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Queensland Class 2 Performance Based Standards A-Double (Toowoomba to Port of Brisbane) Authorisation Notice Operator’s Guide
National
Heavy
Vehicle
Regulator
The Queensland Class 2 Performance Based Standards A-Double (Toowoomba to Port of Brisbane) Authorisation Notice 2023 (No.1) provides describes the requirements for operating a PBS A-double between Toowoomba to the Port of Brisbane in Queensland.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Gazette Notice: | C2023G01127 |
| Starts: | 9 October 2023 |
| Expires: | 8 October 2028 |
| Vehicle types: | Class 2, PBS, road train, A-double |
| Exemptions: |
Performance Base Standards (PBS) Network access |
| Law: | HVNL, MDL |
| Coverage: | QLD |
| To be carried: | Yes |
- Overview
- Definitions
- Eligible
Vehicles - Conditions
- Network and
Mapping - Related
Notices - Resources
- Changes and
Updates
Overview
The information in this Operator’s Guide is intended to do two things:
- Explain how the Queensland Class 2 Performance Based Standards A-Double (Toowoomba to Port of Brisbane) Authorisation Notice 2023 (No.1) (Notice) operates, to assist in complying with it. It is important to remember this Operator’s Guide is instructional only and it is the Notice that provides the exemption or authorisation. If there is a difference or misunderstanding between the Operator’s Guide and the Notice, the Notice has priority and must be followed. The only exceptions are the requirements or conditions set out in the ‘Network and Mapping’ section explained below.
- Provide additional information referred to in the network requirements of the Notice. This includes links to network maps and other information such as vehicle, travel and road conditions. Networks and their conditions published in the ‘Network and Mapping’ section of this Operator’s Guide are not general advice and must be treated as conditions of the Notice.
Please read the Notice and this Operator's Guide together. To download or print this guide, use the print or PDF buttons on the top right of this page
About this Notice
The purpose of this Notice is to authorise Performance Based Standards (PBS) A-doubles to access a special PBS network running from Toowoomba to Port of Brisbane up to a Gross Combination Mass (GCM) of 85.5 tonnes.
A vehicle operating under this Notice must not exceed the following total masses on the roads specified:
- for a vehicle operating on a Transport and Main Roads (TMR) road – 81.5t
- for a vehicle operating on a Brisbane City Council (BCC) road – 85.0t
- for a vehicle operating on a Port of Brisbane (PoB) road – 85.5t (travel on Lucinda Drive Bridge is not permitted).
Note: The masses in this section may restrict masses provided in a vehicle’s PBS approval. Regardless of the restrictions in this section, an eligible vehicle must always comply with masses in its approval, or the conditions in this Notice, whichever is the more restrictive.
Exemptions
These exemptions only apply to the extent to which conditions are granted.
This Notice only provides access to the networks specified under the tab Network and Mapping.
Travel outside the specified networks in this Notice will require operators to apply for a permit to the NHVR.
Application
The Notice applies to an A-double that is PBS Level 2 pursuant to the PBS Standards and Vehicle Assessment Rules - November 2022 (PDF, 3.2MB).
The Notice does not apply to a PBS vehicle that:
- is operating under an exemption from section 8 or section 9 of the General Regulation; or
- has as part of its vehicle approval, an ADR exemption permitting additional axle groups or split axle groups.
A heavy vehicle to which this section applies and that complies with the conditions of this Notice is an eligible vehicle.
Definitions
Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this Operator’s Guide have the same meanings as those defined in the HVNL and the Notice.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| A-double |
A combination consisting of a prime mover towing two semitrailers, with the first semitrailer being attached directly to the prime mover by a fifth wheel coupling, and the second trailer attached to the first by a converter dolly. |
| BCC road | A road for which Brisbane City Council (BCC) is the road manager. |
| Eligible PBS A-Double | An A-double that meets all the requirements stated in the Notice and PBS Vehicle Approval. |
| PBS Vehicle Approval (VA) | A current approval issued for a heavy vehicle by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) under section 23 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL). |
| PoB road | A road for which the Port of Brisbane (PoB) is the road manager. |
| TMR road | A road for which the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is the road manager. |
Eligible vehicles
An eligible vehicle under this Notice is a PBS A-double up to 30m in length that:
- Is subject to PBS VA and Certification.
- Complies with all the conditions of its PBS VA.
- Complies with all the conditions of this Notice.
An eligible vehicle must not exceed the following total masses on the roads specified:
- for a vehicle operating on a TMR road – 81.5t
- for a vehicle operating on a BCC road – 85.0t
- for a vehicle operating on a PoB road – 85.5t.
Conditions
Notices are subject to various conditions to ensure public safety, protect assets and prevent adverse impacts on the community, such as noise, emissions and traffic congestion. See the sections below for specific conditions related to this Notice.
PBS conditions - Click to expand
PBS conditions
A vehicle operating under this Notice must:
- Be subject to a PBS VA.
