HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW
Tasmania Class 3 Livestock Transportation Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1)
This Notice provides mass and dimension exemptions that support the Tasmanian Livestock Loading Scheme. This Notice is intended to work with the Tasmanian Livestock Loading Scheme, and compliance with that Scheme is a condition of this Notice.
Note: This notice operates in conjunction with the current Information Bulletin for the Livestock Loading Scheme (Tasmania) maintained by the Tasmania Department of State Growth
2. Authorising Provision
This Notice is made under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).
3. Title
This Notice may be cited as the Tasmania Class 3 Livestock Transportation Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1).
4. Commencement
This notice commences on 10 February 2024.
5. Expiry
This notice expires on 9 February 2029.
6. Application
This notice applies to eligible vehicles operating in Tasmania.
7. Definition
(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 vehicle specified in section 8 of this Notice.
General Access means access to all roads in Tasmania, subject to the Tasmania Road Rules and the HVNL.
Loading space means the length available for the carriage of livestock on a trailer as measured from the inside of the front wall or door of the trailer to the inside of the rear wall or door of the trailer, with any intervening partitions disregarded.
Note: the definition of ‘loading space’ is the definition for the length available for carrying livestock set out in section 4(8) of Schedule 6 of the MDL Regulation.
Livestock means livestock as specified in the Scheme.
Livestock carrier means a heavy vehicle that is a heavy vehicle or combination that is higher than 4.3m but not higher than 4.6m and is built to carry livestock.
Scheme means the Information Bulletin for the Livestock Loading Scheme (Tasmania) published and administered by the Tasmanian Department of State Growth, as amended from time to time.
Scheme certificate means a certificate showing vehicle ratings, tare weight and semi-trailer loading space issued under the Scheme.
8. Eligible Vehicles
(1) An eligible vehicle is a heavy vehicle that is:
a) a prime mover semi-trailer combination not longer than 19m, or a nine axle B-double not longer than 26m; and
b) is equipped with Road Friendly Suspension; and
c) is equipped with dual tyres on all non-steering axles; and
d) is a livestock carrier.
(2) An eligible semi-trailer must have a tri-axle group.
(3) An eligible B-double must have a tri-axle group on each B-double trailer.
9. Exemption – Mass
(1) Eligible vehicles operating under this Notice are exempt from the following mass requirements in Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension & Loading) National Regulation (MDL Regulation):
a) section 2(1)(a)(iv) and 2(1)(b);
b) section 4 and Table 1 (Axle mass limits table); and
c) section 5(1) and Table 2 (Axle spacing mass limits general table).
Note: Eligible vehicles and their components (including axles and tyres) are not exempt from exceeding manufacturer’s ratings and limits, including Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM), Gross Combination Mass (GCM) and Gross Trailer Mass (GTM).
10. Exemption – Dimension
(1) Eligible vehicles operating under this Notice are exempt from the following dimension requirements in Schedule 6 of the MDL Regulation:
a) Section 4(6) to 4(8) - Loading space for livestock
b) section 8 – Height
Note: The exemption for loading space is required because the dimension requirements in section 4(6) and (7) in Schedule 6 of the MDL Regulation specify particular animals that may not cover the range of livestock allowed to be carried under this Notice. The concessional dimensions re-instated in this Notice are the same as those in the MDL Regulation.
11. Conditions – Stated Areas and Routes
(1) Subject to section 11(2), an eligible vehicle operating under this Notice may use all roads in Tasmania except for
(a) Tasman Bridge; and
(b) any other road where there is insufficient height clearance for the vehicle to pass without striking or damaging any road infrastructure
Note: The driver of an eligible vehicle 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.
(2) An eligible vehicle that is a B-double may only use a route if it is approved in the National Class 2 Heavy Vehicle B-double Authorisation Notice (the B-double Notice).
12. Conditions – Mass limits (Prime Movers)
(1) The tare weight of a prime mover (with fuel) must not exceed 11 tonnes.
(2) Manufacturer’s ratings for the prime mover and its components must not be exceeded
(3) The prime mover must have manufacturers’ ratings of at least:
a) steer axle - 6.0 tonnes;
b) drive axle group - 17.3 tonnes;
c) GVM - 23.3 tonnes;
d) GCM (single articulated) - 46.3 tonnes; and
e) GCM (B-double) - 68.0 tonnes.
13. Conditions – Mass Limits (Semi-Trailers)
(1) The tare weight of a semi-trailer must not exceed 12 tonnes.
(2) The total tare weight of the prime mover and semi-trailer must not exceed 22.0 tonnes.
Note: this is less than the sum of the allowable tare weights of the prime mover and the semi-trailer.
(3) The semi-trailer must have a manufacturer’s rating of least 25.0 tonnes.
14. Conditions – Mass Limits (B-Doubles)
(1) The total tare weight of the two trailers in a B-double combination must not exceed 21.0 tonnes.
(2) The total tare weight of the combination must not exceed 32.0 tonnes.
15. Condition – Height
(1) An eligible vehicle operating under this notice must not exceed 4.6m in height by construction.
16. Condition – Dimension (Loading Space)
(1) The maximum loading space for livestock carriers is:
a) 12.5 metres for semi-trailers; and
b) a total of 18.8 metres for B-double trailers.
17. Condition – Axle Spacing
(1) for prime mover and semi-trailer combinations, minimum axle spacing is:
a) 4.0 metres between the centre of the steering axle to the centre of the rear axle of the prime mover; and
b) 6.2 metres from the centre of the rear axle of the prime mover to the centre of the first axle of the semi-trailer.
(2) for B-doubles, the axle group spacings must comply with Table 3 in Schedule 1 of the MDL Regulation.
18. Condition - Carriage of Livestock
(1) Deck level arrangements on any truck or trailer operating under this Notice must comply with the Scheme requirements for a given animal.
(2) Livestock which does not completely fill a deck shall be securely restrained in position by full width barriers to prevent alteration to the stability of the vehicle whilst in motion.
(3) An eligible vehicle must not carry livestock in any upper deck unless the lower deck of the vehicle is fully loaded with livestock.
(4) An eligible vehicle must not carry any freight other than livestock.
19. Conditions – Carriage of Fuel and Water
(1) Fuel tanks must not be fitted to a semi-trailer operating under this Notice.
(2) Any water carried on the semi-trailer must be in quantities for personal use only.
20. Conditions- Tasmania Livestock Loading Scheme
(1) An eligible combination operating under this notice must comply with all of the requirements of the Tasmania Livestock Loading Scheme, as set out in the current Information Bulletin for the Livestock Loading Scheme (Tasmania) maintained by the Tasmania Department of State Growth, including but not limited to:
a) Eligible livestock; or
b) Deck requirements; or
c) Driver accreditation; or
d) Vehicle certification.
Peter Austin
Director, Policy Implementation
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
Appendix 1
Height Clearance Under Overhead Structures Map
Note: The Height Clearance Under Overhead Structures Map identifies relevant height clearances that may be relevant depending on specific routes on the network.
The map mentioned in this appendix is published by the Tasmania Department of State Growth, and is available on its website.