New South Wales Class 3 Livestock Transportation Exemption Notice Operator’s Guide

The New South Wales Class 3 Livestock Transportation Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) grants exemptions from mass requirements under the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL) for Class 3 heavy vehicle combinations used for the transportation of livestock.

Compliance with the New South Wales Livestock Loading Scheme is a condition of this Notice. The New South Wales Livestock Loading Scheme is published and maintained by Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW), in conjunction with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).

Note: The Notice provides an exemption from certain heavy vehicle mass limits outlined in the MDL for Class 3 vehicles operating in New South Wales.

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.

image is an example of an eligible B-double combination, used for carrying cattle, pigs, sheep or goats

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Specifications
Gazette Notice:	C2024G00071
Starts:	10 February 2024
Expires:	9 February 2029
Vehicle types:	Class 3, single articulated vehicles, prime mover towing a semitrailer combination, B-double, road train, B-triple, AB-triple
Exemptions:	Mass requirements (steer axle mass limits, axle mass limits, axle spacing mass limits, axle group mass limits)
Law:	HVNL, MDL
Coverage:	NSW
To be carried:	No

Overview

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

Explain how the New South Wales Class 3 Livestock Transportation Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) (the 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 assists with a Class 3 heavy vehicle that is an eligible vehicle and is used for the transportation of livestock that complies with the New South Wales Livestock Loading Scheme.

Exemptions

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

Mass requirements

The Notice exempts eligible vehicles from the following mass requirements specified in Schedule 1 of the MDL:

section 2(1)(a)(iv) - Complying steer axles for vehicles that are not B-doubles or road trains.
section 2(1)(b) - Axle Mass limits referencing Table 1, Part 2.
section 4 - Mass limits for a single axle or axle group.
section 5 - Mass limits in relating to axle spacing generally.

Additional or conditional mass allowed under this Notice must not exceed manufacturer mass limits as outlined in section 8 of the MDL.

These exemptions only apply to a mass requirement where a conditional mass for a specified parameter has been provided in this Notice.

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

Definitions

The following are terms used in this Notice or conditions of operation. Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this Notice have the same meaning as defined in the HVNL.

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.
Combined loading space	The sum of the loading spaces of each vehicle that is part of an eligible combination.
Eligible combination	A heavy vehicle combination that is eligible to operate under this Notice as specified in section 8 of the Notice.
General access	Access to all roads in New South Wales, subject to road rules and the HVNL and restricted by the 'Specified road manager network requirements' in the Guide.
Loading space	The dimension measured from the inside of the front wall or door to the inside of the rear wall or door of a semitrailer, with intervening partitions being disregarded.
Prescribed mass requirement	A mass requirement prescribed by the MDL.
Scheme	The New South Wales Livestock Loading Scheme, published and maintained by TfNSW.
Self Declaration Input Device (SDID)	A device that allows the transport operator (or person acting on behalf of the operator, including the driver) to enter the total mass of the vehicle or combination and any other required information.

Eligible vehicles

To be eligible to operate under the Notice, approved combinations must comply with the conditions of the Notice and all other requirements of the MDL.

An eligible vehicle must be one of the below combinations and be used to transport livestock:

A single articulated vehicle consisting of a prime mover and a semitrailer, that has a loading space available for the carriage of animals, and the loading space does not exceed 12.5 metres.
A B-double that has an overall length not exceeding 19.0 metres, that has a combined loading space available for the carriage of animals, and the combined loading space does not exceed 15.0 metres.
A B-double that has an overall length not exceeding 26.0 metres, that has a combined loading space available for the carriage of animals, and the combined loading space does not exceed 18.8 metres.
A road train that has an overall length not exceeding 36.5 metres, with a minimum distance between the centres of the outermost axles of a road train of at least 26.5m metres, a combined loading space available for the carriage of animals, and the combined loading space does not exceed 25.0 metres.
A B-triple that consists of a prime mover and three semitrailers, that has a combined loading space available for the carriage of animals, and the combined loading space does not exceed 28.2 metres.
An AB-triple that consists of a prime mover and semitrailer combination connected by a converter dolly to two semitrailers which are connected by a fifth wheel coupling, that has a combined loading space available for the carriage of animals, and the combined loading space does not exceed 28.2 metres.

