HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW

Australian Defence Force Class 1 and 3 Heavy Vehicle (Defence Assistance to the Civil Community) Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1)

1.        Purpose

This notice provides exemptions from mass and dimension requirements for class 1 and 3 heavy vehicles operated by, or under the direction of, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) for the purpose of providing assistance under Defence Assistance to the Civil Community Framework (DACC) arrangements.

1.        Authorising provision

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

1.       Section 117 – Regulator’s power to exempt category of class 1 or 3 heavy vehicles from compliance with mass or dimension requirement

1.        Title

This authorisation Notice may be cited as the Australian Defence Force Class 1 and 3 Heavy Vehicle (Defence Assistance to the Civil Community) Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1).             

1.        Commencement date

This Notice commences on 31 October 2024.

1.        Expiry date

This Notice Expires on 30 October 2029.

1.        Definitions

1.       Unless otherwise stated, words and expression used in this Notice have the same

meaning as those in the HVNL and its regulations.

1.       Words and expression in this notice have the same meaning as in the following documents produced by the Australian Defence Force:

1.       the Defence Assistance to the Civil Community; and
2.       the Land Vehicle Operations Manual.

1.       Definitions specified in the following authorisations made under the HVNL, and as amended from time, apply under this notice:

1.       Multistate Class 1 Carrying Vehicle Mass Exemption Notice
2.       Multistate Class 1 Carrying Vehicle Dimension Exemption Notice
3.        National Class 1 Special Purpose Vehicle (up to 40t total mass) Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice

1.       In this notice:

Australian Defence Force vehicle (ADF vehicle) means a vehicle that is operated by, or under the direction of, the Australian Defence Force.

Defence Assistance to the Civil Community (DACC) means the arrangements of that name maintained by the Australian Department of Defence, and as amended from time to time.

Defence Assistance to the Civil Community Network (DACC Network) means an area or route stated in a schedule to this notice.

Land Vehicle Operations Manual (the LVOM) means the document of that name published by the Australian Department of Defence, and as amended from time.

1.        Application

1.       This notice applies to a class 1 or 3 heavy vehicle that is an ADF vehicle that is of a category specified in a schedule.

1.       This notice applies to a heavy vehicle operated by, or under the direction of, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) under the Defence Assistance to the Civil Community Framework (DACC) arrangements.

1.       This exemption applies only to vehicles specified in the LVOM.

1.       This notice applies in all participating jurisdictions.

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

1.        Exemption – 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 3 – Mass limits for a vehicle with a particular axle space less than 2.5m
3.        section 4 – Mass limits for a single axle or axle group
4.       section 5 – Mass limits relating to axle spacing generally

1.       An exemption in 1) only applies to an eligible vehicle to the extent that conditional mass limits are provided by a schedule.

1.       If, in relation to a particular vehicle or component, this notice or one of its schedules provides for two or more mass limits that apply in the same circumstances, the more restrictive limit applies, and the other limit must be disregarded.

Note: this section is intended to operate so that the broad exemptions in 1) are strictly limited by any conditions applied by a schedule for the purposes of operating on a given DACC Network.

1.        Conditions – Mass

An eligible vehicle must not exceed the mass conditions set out in a schedule under which it is operating.

1.    Exemption – Prescribed dimension requirements

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

1.       section 3 – Length (combination or single vehicle)
2.       section 4 – Length (trailers)
3.        section 5 – Length (rear overhang)
4.       section 6 – Length (trailer drawbars)
5.       section 7 – Width
6.         section 8 – Height
7.        section 9 – Ground clearance
8.       section 10 – Axle configuration of B-doubles
9.         section 12 – Rear projection of load
10.         section 13 – Front and side projection of load

1.       An exemption in 1) only applies to an eligible vehicle to the extent that conditional dimension limits are provided by a schedule.

1.       If, in relation to a particular vehicle or component, this notice or one of its schedules provides two or more dimension limits that apply in the same circumstances, the more restrictive limit applies, and the other limit must be disregarded.

1.       In relation to any conditional dimensions prescribed in this notice or one or its schedules, the width of a heavy vehicle must be measured in the same manner as in section 8 of the Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation.

Note: This section is intended to operate so that the broad exemptions in 1) are strictly limited by any conditions applied by a schedule for the purposes of operating on a given DACC Network.

1.    Conditions – Dimension

An eligible vehicle must not exceed the dimension conditions set out in a schedule under which it is operating.

1.    Disapplication of Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation

1.       Pursuant to section 39(5) of the MDL Regulation, under this notice the conditions in Schedule 8 of the MDL Regulation relating to class 1 vehicles are disapplied.

