HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

Victoria Class 3 Log Carrying Truck and Dog Trailer Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1)

1.          Purpose

1. This notice grants exemptions from mass and dimension requirements for class 3 heavy vehicles that are used for carrying logs in Victoria.

1. This notice revokes and replaces the Victoria Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Log Carrying Truck and Dog Trailer Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1).

1.          Authorising provision

1.   This notice is made under the following provision of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL):

1.       section 117 – Regulator’s power to exempt category of class 3 heavy vehicles from compliance with mass or dimension requirement.
2.       section 23 of Schedule 1 – Regulator’s power to amend or repeal instrument.

1.          Title

This notice may be cited as the Victoria Class 3 Log Carrying Truck and Dog Trailer Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1).

1.          Commencement

This notice commences on 09 November 2024.

1.          Expiry

This notice expires on 08 November 2029.

1.          Definitions

1. Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this notice have the same meaning as those in the HVNL and its regulations.

1. In this notice:

Guide means the Victoria Class 3 Log Carrying Truck and Dog Trailer Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice Operator’s Guide published by the Regulator, and as amended from time to time.

Log Carrier means a heavy combination consisting of a three-axle rigid truck connected to a four-axle dog trailer, used for the purpose of carrying logs.

1.          Application

1. This notice applies to a class 3 heavy vehicle that meets all the requirements in this section.

1. This notice applies to a heavy vehicle that is:

1.       a three-axle rigid truck towing a four-axle dog trailer; and
2.       used for the purpose of carrying logs.

1. This notice applies in Victoria.

1. A heavy vehicle to which this section applies and that complies with the conditions of this notice is an eligible vehicle.

1.          Exemption from prescribed dimension requirements

1. An eligible vehicle is exempt from the following dimension requirements under Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL Regulation):

1.       section 3 – Length (combination or single vehicle).

1. An exemption in 1) applies to an eligible vehicle only to the extent that specific conditional dimension limits are provided in section 9 of this notice.

1.          Condition – Length

An eligible vehicle must not exceed 22m in length.

1.      Exemption from prescribed mass requirements

1. An eligible vehicle is exempt from the following mass requirements under Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL Regulation):

1.       section 2 – Mass limits for a single vehicle or combination.
2.       section 5 – Mass limits relating to axle spacing generally.

1. An exemption in 1) applies to an eligible vehicle only to the extent that specific conditional mass limits are provided in sections 11 and 12 of this notice.

1. To be clear, if this notice provides for more than one mass limit that may apply in the same circumstances the more restrictive mass limit applies.

1.       Regardless of any conditional masses prescribed in this notice an eligible vehicle must not exceed manufacturer mass limits as defined in section 8 of the MDL Regulation.

1.      Conditions – Maximum mass for trailers

The mass of a dog trailer that is part of an eligible vehicle must not exceed 27.5t.

1.      Condition - Axles spacing for eligible vehicles greater than 46.5t in total combination mass

1. An eligible vehicle that has a total combination mass greater than 46.5t and with an axle spacing greater than 14.0m must not exceed the mass limits set out in Table 1.

Table 1 Axle spacing mass limits for axle spacing exceeding 14.0m

Note: This table has the effect of providing higher masses for axle spacings greater than 14.0m. For axle spacings up to 14.0m, an eligible vehicle must still comply with the axle spacing mass limits specified in Table 2 (Axle spacing mass limits general table) of Schedule 1 in the MDL Regulation.

 The masses for axle spacings follow the same rules here as in section 5 of Schedule 1 of the MDL Regulation.

1. A maximum combination mass limit stated in Table 1 is increased by 0.5t if the axle spacing includes a steer axle to which the steer axle mass exception limits apply.

1.      Conditions – Axle spacing requirements

1. In the case of an eligible vehicle must comply with the following requirements:

1.       the wheelbase of the truck must be a minimum of 4.5m and the wheelbase of the dog trailer must be a minimum of 5m; or
2.       the wheelbase of the truck must be a minimum of 4.9m and the wheelbase of the dog trailer must be a minimum of 4.5m.

1.      Condition - 4-axle dog trailer towed mass ratio

Where an eligible vehicle consists of a rigid truck towing a 4-axle dog trailer, the mass of the trailer must not exceed the mass of the truck by more than 25%.

1.      Condition – Suspension requirements

1.       The drive axle group of the truck and all axles of the dog trailer must be fitted with:

1.       air suspension with effective dampers; or
2.       certified road friendly suspension.

1.      Condition - Stated areas or routes

1.       An eligible vehicle complying with the conditions of this notice is authorised to operate on all roads in Victoria.

1.       For the purposes of section 119(1)(a) of the HVNL, an area or route specified in a Schedule of this notice is a stated area or route to which this notice applies.

1.       In this notice a reference to a network is a reference to a map or stated route pursuant to section 119(2) of the HVNL.

1.       Regardless of any access granted under this section, an eligible vehicle must comply with any conditions or restrictions applied to a given area or route by the Specified Road Manager Network Requirements in the Guide.

1.       An eligible vehicle operating on an area or route specified in this section must comply with the following conditions as specified for those routes and areas:

1.       Road conditions pursuant to section 160 of the HVNL; and
2.       Travel conditions pursuant to section 161 of the HVNL; and
3.        Vehicle conditions pursuant to section 162 of the HVNL.

Jose Arredondo,

Manager Network Access Policy,

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.