**Table 1:** Eligible vehicle combinations
Eligible vehicle combination	Maximum loading length for the carriage of animals (m)	Maximum overall length (m)
Prime mover and a semitrailer with a dual-axle group	12.5	19.0
Prime mover towing a semitrailer with a tri-axle group	12.5	19.0
A B-double combination with tandem axle groups only	15.0	19.0
A B-double combination with tandem axle groups only	18.8	26.0
Road train	25.0	36.5
B-triple	28.2	36.5
AB-triple with dual-axle converter dolly	28.2	36.5
AB-triple with tri-axle converter dolly	28.2	36.5

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

The total length of an eligible vehicle must not exceed the limits as shown in Table 1. An eligible vehicle is permitted to operate under this Notice when it is transporting livestock.

Transportation of livestock only

An eligible vehicle combination must be used for the transportation of livestock to be defined as an eligible vehicle under the Notice. The load must be entirely composed of livestock. No other type of load may be transported.

Mass conditions - Click to expand

Mass limits

Total combination mass

The total mass of an eligible vehicle must not exceed the lowest of the following:

the sum of the axle and axle group mass limits in Table 2, or
the Gross Combination Mass (GCM) limit specified by the prime mover manufacturer, or
the sum of the Gross Vehicle Masses (GVMs) for the prime mover and the trailer or trailers it is towing.

Axle mass limits

An eligible vehicle must not exceed the following axle mass limits listed in Table 2:

steer axle - 6.0t
dual-drive tandem axle group - 17.0t
tri-axle group on semitrailer - 22.5t.

**Table 2:** Axle mass limits
Axle group	Axle/tyres			Certified Road Friendly Suspension (RFS)	Mass limit (t)
Steer axle	Single tyres			N/A	6.0
Tandem axle group (non-steer)	Single tyres on all axles	Single tyres on one axle and dual tyres on the other axle	Dual tyres on all axles	Not fitted with RFS	16.5
Tandem axle group (non-steer)	Single tyres on all axles		Dual tyres on all axles	Fitted with RFS	17.0
Tri-axle group	Single tyres on all axles	Combination of single and dual tyres	Dual tyres on all axles	Tri-axle group not fitted with RFS (converter dollies only)	16.5
				Tri-axle group not fitted RFS	20.0
				Tri-axle group fitted with RFS	22.5
A floating tri-axle group on a semitrailer may exceed the limits in this table by 0.5 tonne. The total mass of the combination must not exceed the manufacturer specification. Single tyres must have a section width of at least 375mm.

Certified Road Friendly Suspension (RFS) comparison

Table 3 shows an example of the application of the axle and axle group limits on an AB-triple with a tri-axle converter dolly without RFS and the same combination with RFS.

**Table 3:** RFS comparison
Eligible vehicle	Steer axle mass limits (t)	Dual-drive axle mass limits (t)	Tri-axle group (semitrailer) mass limits (t)	Tri-axle (dolly ‘A’ coupling) mass limits (t)	Tri-axle ‘B’ coupling (t)	Tri-axle semitrailer last trailer (t)	Total mass (t)
AB-triple with tri-axle converter dolly	6.0	16.5	20.0	16.5	20.0	20.0	99.0
AB-triple with tri-axle converter dolly with RFS	6.0	17.0	22.5	16.5	22.5	22.0	129.5

General conditions - Click to expand

Livestock loading scheme conditions

It is a requirement to operate under this Notice to be enrolled in the New South Wales Livestock Loading Scheme.

An eligible combination must comply with all requirements in the scheme including:

eligible livestock; or
deck requirements; or
driver accreditation; or
registration; or
interstate mutual recognition requirements; or
conditions relating to routes and networks under 'Network and mapping' section of this Guide.