- Comply with all conditions of the PBS VA.
Dimension conditions - Click to expand
Length limit
An eligible combination’s overall length under this Notice must not exceed the lesser of:
- 30 metres.
- The maximum length as specified in its PBS Approval.
Axle spacings
An eligible vehicle operating under this Notice (other than on Port of Brisbane roads) must comply with the axle spacing requirements of at least one of the three reference vehicles described here for:
- axle spacings for A-double Category 1 vehicle
- axle spacings for A-double Category 2 vehicle
- axle spacings for A-double Category 3 vehicle.
Figure 1 labels each axle on an eligible A-double combination with a number. Tables 1 to 3 describe:
- Between which axles a measurement is to be made.
- The minimum and maximum distances between those axles.
Axle spacing measurements must be taken between the centres of each identified axle. A vehicle complies with this condition if all of the specified measurements fall within the allowable range of at least one of the three reference vehicles.
Figure 1: Axle spacing diagram
| Between axles | Axle pairs | |||||||||
| 1-3 | 2-6 | 4-8 | 7-11 | 1-6 | 2-8 | 4-11 | 1-8 | 2-11 | 1-11 | |
| minimum distance (m) | 4.25 | 9.17 | 7.35 | 9.41 | 12.47 | 14.53 | 16.05 | 17.90 | 22.66 | 26.26 |
| maximum distance (m) | 6.10 | 10.22 | 8.33 | 10.60 | 14.28 | 15.45 | 16.95 | 19.39 | 24.62 | 28.23 |
| Between axles | Axle pairs | |||||||||
| 1-3 | 2-6 | 4-8 | 7-11 | 1-6 | 2-8 | 4-11 | 1-8 | 2-11 | 1-11 | |
| minimum distance (m) | 4.94 | 8.97 | 8.04 | 9.52 | 12.74 | 14.44 | 16.27 | 18.12 | 22.64 | 26.26 |
| maximum distance (m) | 6.66 | 9.12 | 8.16 | 9.63 | 14.39 | 14.54 | 16.40 | 19.78 | 22.77 | 28.02 |
| Between axles | Axle pairs | |||||||||
| 1-3 | 2-6 | 4-8 | 7-11 | 1-6 | 2-8 | 4-11 | 1-8 | 2-11 | 1-11 | |
| minimum distance (m) | 4.45 | 10.06 | 7.30 | 10.22 | 13.20 | 14.91 | 16.26 | 18.05 | 24.00 | 27.14 |
| maximum distance (m) | 4.57 | 10.22 | 7.30 | 10.34 | 13.41 | 15.08 | 16.38 | 18.26 | 24.15 | 27.35 |
Mass conditions - Click to expand
Comply with PBS Approval mass conditions
An eligible vehicle under this Notice must comply with all mass conditions of its PBS Approval.
Mass limits for types of axle groups
An eligible vehicle must not exceed the following total masses on the roads specified:
- for a vehicle operating on a TMR road – 81.5t
- for a vehicle operating on a BCC road – 85.0t
- for a vehicle operating on a PoB road – 85.5t.
Note: The masses in this section may restrict masses provided in a vehicle’s PBS approval. Regardless of the restrictions in this section, an eligible vehicle must always comply with masses in its approval, or the conditions in this Notice, whichever is the more restrictive.
Other conditions and additional information
An eligible vehicle must comply with the manufacturer’s ratings for any of the components of the A-double combination and mass stated in the PBS VA for the A-double combination.
Intelligent access conditions
Vehicles operating under this Notice must participate in the intelligent access applications schemes as specified in Table 4.
|
For vehicles enrolled with the relevant intelligent transport scheme: |
Required intelligent access applications |
|---|---|
|
From 1 December 2022 onwards |
Telematics Monitoring Application (TMA); and Smart On-Board Mass Monitoring |
|
Before 1 December 2022 |
Intelligent Access Program (IAP); and Interim On-Board Mass Monitoring |
Details of the intelligent access applications in Table 4, conditions of participation and how to enrol are described on the Transport Certification Australia website. A vehicle complies with the intelligent access conditions of this Notice if it complies with the conditions of the relevant Transport Certification Australia scheme.
Note: From 1 June 2024, all vehicles will be required to comply with the intelligent access applications currently only required for those enrolled since 1 December 2022. This means that the option to participate in IAP and interim On-Board Mass monitoring (for vehicles that first enrolled 1 December 2022) will be removed.
Speed conditions
An eligible vehicle operating under this Notice must not exceed 90km/h.
Third party approvals
Gazette notices, permits and some jurisdictional laws may require third parties and other entities to provide permission for a vehicle to travel if it exceeds certain mass or dimension limits.
Operators must secure all approvals from third parties such as electricity/utility companies, rail authorities and other third parties as part of their heavy vehicle operations.
For more information, visit the Third party approvals page.
Warning signs
Eligible combinations longer than 22m but not longer than 30m must display a long vehicle warning sign at the vehicle's rear (as shown in Figure 3).
