New South Wales and Victoria Class 3 Long Livestock Semitrailer Deck Length Exemption Notice Operator’s Guide

The New South Wales and Victoria Class 3 Long Livestock Semitrailer Deck Length Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) grants exemptions to deck length limits for certain types of prime mover and semitrailer livestock transport combinations.

Please note: The Notice provides dimension and network access information to specific Class 3 livestock semitrailers operating in each New South Wales and Victoria.

This instrument does NOT exempt these vehicles from other requirements of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL),including, but not limited to, mass and other dimension requirements.

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Specifications
Gazette Notice:	C2024G00068
Starts:	10 February 2024
Expires:	9 February 2029
Vehicle types:	Class 3, prime mover and semitrailer combination
Exemptions:	Dimension requirements (general length, trailer length, deck length) Network access
Law:	HVNL, MDL
*Coverage:	NSW, VIC
To be carried:	No

*Specific state conditions are explained below.

Overview

The information in this Operator’s Guide is intended to do two things:

Explain how the New South Wales and Victoria Class 3 Long Livestock Semitrailer Deck Length Exemption Notice 2024 (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

This Notice allows semitrailers to be built with and loaded on deck lengths longer otherwise permitted under the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL). This exemption is conditional on trailers carrying livestock on a lesser number of decks than would otherwise be permitted.

Exemptions

These exemptions only apply to the extent to which conditions are granted.

Dimension requirements

Eligible vehicles operating under the Notice are exempt from the following dimension requirements in Schedule 6 of the MDL:

section 4(6) – Length of trailers used to carry cattle, horses, pigs or sheep.
section 4(10)(c) – Requirement to otherwise comply dimensionally.

Note: Other mass, dimension and loading limits in the MDL apply.

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
Class 3 heavy vehicle	A heavy vehicle is a Class 3 heavy vehicle if: it, together with its load, does not comply with a prescribed mass requirement or prescribed dimension requirement applying to it; and it is not a Class 1 heavy vehicle.
Rear overhang line	Rear overhang line has the meaning as defined in section 1, Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation and described in the National heavy vehicle general dimension requirements.

Term

Definition

Class 3 heavy vehicle

A heavy vehicle is a Class 3 heavy vehicle if:

it, together with its load, does not comply with a prescribed mass requirement or prescribed dimension requirement applying to it; and
it is not a Class 1 heavy vehicle.

Rear overhang line

Rear overhang line has the meaning as defined in section 1, Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation and described in the National heavy vehicle general dimension requirements.

Eligible vehicles

A vehicle is eligible to operate under this Notice if it is:

a prime mover and semitrailer combination, and
used for carrying cattle, pigs, sheep or goats.

a prime mover and semitrailer combination, used for carrying cattle, pigs, sheep or goats example — Figure 1: Prime mover and semitrailer combination

An unladen prime mover and semitrailer combination that is otherwise used for carrying cattle, pigs, sheep or goats may operate under this Notice. The Notice does not authorise the transport of livestock species other than those specified here.

To be eligible to operate under the Notice, a combination must comply with:

All applicable requirements of the MDL– except as exempted under this Notice (and described in this Operator’s Guide).
All applicable conditions of this Notice (as described in this Operator’s Guide).

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.

Dimension conditions - Click to expand

Length

Under this Notice, a semitrailer’s deck length must not exceed 14.6m. This is an exemption from an increase to the length otherwise allowed under the MDL of 12.5m

Except for the deck length, an eligible combination must comply with all dimension requirements of the MDL. This includes dimension limits for the semitrailer, as outlined below in Figure 2, which shows:

The part of the semitrailer (or anything attached to it, other than another vehicle) in front of the front articulation point (kingpin) must not protrude further than 1.9m from the front articulation point (R 1.9m).
The maximum length from the front articulation point (kingpin) to the rear of the semitrailer is 13.2m.
The distance from the front articulation point to the rear overhang line’s maximum length is 9.5m.
The maximum length of the semitrailer is 14.6m.

Image is of a prime mover and semitrailer combination, and the relevant dimension limits listed under the length conditions — Figure 2: Dimension limits for semitrailer

Height conditions

For an eligible vehicle operating in New South Wales (Figure 3):

The distance from the lowest deck of the semitrailer to the top of the semitrailer must not exceed 2.1m.
An eligible vehicle must not exceed 4.3m in height.

Image is of a prime mover and semitrailer combination, and the relevant height limits for New South Wales listed under the height conditions — Figure 3: New South Wales semitrailer

For an eligible vehicle operating in Victoria (Figure 4):

An eligible vehicle must not exceed 3.9m in height.

Image is of a prime mover and semitrailer combination, and the relevant height limits for Victoria listed under the height conditions — Figure 4: Victoria semitrailer

Mass conditions - Click to expand

Eligible vehicles under this Notice must comply with all mass requirements of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL). See General mass and dimension limits for more information.

