Australian Capital Territory Class 3 4.6m High Vehicle Dimension Exemption Notice Operator’s Guide
Australian Capital Territory Class 3 4.6m High Vehicle Dimension Exemption Notice Operator’s Guide
National
Heavy
Vehicle
Regulator
The Australian Capital Territory Class 3 4.6m High Vehicle Dimension Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) provides height exemptions for heavy vehicles operating on specified networks in the Australian Capital Territory.
This Notice provides operators of semitrailers (used in a combination) to operate higher than 4.3m but no higher than 4.6m with greater flexibility. The purpose of this Notice is to exempt a stated category of Class 3 heavy vehicles from the height limit stated in section 8 of Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL).
Note: 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.


Specifications | |
---|---|
Gazette notices: | C2024G00154 |
Starts: | 13 March 2024 |
Expires: | 12 March 2029 |
Vehicle types: | Class 3, 4.6m high semitrailer in a combination, B-double |
Exemptions: |
Dimension requirements (height by construction) |
Law: | HVNL, MDL |
Coverage: | ACT |
To be carried: | No |
- 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 Australian Capital Territory Class 3 4.6m High Vehicle Dimension Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) (the Notice), to assist in complying with them. 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 will provide operators of semitrailers (used in a combination) to operate higher than 4.3m but no higher than 4.6m with greater flexibility.
Exemptions
These exemptions only apply to the extent to which conditions are granted.
Dimension requirements
An eligible vehicle operating under this Notice is exempt from the following dimension requirements of Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL):
- section 8 - Height.
Note: This Notice exempts semitrailers higher than 4.3m but no higher than 4.6m from height limits in the MDL. This Notice does NOT exempt these vehicles from other requirements of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), including mass and other dimension requirements.
Term | Definition |
---|---|
4.6m high loaded semitrailer |
|
4.6m high semitrailer |
|
B-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 semitrailer being mounted on the rear of the first semitrailer by a fifth wheel coupling on the first semitrailer. |
Network | Means a map, list or database, presented either electronically or otherwise, that represents the stated areas and stated routes authorised under this Notice. |
Prescribed dimension requirement | Means a dimension requirement prescribed by Schedule 6 of the MDL Regulation. |
Eligible vehicles
To be eligible to operate under the Notice, approved combinations must comply with all requirements of the MDL.
An eligible vehicle is a combination consisting of:
- a prime mover and a semitrailer with a height not greater than 4.6m; or
- a combination that is a B-double with a height not greater than 4.6m shown in Table 1.
Description | Image of eligible vehicle |
---|---|
Prime mover towing a semitrailer |
|
A B-double combination |
|
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
The total height of an eligible vehicle must not exceed 4.6m.
A B-double operating under this Notice that includes a 4.6m high semitrailer must comply with any relevant conditions set out in the National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice 2024 (No.1)
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
A third party is an entity with which consultation is required by either State or Commonwealth law, as a condition of operation or access.
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.
Complying with the HVNL
Unless otherwise exempted by the Notice or this Operator's Guide, operators must ensure their vehicle or combination complies with the:
- Australian Design Rules (ADRs); and,
- Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL); and,
- Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL); and,
- Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation (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.
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.
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.
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.
Specified road manager network requirements
The following section outlines specific road manager network requirements under the Notice, including route conditions, restrictions, and non-participating road managers.
Road manager network 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.
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
Under this Notice, eligible vehicles are approved to operate on the routes/networks outlined in Table 2.
A B-double operating under this Notice that includes a 4.6m high semitrailer must comply with any relevant conditions set out in the National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice 2024 (No.1)
Jurisdiction |
Eligible vehicle |
Approved route/network |
---|---|---|
ACT |
Prime mover and semitrailer |
May use the map and/or list of routes specified in the ACT Government - Approved roads for 4.6m high vehicles (PDF, 2.2MB) published by Transport Canberra & City Services. |
ACT |
B-double |
May only use a route that is approved under the prime mover and semitrailer ACT Government - Approved roads for 4.6m high vehicles (PDF, 2.2MB) and is also an approved B-double route as set out in the National Class 2 Heavy Vehicle B-double Authorisation Notice. This means the route must be approved for use by both 4.6m high semitrailers and B-doubles. |
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 3 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.
Jurisdiction |
Website |
Purpose |
---|---|---|
Australian Capital Territory | Road closures | View current and upcoming road closures across the Australian Capital Territory. |
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 Australian Capital Territory Class 3 4.6m High Vehicle Dimension 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 4.6m high and/or 25m Long Vehicle Carrier Authorisation Notice 2024 (No.1) Authorises the use of Vehicle Carriers from 4.3 to 4.6 metres in height, or from 19 to 25 metres in length, or both, in stated areas or on stated routes, during stated hours of stated days and states the conditions under which these Vehicle Carriers may be used. |
National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice 2024 (No.1) Authorises access for Class 2 heavy vehicles that are B-doubles. |
|
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. |
|
Exempts a stated category of Class 3 heavy vehicles from the height limit stated in section 8 of Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation. Please note the following supporting document for this Notice: |
|
National Class 3 Vehicle Carrier Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) Exempts the stated categories of Class 3 heavy vehicles from the stated dimension requirements of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation specified in the Notice, subject to specified conditions. |
Related state and territory notices
Jurisdiction | Notice |
---|---|
New South Wales and Queensland |
Exempts a stated category of Class 3 heavy vehicles from the height limit stated in section 8 of Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation. Please note the following supporting document for this Notice: |
New South Wales |
New South Wales Class 3 Platform Container Exemption Notice 2023 (No.1) Exempts Class 3 heavy vehicles that includes a semitrailer that is transporting loads on platform containers to and from port facilities from certain mass and dimension requirements under the Heavy Vehicle National Law under certain conditions. |
Queensland |
Enables eligible B-doubles and road trains to transport large indivisible items in Queensland without the need for a permit, subject to meeting the Notice conditions. |
Victoria |
Victoria Class 3 Prime Mover and Semi-Trailer (Transport of Containers) Exemption Notice 2023 (No.1) Grants exemptions from mass requirements for a Class 3 heavy vehicle that is a combination consisting of a 3-axle prime mover towing a 3-axle semi-trailer that is loaded with a freight container. |
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:
- Australian Capital Territory: Transport Canberra and City Services - Heavy vehicle conditions and network
Changes and updates
Date | Summary | Links to resources and communications |
---|---|---|
13 March 2024 | Australian Capital Territory Class 3 4.6m High Vehicle Dimension Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) commenced | C2024G00154 |
13 March 2020 | Australian Capital Territory Class 3 4.6m High Vehicle Dimension Exemption Notice 2020 (No.1) commenced. The publishing of this Notice replaced Australian Capital Territory Class 3 4.6m High Vehicle Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1). | C2020G00216 |
10 February 2019 | Australian Capital Territory Class 3 4.6m High Vehicle Dimension Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1) commenced. | C2019G00145 |
www.nhvr.gov.au
E info@nhvr.gov.au
P 13 NHVR (136 487)
PO Box 492, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006