Victoria Class 3 Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice Operator’s Guide

The Victoria Class 3 Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) provides specified eligible Class 3 heavy vehicles with exemptions from stated mass requirements under Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL).

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

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

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Specifications
Gazette Notice:	C2024G00636
Starts:	11 November 2024
Expires:	10 November 2029
Vehicle types:	Class 3, twinsteer prime mover towing a semitrailer
Exemptions:	Mass requirements (axle mass limits, axle spacing mass limits, axle group mass limits, general combination mass, single vehicle mass)
Law:	HVNL, MDL
Coverage:	VIC
To be carried:	No

Overview

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

Explain how the Victoria Class 3 Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass 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 the Notice

The Notice assists operators with twinsteer prime movers connected to a single semitrailer that has tandem or tri-axle groups with exemptions to prescribed mass limits in the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL), provided they comply with the conditions of the Notice.

Exemptions

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

Mass requirements

This Notice exempts a relevant combination from the following general mass limits specified in Schedule 1 of the MDL:

section 2 – Mass limits for a single vehicle or combination
section 4 – Mass limits for a single axle group
section 5 – Mass limits relating to axle spacing generally.

Note: Any additional or conditional mass allowed under the Notice may not exceed manufacturer mass limits pursuant to section 8 of the MDL.

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
ADR	Australian Design Rules.
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.
Gross combination mass (GCM)	The total maximum loaded mass of the motor vehicle and any vehicles it may lawfully tow at any given time as specified by the registration authority or as stated by the motor vehicle’s manufacturer.
HVNL	Heavy Vehicle National Law.
Mass Management Module of the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS)	The Mass Management Module is one of three accreditation modules under the NHVAS. Operators accredited in the Mass Management module can access additional mass concessions. These concessions allow vehicles to operate at Concessional Mass Limits (CML) for general access to the road network.
MDL	Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation.
Prescribed mass requirement	A mass requirement prescribed by the MDL.
Road friendly suspension	A suspension system certified as a road friendly suspension system by the Vehicle Safety Standards Branch of the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure and Transport in accordance with the Vehicle Standards Bulletin Number 11 (revised edition) published in July 2004.
Tandem axle group	A group of at least 2 axles, in which the horizontal distance between the centre-lines of the outermost axles is at least 1m but not more than 2m.
Tri-axle group	A group of at least 3 axles, in which the horizontal distance between the centre-lines of the outermost axles is more than 2m but not more than 3.2m.
Twinsteer axle group	A group of 2 axles: with single tyres; and fitted to a motor vehicle; and connected to the same steering mechanism; and the horizontal distance between the centre-lines of which is at least 1m but not more than 2m.
VS Regulation	Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation.

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, except where specifically exempted by the Notice.

**Table 1:** Eligible vehicles
Vehicle description	Image of eligible vehicle
Prime mover constructed with twinsteer axle group with single tyres (two tyres per axle) and tandem axle group with dual tyres (four tyres per axle) fitted with a certified road-friendly suspension system connected to one semitrailer that has a tandem axle group with single tyres on one axle and dual tyres on the other axle
Prime mover constructed with twinsteer axle group with single tyres (two tyres per axle) and tandem axle group with dual tyres (four tyres per axle) fitted with a certified road-friendly suspension system connected to one semitrailer that has tandem axle group with dual tyres
Prime mover constructed with twinsteer axle group with single tyres (two tyres per axle) and tandem axle group with dual tyres (four tyres per axle) fitted with a certified road-friendly suspension system connected to one semitrailer that has a tri-axle group with dual tyres

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 the Notice.

Mass conditions - Click to expand

Mass limits

The gross combination mass (GCM) of an eligible vehicle operating under the Notice must not exceed 49.5t.

Axle group mass limits

The mass of an axle group on an eligible vehicle must not exceed the mass limits specified in Table 2.

The operators of a heavy vehicle fitted with a tri-axle group must hold mass management accreditation.

**Table 2:** Axle group mass limits
Axle group	Mass limit (t)
Twin-steer axle group with load-sharing suspension 10.5 tonnes	10.5
Tandem axle group with 6 tyres and certified road-friendly suspension system	14.0
Tandem axle group with 8 tyres and certified road-friendly suspension system	17.0
Tri-axle group with dual tyres and certified road-friendly suspension system	22.5

Axle spacing mass limits

An eligible vehicle must not exceed the mass limits in 'Column 2' of Table 3 in relation to the axle spacing distances set out in 'Column 1'.