Vehicle requirements

Eligible vehicles must meet the requirements listed in Table 4.

The table is divided by:

combination,
axle and axle group,
Certified Road Friendly Suspension (RFS) and
tyres.

**Table 4:** Vehicle requirements
Prime mover	Semitrailer(s)	B-double	Road train	B-triple	AB-triple	Tyres
Tandem axle drive group	Tandem axle or tri-axle group	Tandem axle or tri-axle group and must not exceed 19.0m in length	Tandem axle or tri-axle on the converter dolly	RFS fitted and in working order on all axle groups	Tandem axle or tri-axle on the converter dolly and RFS fitted and in working order on all axle groups	Single tyres minimum with 375mm or dual tyres or a combination of both on all axle groups

Other conditions and additional information

Assessing routes

Before an eligible vehicle is driven along any route, its driver and operator must be satisfied that the route has been assessed and that the vehicle can be driven along it without:

disrupting telecommunication, electricity, rail, gas, water or sewage services; or
damaging a road (including a bridge), structure, rail crossing or tree.

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

To meet the loading requirements, the heavy vehicle must be loaded:

in a way that load placement does not make the heavy vehicle unsafe or unstable
in a way that the load is not likely to fall or be dislodged from the vehicle
using an appropriate system to restrain the load.

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.

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 1).

Eligible combinations longer than 30m must display a road train warning sign at the front and rear of the combination (as shown in Figure 2).

Warning sign requirements are described in the NHVR's Vehicle Standards Guide (VSG-19).

*Figure 1: Example of a long vehicle sign*

*Figure 2: Example of a road train sign*

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

The following routes are approved for travel for vehicles eligible under this Notice.

Approved routes covered by the Notice - Click to expand

**Table 5:** Available networks
Eligible vehicle	Approved network or route
Single articulated vehicle up to 19.0m in length	New South Wales Livestock Loading Scheme Single Articulated Combination Network
B-double up to 19.0m in length	New South Wales Livestock Loading Scheme 19m B-double Network
B-doubles up to 23.0 metres in length	New South Wales Livestock Loading Scheme 23m B-double Network
B-doubles up to 26.0 metres in length	New South Wales Livestock Loading Scheme 26m B-double Network
Type 1 A-double road trains up to 36.5 metres in length	New South Wales Livestock Loading Scheme Type 1 A-double Network
B-triple road trains up to 36.5 metres in length	New South Wales Livestock Loading Scheme B-triple Network
AB-triple road trains up to 36.5 metres in length	New South Wales Livestock Loading Scheme AB-triple Network
Eligible vehicles must comply with the road and travel conditions set out in the network they are accessing. Links to these conditions can be found in the New South Wales Livestock Loading Scheme Business Rules. An eligible vehicle enrolled in the Road Infrastructure Management (RIM) approved Intelligent Transport System (ITS) and accessing the above networks may also access the New South Wales Farm Gate Network. Eligible vehicles may be required to be enrolled in an approved ITS.

Specified road manager network requirements

The following section outlines specific road manager route 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.

New South Wales network conditions - Click to expand

Intelligent Access Program conditions

B-triples and AB-triples may only operate under the notice in New South Wales if they are enrolled in the following intelligent access system as covered in chapter 7 of the HVNL:

Telematics Monitoring Application (TMA) with Transport Certification Australia (TCA); or
Intelligent Access Program (IAP).

B-triples and AB-triples must also comply with IAP when operating at HML, the operator must comply with all of the conditions set out in section 10 of New South Wales Higher Mass Limits Declaration 2020 (No.1):

the vehicle configuration;
the number of axles in the configuration; and
the total mass of the vehicle or combination, including the mass of the hauling unit, any attached trailers, and any load on board the vehicle or combination.

