than 19m but not longer than 25m, or higher than 4.3m but not higher than 4.6m, or both.
Note: Under section 3(1)(d) of Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation a vehicle carrier may only be up to 25m long if it is designed to carry vehicles on 2 or more partly or completely overlapping decks.
‘Stated areas or routes’ means the stated areas or routes set out in the Schedules.
‘Stated hours of stated days’ means the stated hours of stated days set out in the Schedules.
Application
8. This notice applies to a Vehicle Carrier as specified in Schedules 1 to 5.
9. This notice applies in all participating jurisdictions other than the Australian Capital Territory.
Conditions
10. The driver and operator of the Vehicle Carrier must comply with all conditions set out in the Schedule for a participating jurisdiction when the vehicle is being used in the jurisdiction to which that Schedule applies.
Note: The National Class 2 Road Train Authorisation Notice authorises a road train that is, or has a component vehicle in the combination, designed to carry vehicles on 2 or more partly or completely overlapping decks on the routes and in the circumstances stated for road trains in each Schedule of that Notice.
The National Class 3 Heavy Vehicle, Vehicle Carrier Exemption Notice authorises the use of vehicle carriers that are over 25m in length but are not road trains to the extent and on the conditions stated in the Notice.
Peter Austin
Director, Policy Implementation
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
SCHEDULE 1 – NEW SOUTH WALES
Revocation
Stated areas or routes
2. A Vehicle Carrier that is not more than 4.3m high may use the routes set out in the
National Class 2 Heavy Vehicle B-double Authorisation Notice.
3. A Vehicle Carrier that is more than 4.3m high but not more than 4.6m high may use
the routes set out in the National Class 2 Heavy Vehicle B-double Authorisation
Notice and in Appendix 1 to this Schedule.
Note: This means the route must be approved for use by both 4.6m high semitrailers and B-doubles.
Stated hours of stated days
4. Except as specified in clause 5, a Vehicle Carrier may use the stated routes at any
time of day.
5. A Vehicle Carrier that is authorised to use the areas or routes in the National
Class 2 Heavy Vehicle B-double Authorisation Notice(as set out in the NSW Schedule) must do so in accordance with any restrictions on the hours and days of operation specified, if any, for each road in the conditions set out in the National Class 2 Heavy Vehicle B-double Authorisation Notice.
Conditions
6. A Vehicle Carrier that is authorised to use the routes stated in both the National
Class 2 Heavy Vehicle B-double Authorisation (as set out in the NSW Schedule) Notice and in Appendix 1 to this Schedule must comply with the corresponding conditions about the operation of the heavy vehicle specified for each road in the condition column.
Appendix 1
Map and/or list of routes as specified under the heading “Restricted Access Vehicle maps and lists” as published on the Transport for New South Wales website.
SCHEDULE 2 – QUEENSLAND
Stated areas or routes
Note: The driver of a Vehicle Carrier that is higher than 4.3m must assess the suitability of a road prior to operating the vehicle on that road. The roads used must be continually monitored to ensure sufficient clearance for the vehicle exists.
3. A Vehicle Carrier that is longer than 21.4m together with its load, or longer than 19m when unladen, may only use the routes approved for 25m B-doubles shown on the Multi-combination Routes in Queensland maps and the list of additional routes published specified in Appendix 1
Note: A Vehicle Carrier that is longer than 25m and is a B-double, or truck and dog combination is provided access under and subject to the conditions stated in the Queensland Class 2 And 3 Vehicle Carrier Heavy Vehicle Authorisation (Notice) and Dimension Exemption Notice. A road train designed to carry vehicles on 2 or more partly or completely overlapping decks is authorised under the National Class 2 Road Train Authorisation Notice to the extent and on the conditions stated in that Notice.
Stated hours of stated days
4. A Vehicle Carrier that is authorised to use the areas or routes specified in clause 1 or 2 may use the stated areas or routes at any time of the day.
5. A Vehicle Carrier that is authorised to use the areas or routes specified in clause 3 must do so in accordance with any restrictions on the hours and days of operation specified in the relevant documents.
Conditions
6. A Vehicle Carrier must comply with any conditions applicable to a route or area described in clause 3 specified in the relevant documents.
7. A Vehicle Carrier other than a B-double that, with or without its load, is longer than 19m must have the lower deck of the trailer fully loaded before vehicles are placed on the upper deck.
8. A Vehicle Carrier that, together with its load, is not longer than 21.4m, must be no longer than 19m when unladen.
Appendix 1
Routes approved for 25m B-doubles shown on the Multi-combination Routes in Queensland maps and the list of additional routes
SCHEDULE 3 - SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Stated areas or routes
Stated hours of stated days
4. Subject to clauses 5 and 6, a Vehicle Carrier may use the stated routes at any time of the day.
5. A Vehicle Carrier that is authorised to use the routes specified in clause 2, must do so in accordance with any restrictions on the hours and days of operation specified in the relevant maps.