**Table 3:** Axle spacing mass limits
Column 1		Column 2
Distance (m)		Mass limit (t)
Exceeding	Not exceeding	Mass limit (t)
0	3.7	23.0
3.7	3.8	23.5
3.8	4.0	24.0
4.0	4.2	24.5
4.2	4.3	25.0
4.3	4.5	25.5
4.5	4.7	26.0
4.7	4.8	26.5
4.8	5.0	27.0
5.2	5.2	27.5
5.2	5.3	28.0
5.3	5.5	28.5
5.5	5.7	29.0
5.7	5.8	29.5
5.8	6.0	30.0
6.0	6.2	30.5
6.2	6.3	31.0
6.3	6.5	31.5
6.5	6.7	32.0
6.7	6.8	32.5
6.8	7.0	33.0
7.0	7.2	33.5
7.2	7.3	34.0
7.3	7.5	34.5
7.5	7.7	35.0
7.8	8.0	36.0
8.0	8.2	36.5
8.2	8.3	37.0
8.3	8.5	37.5
8.5	8.7	38.0
8.7	8.8	38.5
8.8	9.0	39.0
9.0	9.2	39.5
9.2	9.3	40.0
9.3	9.5	40.5
9.5	9.7	41.0
9.7	9.8	41.5
9.8	10.0	42.0
10.0	10.2	42.5
10.2	10.3	43.0
10.3	10.5	43.5
10.5	10.7	44.0
10.7	10.8	44.5
10..8	11.0	45.0
11.0	11.2	45.5
11.2	11.3	46.0
11.3	-	46.5

Increased axle spacing mass limits

The mass limits for the axle spacing distances and the corresponding mass limits set out in Table 3 can increased by the amounts shown in Table 4 for the specified axle groups.

**Table 4:** Increased axle spacing mass limits
Axle group	Additional mass (t)
For each tandem axle group with 8 tyres and a certified road-friendly suspension system within that distance	0.5
For each tandem axle group with 6 tyres and a certified road-friendly suspension system within that distance	1.0
For each tri-axle group with 12 tyres and a certified road-friendly suspension system within that distance	2.5

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 the Notice.

Approved routes covered by the Notice - Click to expand

Eligible vehicles operating under the Notice are approved for travel on Victoria’s Higher Mass Limits (HML) Network.

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.

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 5 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 5:** Traffic advisory services
Jurisdiction	Website	Purpose
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 Victoria Class 3 Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass 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 state and territory notices

Jurisdiction	Notice
ACT	Australian Capital Territory Higher Mass Limits Declaration 2021 (No.1) Authorises eligible heavy vehicles to operate on Higher Mass Limits (HML) on stated areas and routes in the Australian Capital Territory.
New South Wales	New South Wales Higher Mass Limits Declaration 2020 (No.1) Authorises the use of certain categories of heavy vehicles under higher mass limits on stated areas and routes and states the intelligent access conditions under which these heavy vehicles may be used. Please note the following supporting document for this Notice: New South Wales Higher Mass Limits Declaration 2025 - Information Sheet (PDF, 312KB)
Queensland	Queensland Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Additional Concessional Mass Limits Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) Exempts a stated category of Class 3 heavy vehicles from specified prescribed mass requirements in the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation to permit such vehicles additional mass under the concessional mass limits. Queensland Higher Mass Limits Declaration 2024 (No.1) Authorises heavy vehicles eligible to use Higher Mass Limits (HML) on stated areas and routes, during stated hours of stated days and to state the conditions under which they may be used.
South Australia	South Australian Class 3 Road Friendly Suspension Mass Exemption Notice 2023 (No.1) Exempts certain heavy vehicles and combinations fitted with certified Road Friendly Suspension from mass requirements set out in the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation, allowing operation at masses that are equivalent to Higher Mass Limits under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL). This Notice replaces the South Australia Class 3 (Application of Higher Mass Limits) Mass Exemption Notice.
Tasmania	Tasmania Class 3 Twin Steer Prime Mover Semitrailer Mass Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) Exempts heavy vehicles consisting of a specified twin steer prime mover and semitrailer combination from stated prescribed mass requirements in Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation. Tasmania Higher Mass Limits Declaration 2021 (No.1) Authorises the use of certain categories of heavy vehicles under higher mass limits on stated areas and routes in Tasmania.
Victoria	Victoria Class 3 Road Friendly Suspension Mass Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) Exempts certain heavy vehicles fitted with certified road friendly suspension from mass requirements set out in the Heavy Vehicle (Mass Dimension and Loading) National Regulation.

Resources

All information about the Notice is contained in this Operator’s Guide. Please refer to the tabs for more information about the Notice, 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:

Victoria: Department of Transport and Planning - Heavy vehicle industry

Changes and updates

Date	Summary	Links to resources and communications
11 November 2024	Victoria Class 3 Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) commenced. No substantive changes to eligible vehicles, conditions or access. Notice drafting style updated to align with current drafting practice.	C2024G00636
12 November 2019	Victoria Class 3 Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1) commenced. Provided specified eligible vehicles with exemptions from mass requirements under Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation.	C2019G1008
12 November 2016	Victoria Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice 2016 (No.1) commenced. This Notice replaced the Victoria Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice 2015 (No. 1).	C2016G01461
12 November 2015	Victoria Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice 2015 (No.1) commenced. This Notice replaces the Victoria Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice 2014 (No. 2).	C2015G01823
12 November 2014	Victoria Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice 2014 (No. 2) commenced. This Notice corrects a minor drafting error in the previous version (No. 1), and replaces the Victorian Government Gazette Notice number S 333 - Class 3 Notice for Twin-steer Prime Mover Combinations in the same terms.	C2014G01855
10 November 2014	Victoria Class 3 Heavy Vehicle Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice 2014 (No. 1) commenced. This Notice replaces the Victorian Government Gazette Notice number S 333 - Class 3 Notice for Twin-steer Prime Mover Combinations.	C2014G01844