1.       An eligible vehicle must comply with any conditions applied to it by the LVOM including but not limited to those concerning:

1.       warning flags, signs and lights;
2.       carriage of large indivisible items;
3.        travel in convoy, at night or in adverse weather conditions; or
4.       requirements for pilots and escorts.

1.    Operation of Schedules

1.       An eligible vehicle must comply with all the conditions in the body of this notice and in a schedule relevant to a given DACC network in order to qualify for access to that network.

1.       Schedules contain conditions that:

1.       identify DACC networks, and state the areas and routes to which those networks apply;
2.       specify the eligible vehicles that may operate under that schedule, and on which DACC networks;
3.        specify any mass or dimension conditions that apply to an eligible vehicle operating under the schedule; and
4.       specify any other conditions relevant to access under the schedule.

1.    Authority – Authority to operate on stated areas and routes (DACC Networks)

1.       An eligible vehicle is authorised to operate on areas and routes stated in a DACC Network named in a schedule to this notice if it meets all of the conditions of this notice and that schedule.

1.       For the purposes of 119(2)(b) of the HVNL, a DACC Network is a stated area or route to which this notice applies.

1.       In this notice, an DACC Network means a map, list or database, presented either electronically or otherwise, that represents the stated areas and stated routes authorised under this notice.

1.       Pursuant to section 119(1)(b) of the HVNL, an eligible vehicle operating on an area or route specified in this notice must comply with any of the following conditions prescribed for that area or route:

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.

Schedule 1: Protected Mobility Vehicle (PMV) vehicles (any variant, without trailer)

1.        Application

1.       This schedule applies to an eligible vehicle that is one of the following types as defined in the LVOM:

1.       any variant of the PMV type vehicle, with or without trailers.

1.        Condition – Stated routes and areas (DACC Network)

Pursuant to the authorisation granted in section 10 of this notice, an eligible vehicle may operate on in the areas and on the routes specified in the following network:

PMV DACC Network

1.        Conditions – Mass (total vehicle mass)

1.       An eligible vehicle must not exceed the following total vehicle masses:

1.       without trailer – 15.0t

1.        Conditions – Tyre section width, and axle group mass limits

An axle on an eligible vehicle described in column 1 of Table 1 must comply with the tyre width and maximum axle group mass limits specified in columns 2 and 3 respectively.

Table 1: Tyre section width and axle group mass limits

1.        Conditions – Mass limits relating to axle spacing generally

Pursuant to the exemption in section 8(1)(d) of this notice, an eligible vehicle has no conditional mass limits relating to axle spacing generally.

Note: The purpose of this section to make clear that eligible vehicles are exempt from the axle spacing masses applied in section 5 of the MDL Regulation even though no replacement conditional masses are set. The effect is that eligible vehicles do not have to comply with the mass limits set in tables 2, 3 or 4 of Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the MDL Regulation. An eligible vehicle must still comply with all other mass conditions set in this schedule and in the specifications provided in the LVOM.

1.        Conditions – Dimensions

1.       An eligible vehicle must not exceed the dimension limits prescribed in this section.

1.       The conditional dimensions specified in this section are pursuant to the exemption provided in section 9 of the notice.

1.       For a parameter listed in column 1 of Table 2, an eligible vehicle must not exceed the value listed in column 2.

Table 2: Maximum dimensions

Schedule 2: 40M vehicles (any variant, with or without trailer)

1.        Application

1.       This schedule applies to an eligible vehicle that is one of the following types as defined in the LVOM:

1.       any variant of the 40M type vehicle, with or without trailers.

1.        Condition – Stated routes and areas (DACC Network)

Pursuant to the authorisation granted in section 10 of this notice, an eligible vehicle may operate on in the areas and on the routes specified in the following network:

40M DACC Network

1.        Conditions – Mass (total vehicle mass)

1.       An eligible vehicle must not exceed the following total vehicle masses:

1.       without trailer – 21.0t
2.       with trailer – 33.0t

1.        Conditions – Tyre section width, axle group spacing and mass limits

An axle on an eligible vehicle described in column 1 of Table 1 must comply with the tyre width, and maximum axle group mass limits specified in columns 2, and 3 respectively.

Table 1: Tyre section width, axle group spacing and axle group mass limits

1.        Conditions – Mass limits relating to axle spacing generally

Pursuant to the exemption in section 8(1)(d) of this notice, an eligible vehicle has no conditional mass limits relating to axle spacing generally.