This information must be declared at the following times:

at the start of the journey;
whenever there is a change in the vehicle configuration;
whenever there is a change in the total mass of the vehicle or combination, including the mass of the hauling unit and any attached trailers, plus any load on board the vehicle or combination; and
whenever prompted by the Self Declaration Input Device (SDID), if a SDID is available in the vehicle.

Mass declaration requirements must be made through:

the SDID in the vehicle that is certified by TCA and linked to the IAP service provider; or
an alternative method approved and certified by TCA.

Eligible vehicles operating on the New South Wales Farm Gate Network must be enrolled in Road Infrastructure Management (RIM)

Non-participating road managers

Under the Notice, the following road managers are non-participating road managers for all vehicles and combinations.

Access to state roads on the approved nominated networks in non-participating council areas is allowed, subject to Notice and network conditions.

Operators can apply for access to local roads in non-participating council areas by submitting a permit application through the NHVR Portal.

Non-participating road managers - Click to expand

N/A

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 6 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 6:** 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.

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 Class 3 Livestock Transportation 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.

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.

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) Exempts the stated categories of Class 3 heavy vehicles transporting livestock from the mass limit for a tri-axle group with single tyres with section widths of at least 375mm, or dual tyres, in Table 1 (Axle mass limits table) of Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation, subject to certain conditions.
New South Wales and Victoria	New South Wales and Victoria Class 3 Long Livestock Semitrailer Deck Length Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) Exempts semitrailers used to carry livestock from the limit on the deck length available for the carriage of animals stated in section 4(6) of Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation.
Queensland	Queensland Class 2 Rockhampton Road Train Authorisation Notice 2024 (No.1) Authorises access for Class 2 heavy vehicles that are Type 1 road trains transporting cattle to Rockhampton abattoirs. Queensland Class 3 Livestock Loading Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) 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. Queensland Class 3 Rockhampton Road Train Mass Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) Grants exemptions from mass requirements for Class 3 heavy vehicles that are Type 1 road trains operating under the Queensland Livestock Loading Scheme transporting cattle to abattoirs in Rockhampton. Please note the following supporting document for this Notice: Clarification of Queensland Livestock Loading Scheme Conditions (PDF, 173KB)
South Australia	South Australia Class 3 Livestock Transportation Exemption Notice 2023 (No.1) Exempts the use of Class 3 combinations from stated mass limits in Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation and allows for a specific length exemption for specific 27.5m B-Doubles carrying livestock on a specific route. Please note supporting information for this Notice can be found on the SA Government - Transport of livestock webpage.
Tasmania	Tasmania Class 3 Livestock Transportation Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) Provides mass and dimension exemptions that support the Tasmanian Livestock Loading Scheme. This Notice is intended to work with the Tasmanian Livestock Loading Scheme, and compliance with the scheme is a condition of this Notice. Please note the following supporting documents for this notice: Livestock Loading Scheme Info Bulletin (PDF, 222KB) Please note the contact details in the info bulletin are out of date and the following details should be used: Network Access Team State Roads Division of Department of State Growth GPO Box 536, Hobart TAS 7001 Phone: (03) 6166 3258 Email: hvaccess@stategrowth.tas.gov.au
Victoria	Victoria Class 3 Livestock Carrier Mass Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) Exempts livestock carriers from certain mass requirements.

Resources

All information about this Notice 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

Changes and updates

Date	Summary	Links to resources and communications
10 February 2024	New South Wales Class 3 Livestock Transportation Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) commenced.	C2024G00071
26 February 2021	New South Wales Class 3 Livestock Transportation Exemption Notice 2021 (No.3) revoked and replaced New South Wales Class 3 Livestock Transportation Exemption Notice 2021 (No.2)	C2021G00165
26 February 2021	New South Wales Class 3 Livestock Transportation Exemption Notice 2021 (No.2) revoked and replaced New South Wales Class 3 Livestock Transportation Exemption Notice 2020 (No.1)	C2021G00136
8 October 2020	New South Wales Class 3 Livestock Transportation Exemption Notice 2020 (No.1)	C2020G00819