6. A Vehicle Carrier that is authorised to use the routes in the B-double notice must do so in accordance with any restrictions on the hours and days of operation specified in the B-double notice.
Conditions
Conditions applicable to all Vehicle Carriers
7. A Vehicle Carrier, as constructed, must not be higher than 4.3m.
8. Vehicles must not be carried on an upper deck unless each deck below is fully loaded.
Conditions applicable to a Vehicle Carrier that is longer than 19.0m but not longer than 21.4m and/or higher than 4.3m, in relation to clause 1 above.
9. The prime mover and/or hauling vehicle must be fitted with a single steer axle and a dual-drive tandem axle group and the semitrailer and/or trailer must be fitted with either a tandem axle group or a tri-axle group.
10. The Vehicle Carrier combination, as constructed, must not be longer than 19.0m.
11. A vehicle being carried, may project up to 1.2m forward of the front of the prime mover or hauling vehicle.
12. A vehicle being carried, may project up to 1.2m behind the rear of the semitrailer and/or trailer.
13. If the Vehicle Carrier is higher than 4.3m, before starting the journey, the driver or operator —
a) must comply with the specified route, area and structure restrictions published in the Consolidated Table of Limited Access Locations in South Australia published on the ‘Approved Areas or Routes’ section of the South Australian Department for Infrastructure and Transport website; and
b) may be required to consult and obtain consent from third party entities who manage utilities which may be impacted by over height vehicles.
Note: Some routes in the Adelaide Metropolitan Area have height restrictions less than 4.3m.
Contact details for SAPN, Telstra and Optus are available on the NHVR website.
Conditions applicable to a Vehicle Carrier that is longer than 19.0m but not longer than 25.0m and/or higher than 4.3m in relation to clause 2 above.
14. The vehicle carrier combination must consist of a rigid motor vehicle fitted with a dual-drive tandem axle group, towing a trailer fitted with either a tandem axle group or a tri-axle group towards the rear of the trailer, and the coupling with the hauling unit is located behind the drive axle group.
15. The vehicle carrier must not be assembled or disassembled on a route except under the following circumstances—
(a) the vehicle has broken down; or
(b) in order to proceed on a temporary by-pass around a road blockage.
16. The vehicle carrier may only use roadside parking areas showing a ‘Rest Area’ sign or a ‘Truck Parking Area’ sign. Parking areas can only be used for rest purposes or vehicle checks but not for assembly or disassembly purposes except in accordance with the clause above.
17. The vehicle carrier must not reverse into or out of a road or depot.
Conditions applicable to a Vehicle Carrier used in a B-double combination
18. In addition to complying with the requirements of this Schedule, a vehicle carrier that is used in a B-double combination must comply with the B-double notice.
Appendix 1
RAVnet Map System titled ’25.0m Vehicle Carrier Network (GML)’
Note: Networks mentioned in this appendix are published by the South Australia Department for Infrastructure and Transport and are available on its website.
SCHEDULE 4 – TASMANIA
Stated areas or routes
Note- the driver of a Vehicle Carrier that is higher than 4.3m must assess the suitability of a road prior to operating the vehicle on that road using the maps specified in Appendix 1 to ensure sufficient clearance for the vehicle exists.
Stated hours of stated days
4. A Vehicle Carrier may use the stated areas or routes at any time of the day.
5. A Vehicle Carrier that is authorised through clause 2 to use the areas or routes in the National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice must do so in accordance with any restrictions on the hours and days of operation specified in the National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice and in the B-double Network Map specified in Appendix 1.
Conditions
6. A Vehicle Carrier that is authorised through clause 2 to use the areas or routes in the National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice must comply with any conditions about the operation of the vehicle specified in the National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice and in the B-double Network Map specified in Appendix 1
Appendix 1
Tasmanian 26 metre B-double Network Map
Height Clearance Under Overhead Structures Map
Note: The maps and networks mentioned in this appendix are published by the Tasmania Department of State Growth, and are available on its website.
SCHEDULE 5 – VICTORIA
Stated areas or routes
Stated hours of stated days
3. Subject to clause 4, a Vehicle Carrier may use the stated areas or routes at any time of the day.
4. A Vehicle Carrier that is authorised to use the areas or routes in the B-double notice must do so in accordance with any restrictions on the hours and days of operation specified in the B-double notice.
Conditions
5. A Vehicle Carrier that is authorised to use the areas or routes in the B-double notice must comply with any relevant conditions set out in the B-double notice.
6. A Vehicle Carrier that, together with its load, is not longer than 21.4m, must be no longer than 19m when unladen.
Appendix 1
Victorian Class 2 B-Double Access Maps
Note: Networks mentioned in this appendix are published by the Department of Transport and Planning, and are available on the VicRoads website.