Eligible combinations longer than 30m must display a road train warning sign at the front and rear of the combination (as shown in Figure 4).
Warning sign requirements are described in the NHVR's Vehicle Standards Guide (VSG-19).
 |
 |
Loading requirements
A load on a heavy vehicle must:
- not be placed in a way that makes the vehicle unstable or unsafe
- be secured so it is unlikely to fall or be dislodged
- be restrained using an appropriate restraint method
- be placed, secured or restrained in a way that meets the loading performance standards listed in Schedule 7 of the MDL.
Visit the NHVR loading page for more information on load requirements.
Complying with the HVNL
Unless otherwise exempted by the Notice or this Operator's Guide, operators must ensure their vehicle or combination complies with ADRs, HVNL, MDL and VS Regulation.
Using or permitting another person to use a defective heavy vehicle or a heavy vehicle with unapproved modifications on a road may be an offence.
Failure to comply may result in the driver and/or operator being liable for an offence. Penalties can include infringement notices or prosecution.
Chain of Responsibility (CoR)
Under the HVNL, every party in the Chain of Responsibility (CoR) has a positive duty to ensure the safety of their activities in relation to a heavy vehicle. This duty, known as the “primary duty”, applies to the scheduling, loading and consigning of a vehicle, as well as to its operation on a road.
Safety is broader than the safety of drivers and other road users. It also includes protection of road infrastructure, preventing damage to other vehicles or property, and minimising environmental harm. Substantial penalties may be imposed upon parties who breach this obligation and upon their executives.
For more information on your CoR obligations visit Chain of Responsibility on the NHVR website.
Our Regulatory Advice offers guidance, tips and tools for managing a range of heavy vehicle safety risks.
The requirement to carry documents
Drivers must carry the PBS Vehicle Approval relevant to the vehicle that is being driven.
Network and mapping
For the purposes of s142 of the HVNL, an area or route specified in the 'Network & Mapping' section of this Operator's Guide is a stated area or route to which this Notice applies. In addition to complying with the conditions stated in this Operator's Guide, operators must ensure compliance with the specific road manager access requirements set out below or in network maps.
Approved routes covered by the Notice
The following routes are approved for travel for vehicles eligible under this Notice.
Approved routes covered by the Notice - Click to expand
|
Road manager |
Route |
Condition |
|---|---|---|
|
Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads - (TMR) |
The following state-controlled roads:
|
Access to these roads is based on their use as a contiguous route for eligible vehicles travelling to or from the Port of Brisbane. Eligible vehicles under this Notice are required to travel across the Bremer River Bridge westbound in the left lane only, observing reduced speed restrictions. Port Drive - as managed by TMR. |
|
Port of Brisbane - (PoB) |
The following roads and streets at Port of Brisbane:
|
These are all Port of Brisbane roads for the purposes of this Notice. Port Drive - as managed by PoB. Lucinda Drive - Travel on Lucinda Drive Bridge is not permitted. |
|
Brisbane City Council - (BCC) |
|
Barku Court - Access approved from Anton Road to southern boundary of Lot 2 on SP277667 (near Corner Barku Court and Akuna Court, Hemmant). Lindum Road - Access approved from Ingham Place to eastern boundary of Lot 100 on RP861982 (or 158 Lindum Road, Lytton). Lytton Road - Access approved from Pritchard Street to South Street. Pritchard Street - Access approved from Export Street to Industry Place. South Street - Access approved from Lytton Road to eastern boundary of Lot 503 on SL7031 (or 37 South Street, Lytton). |
|
Toowoomba Regional Council |
|
Related notices
In this tab, you will find a list of state and territory notices related to the Queensland Class 2 Performance Based Standards A-Double (Toowoomba to Port of Brisbane) Authorisation Notice 2023 (No.1).
A related notice may be comparable with this Notice or provide alternatives for operators to find the appropriate notice under which to operate.
Related national notices
Resources
Note: If you have any feedback on the information provided please contact us at info@nhvr.gov.au.
Operators can refer to the Performance Base Standards web page. This page provides information on the engineering tests, computer simulations, and process required to obtain a PBS Vehicle Approval.
- For questions about PBS Design Approvals, contact our engineering team at pbsdesigns@nhvr.gov.au
- For questions about PBS Vehicle Approvals, contact our operations team at pbs@nhvr.gov.au
- For questions about access and permits to operate your PBS vehicle on the road, contact us.
Changes and updates
| Date | Summary | Links to resources and communications |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Feb 2024 | Adams Lane, Southbrook added to Approved routes covered by the Notice. | |
| 9 Oct 2023 | Queensland Class 2 Performance Based Standards A-Double (Toowoomba to Port of Brisbane) Authorisation Notice 2023 (No.1) commenced. | C2023G01127 |
www.nhvr.gov.au
E info@nhvr.gov.au
P 13 NHVR (136 487)
PO Box 492, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006