HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

Queensland Class 3 Livestock Loading Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1)

1. Purpose

This Notice provides mass dimension exemptions that support the Queensland Livestock Loading Scheme. This Notice is intended to work with the Queensland Livestock Loading Scheme, and compliance with that Scheme is a condition of exemptions contained in this Notice.

Note:  The Queensland Livestock Loading Scheme is managed by the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), in conjunction with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).

2.       Authorising Provision

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

3.       Title

This Notice may be cited as the Queensland Class 3 Livestock Loading 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 Queensland.

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 s8 of this notice.

General Access means access to all roads in Queensland, subject to the conditions or restrictions set out in the Operator’s Guide.

Livestock Loading S10 Plate means certification plate, including the maroon colour plate, that can be used by Approved Persons to certify a vehicle to the requirements of the S10 Modification Code.

The Operator’s Guide means the Queensland Livestock Loading Scheme Operator’s Guide published by TMR.

The Scheme means the Queensland Livestock Loading Scheme managed by TMR.

TMR means the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads.

8.       Eligible Vehicles

(1)    An eligible vehicle is a heavy vehicle that:

a)      Has a current and compliant Livestock Loading S10 plate attached; and

b)      Complies with all the requirements of the Queensland Livestock Loading Scheme; and

c)       Is one of the following type:

(i)      A rigid truck; or

(ii)    A rigid truck towing a five or six axle dog trailer; or

(iii)   A prime mover towing a semi-trailer; or

(iv)   A B-double combination;

(v)    B-triple combination; or

(vi)   A Road Train combination.

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 section 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).

d)      section 5(2) and Table 3 (Axle spacing mass limits B-double table).

e)      section 5(3) and Table 4 (Axle spacing mass limits road train table).

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 8 – Height

11.   Conditions – Stated Areas and Routes

(1)    An eligible vehicle operating under this Notice has road network access depending on the vehicle configuration and the networks as set out below:

a)      B-doubles:- as per B-double access specified in the National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice, as though the vehicle was a complying B-double.

b)      Road Trains:- as per Road Train access specified in the National Class 2 Road Train Authorisation Notice, as though the vehicle was a compliant Road Train.

c)       Truck and dog trailer combinations over 19m long up to 31.5m long  as per the Queensland Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Truck Towing One Trailer Exceeding 19m Up To 31.5m Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice, as though the vehicle was a complying truck and dog trailer combination over 19m up to 31.5m. 

d)      Any eligible vehicle that is not a B-double or a Road Train or a truck and dog trailer combination over 19m:- general access.

Note: the operation of s11 means that vehicles equipped with a tri-drive axle are not granted access under this Notice. Such vehicles must gain access under another authority, such as a permit, or the general law.

12.   Conditions – Mass limits

(1)    An eligible vehicle must comply with the conditional mass requirements set out in Schedule 1 “Conditional Mass Requirements” of this Notice.

(2)    Where a road or bridge structure has a load limit applied, that limit prevails over the conditions of this notice.

13.   Conditions- Livestock Loading S10 Plate

(1)    An eligible vehicle operating under this Notice must be fitted with a current and compliant Queensland Livestock Loading S10 Plate, including the maroon colour plate. Vehicles previously certified under the S10 Code with a modification plate will be recognised as eligible for the Scheme.

14.   Conditions- Queensland Livestock Loading Scheme

(1)    An eligible vehicle operating under this notice must comply with the requirements of the Queensland Livestock Loading Scheme, including but not limited to:

a)      Eligible livestock;

b)      Deck requirements;

c)       Interstate mutual recognition requirements.

Note: Specific information such as livestock types, deck requirements and mutual recognition requirements may be provided in the Guide.

Peter Austin

Director, Policy Implementation

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator

Schedule 1 Conditional Requirements

1 Conditions  - Mass Requirements

(1)   For trailers used in a B-double combination:

(a)   the total unladen mass of trailers in the combination must not exceed 22 tonnes.
 

(2)   For trailers used in a B-triple combination:

(a)   26 tonne maximum limit on tri-axle groups

(b)   total unladen mass of trailers in the combination must not exceed 32 tonnes.
 

(3)   Maximum mass on tri-axle converter dollies used in a livestock combination must not exceed 20 tonnes.
 

(4)   A prime mover or rigid truck used in a livestock combination must comply with Table 1 and the following conditions:

(a)   The twin-steer axle group must have load sharing suspension

(b)   When a prime mover is the hauling unit:

1. Its GCM rating must equal or exceed the unladen mass of the Prime Mover + the unladen mass of all trailers in combination + 26 tonnes for each semi-trailer or dog trailer in combination

(c)    When a rigid truck is the hauling unit

1. Its GCM rating must equal or exceed the GVM of the Rigid Truck + the unalden mass for all trailers towed + 26 tonnes for each trailer in combination

Table 1 Conditional Mass Requirements

2 Conditions - Vehicle Standards

(1)   Table 2 contains conditional vehicle standards that must be met by eligible vehicles operating under this Notice.

Table 2 Conditional Vehicle Standards

3 Conditions - Dimension Requirements

(1)   For the purpose of Table 3, Loaded deck length is defined as:

(a)   For a semitrailer: the length of the deck of the trailer measured from inside the front wall to inside the back wall of the loading
space.

(b)   For B-double combination: the sum of the lengths of the two decks of the trailers measured from inside the front wall to inside the back wall of the loading space.

(c)    For B-triple combination: the sum of the lengths of the three decks of the trailers measured from inside the front wall to inside the
back wall of the loading space.

(2)   Maximum height for a vehicle operating under this Notice is 4.6m.

Note: for clarity the conditional height in 2) is the same as that is allowed for a compliant Class 2 livestock vehicle under the MDL Regulation
 

Table 3 Conditional Dimension Requirements