This Notice does not grant mass limits exemptions (increases) that are available under some other HVNL livestock transport notices. Existing mass concessions are available on our website at Notices and permit-based schemes.

General conditions - Click to expand

Deck conditions

The semitrailer must not have more than two decks.
The semitrailer must not carry cattle on more than one deck.
The lower deck of the semitrailer must be fully loaded before the upper deck is used.

Axle group conditions (when operating in Victoria only, vehicle description represented in Figure 1):

The prime mover of an eligible vehicle must have three axles.
The semitrailer must have a tri-axle group.

Other conditions and additional information

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.

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 the Notice

Drivers do not need to carry a copy of the Notice.

Network and mapping

For the purposes of s121 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.

In this tab, you will find the approved routes authorised under the Notice. There may also be network conditions pursuant to the stated areas and routes under the Notice. Network conditions relate to road and travel conditions that are not contained within the Notice.

National Network Map

This Notice may refer to state or territory government websites for the publication of networks. From 20 December 2023, certain authorised heavy vehicle road network maps for the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Victoria are published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, through the NHVR National Network Map. Additional information and guidance can be found on the National Network Map webpage.

Approved routes covered by the Notice

Eligible vehicles complying with the conditions of the notice are authorised to operate on all roads in the participating jurisdictions - New South Wales and Victoria.

Specified road manager network requirements

The following section outlines specific road manager network requirements under the Notice, including route conditions and restrictions.

Road manager route requirements in this section may change from time to time and should be reviewed regularly to ensure compliance.

For further information on how to comply with a requirement, please contact the relevant road manager.

Road managers may publish specific route conditions and restrictions on the approved network map. These must be complied with in addition to any route requirements outlined in this Operator's Guide. If a condition listed in any section of this Operator's Guide conflicts with a route condition or restriction published on an approved network map, the more restrictive requirement applies.

Traffic advisory services - Click to expand

Prior to commencing any journey, operators should review traffic alerts, road closures, travel delays, and other traffic advisory information for participating jurisdictions.

Table 1 provides details and links to official traffic advisory services for each participating jurisdiction. For more information about a particular service, contact the relevant jurisdiction or department via the contact details listed on the service webpage.

**Table 1:** Traffic advisory services
Jurisdiction	Website	Purpose
New South Wales	Live Traffic NSW	View live information about incidents and changes in New South Wales traffic conditions.
Victoria	VicTraffic	View live information about incidents and changes in Victoria traffic conditions.

Applying for a permit - Click to expand

Access permit applications are required for heavy vehicles that don’t comply with the conditions set out in a notice and when accessing routes that aren’t covered on an approved network.

The following pages provide useful information and resources for submitting access permit applications:

Do I need a permit?: Information and resources for determining whether a road access permit, or a Notice is required to operate on Australian roads.
Access permit application process: Information, resources, and instructions for submitting a valid access permit application.

Related notices

In this tab, you will find a list of national, state and territory notices related to the New South Wales and Victoria Class 3 Long Livestock Semitrailer Deck Length Exemption Notice 2024 (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

Jurisdiction	Notice
National	National Class 2 Heavy Vehicle 4.6m High Livestock Carrier Authorisation Notice 2024 (No.1) Authorises the use of Livestock Carriers from 4.3 to 4.6 metres in height in stated areas or stated routes, during stated hours of stated days and to state the conditions under which these Livestock Carriers may be used. This Notice replaces the National Class 2 4.6m High Livestock Carrier Authorisation Notice 2022 (No.1).

Jurisdiction

Notice

National

National Class 2 Heavy Vehicle 4.6m High Livestock Carrier Authorisation Notice 2024 (No.1)

Authorises the use of Livestock Carriers from 4.3 to 4.6 metres in height in stated areas or stated routes, during stated hours of stated days and to state the conditions under which these Livestock Carriers may be used.

This Notice replaces the National Class 2 4.6m High Livestock Carrier Authorisation Notice 2022 (No.1).

Related state and territory notices

Jurisdiction	Notice
New South Wales	New South Wales Class 3 Livestock Tri-axle Group Mass Limit Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) New South Wales Class 3 Livestock Transportation Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1)
Victoria	Victoria Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Livestock Carrier Mass Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1)

Resources

All information about these Notices is contained in this Operator’s Guide. Please refer to the tabs for more information about these Notices, or contact us with your specific questions.

Note: If you have any feedback on the information provided please contact us at info@nhvr.gov.au

Participating jurisdiction heavy vehicle resources

For more information about operating a heavy vehicle in participating jurisdictions, refer to the following sites:

New South Wales: Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) - Heavy vehicles
Victoria: Department of Transport and Planning - Heavy vehicle industry

Changes and updates

Date	Summary	Links to resources and communications
10 February 2024	New South Wales and Victoria Class 3 Long Livestock Semitrailer Deck Length Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) commenced.	C2024G00068