Note: The purpose of this section to make clear that eligible vehicles are exempt from the axle spacing masses applied in section 5 of the MDL Regulation even though no replacement conditional masses are set. The effect is that eligible vehicles do not have to comply with the mass limits set in tables 2, 3 or 4 of Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the MDL Regulation. An eligible vehicle must still comply with all other mass conditions set in this schedule and in the specifications provided in the LVOM.

1.        Conditions – Dimensions

1.       An eligible vehicle must not exceed the dimension limits prescribed in this section.

1.       The conditional dimensions specified in this section are pursuant to the exemption provided in section 9 of the notice.

1.       For a parameter listed in column 1 of Table 2, an eligible vehicle must not exceed the value listed in column 2.

Table 2: Maximum dimensions

Schedule 3: HX77 vehicles (any variant, with or without trailer)

1.        Application

1.       This schedule applies to an eligible vehicle that is one of the following types as defined in the LVOM:

1.       any variant of the HX77 type vehicle, with or without trailers.

1.        Condition – Stated routes and areas (DACC Network)

1.       Pursuant to the authorisation granted in section 10 of this notice, an eligible vehicle may operate on in the areas and on the routes specified in this section.

1.       An eligible vehicle operating in all participating jurisdictions, excluding New South Wales, may access the following network:

HX77 DACC Network

1.       An eligible vehicle operating in New South Wales may access the following networks:

1.       an eligible vehicle without a trailer attached:

HX77 without Trailer DACC Network

1.       an eligible vehicle with a trailer attached:

HX77 with Trailer DACC Network

1.        Conditions – Mass (total vehicle mass)

1.       An eligible vehicle must not exceed the following total vehicle masses:

1.       without trailer – 37.5t
2.       with trailer – 66.0t

1.        Conditions – Tyre section width, axle group spacing and mass limits

An axle on an eligible vehicle described in column 1 of Table 1 must comply with the tyre width, and maximum axle group mass limits specified in columns 2, and 3 respectively.

Table 1: Tyre section width, axle group spacing and axle group mass limits

1.        Conditions – Mass limits relating to axle spacing generally

Pursuant to the exemption in section 8(1)(d) of this notice, an eligible vehicle has no conditional mass limits relating to axle spacing generally.

Note: The purpose of this section to make clear that eligible vehicles are exempt from the axle spacing masses applied in section 5 of the MDL Regulation even though no replacement conditional masses are set. The effect is that eligible vehicles do not have to comply with the mass limits set in tables 2, 3 or 4 of Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the MDL Regulation. An eligible vehicle must still comply with all other mass conditions set in this schedule and in the specifications provided in the LVOM.

1.        Conditions – Dimensions

1.       An eligible vehicle must not exceed the dimension limits prescribed in this section.

1.       The conditional dimensions specified in this section are pursuant to the exemption provided in section 9 of the notice.

1.       For a parameter listed in column 1 of Table 2, an eligible vehicle must not exceed the value listed in column 2.

Table 2: Maximum dimensions

Schedule 4: 42M vehicles (any variant, without trailer)

1.        Application

1.       This schedule applies to an eligible vehicle that is one of the following types as defined in the LVOM:

1.       any variant of the 42M type vehicle, with or without trailers.

1.        Condition – Stated routes and areas (DACC Network)

Pursuant to the authorisation granted in section 10 of this notice, an eligible vehicle may operate on in the areas and on the routes specified in the following network:

42M DACC Network

1.        Conditions – Mass (total vehicle mass)

1.       An eligible vehicle must not exceed the following total vehicle masses:

1.       without trailer – 27.3t

1.        Conditions – Tyre section width, and axle group mass limits

An axle on an eligible vehicle described in column 1 of Table 1 must comply with the tyre width and maximum axle group mass limits specified in columns 2 and 3 respectively.

Table 1: Tyre section width and axle group mass limits

1.        Conditions – Mass limits relating to axle spacing generally

Pursuant to the exemption in section 8(1)(d) of this notice, an eligible vehicle has no conditional mass limits relating to axle spacing generally.

Note: The purpose of this section to make clear that eligible vehicles are exempt from the axle spacing masses applied in section 5 of the MDL Regulation even though no replacement conditional masses are set. The effect is that eligible vehicles do not have to comply with the mass limits set in tables 2, 3 or 4 of Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the MDL Regulation. An eligible vehicle must still comply with all other mass conditions set in this schedule and in the specifications provided in the LVOM.

1.        Conditions – Dimensions

1.       An eligible vehicle must not exceed the dimension limits prescribed in this section.

1.       The conditional dimensions specified in this section are pursuant to the exemption provided in section 9 of the notice.

1.       For a parameter listed in column 1 of Table 2, an eligible vehicle must not exceed the value listed in column 2.

Table 2: Maximum dimensions