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.

Eligible vehicles

To be eligible to operate under the Notice, eligible vehicles must comply with the conditions of the Notice and all other requirements of the MDL, except where specifically exempted by the Notice.

The Notice applies to a Class 1 heavy vehicle operating in South Australia, as listed in Table 1. Note that the images are indicative only and not an exhaustive list. 

An eligible Class 1 vehicle is a :

• rigid truck; or
• rigid truck towing one trailer; or
• prime mover towing a semitrailer; or
• prime mover towing an extendable semitrailer.

A prime mover that forms part of an eligible vehicle must have a single steer axle and a dual-drive tandem axle group.

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. 

Dimension conditions - Click to expand

Width and length limits

An eligible combination must comply with the width and length limits described in Table 2.

Table 2: Maximum dimension limits

Eligible vehicle	Width (m)	Length (m)
Rigid truck	5.0	12.5
Rigid truck towing a trailer		19.0
Prime mover towing any semitrailer (that is not an extendable trailer)		26.0
Prime mover towing an extendable trailer		30.0

Dimension conditions

Smallest practicable dimensions 

An eligible vehicle must be loaded and operated to the smallest practicable dimension. For example, if a load is 3.2m wide, the trailer, semitrailer or extendable trailer must be configured to be not wider than required to safely transport the load. In this instance, not more than 3.2-3.3m wide opposed to 5.0m

Trailer width

A trailer must not be wider than 2.5m as constructed. 

Height limits

An eligible combination must not exceed a height shown in Table 3 while operating in the corresponding area. 

The areas referred to in Table 3 are displayed on the approved networks for the Notice, with the Country Zone referring to all areas not falling within the other areas.

Table 3: Maximum height limits

Area	Maximum height (m)*
Adelaide Metropolitan Zone	4.6
Adelaide Hills Zone	4.6
Country Zone	5.0
*Before operating an eligible vehicle over 4.6m high, operators must consult with SA Power Networks to ensure powerlines on the route will allow sufficient overhead clearance.

Deck height limits

The maximum height of an eligible vehicle's deck must not be more than 1.2m above the ground when transporting a load higher than 4.8m.

Rear overhang limits

An eligible combination must have a rear overhang length not exceeding the lesser of:

• 25% of the total combination length; or
• the applicable value of Table 4.

The rear overhang for eligible combinations is measured from the centre of the axle group to the rear of the vehicle/load, as shown in Figure 1

Table 4: Rear overhang limits

Combination length (including load)		Maximum rear overhang (m)
Over	Up to and including
-	25.0	5.5
25.0	26.0	6.4
26.0	27.0	6.7
27.0	28.0	7.0
28.0	29.0	7.3
29.0	30.0	7.6

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.

Prior to commencing a journey a driver or operator of an eligible vehicle must check for any information about updates and any restrictions or limitations applying to the proposed route. 

The driver or operator must, before commencing the relevant journey, identify any relevant road closures and road conditions or restrictions that may inhibit the movement of the eligible vehicle. 

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.

Before operating an eligible vehicle over 4.6m high, operators should consult with SA Power Networks to ensure powerlines on the route will allow sufficient overhead clearance.

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 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.

The requirement to carry the Notice

A copy of the Notice must be carried at all times by a driver of an eligible vehicle operating under the Notice and the driver must be able to produce it to an authorised officer or a police officer on request.

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 this Notice.

Approved routes covered by the Notice - Click to expand

A copy of this notice must be carried at all times by a driver of an eligible vehicle operating under this notice, and the driver must produce it upon request of an authorised officer or a police officer.

An eligible vehicle must comply with any relevant conditions in the Escorting Guidelines for Oversize and Overmass Vehicles and Loads in South Australia.

For SA Power Networks, consultation is required for vehicles operating over 4.6m high.

An eligible combination must comply with the conditions or restrictions of operating on an area of route stated in the Dimension Restrictions Map page of the South Australia Government’s website at www.sa.gov.au/heavyvehicles.

Locating the network

To view the network for the Notice, go to the Trial - Load Carrying Vehicle Networks map. Once you are on the main page of the map, go to the top-right side and select the folder icon. Once you have selected the folder or 'Layer lists', locate the 'Oversize combinations (up to 42.5t)' header and select the '5.0m Wide OS Combinations (Up to 42.5t)' network that coincides with Table 5. 

An eligible vehicle complying with the conditions of the Notice may operate on the networks specified in Table 5.

Table 5: Approved routes

Eligible vehicle	Approved route/network
Any eligible vehicle	5.0m Wide OS Combinations (Up to 42.5t)

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.

Related notices

In this tab, you will find a list of national, state and territory notices related to the South Australia Class 1 Load Carrying Vehicle Dimension Exemption Trial Notice 2025 (No.2). 

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

Related state and territory notices

Resources

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

• South Australia: Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) - Heavy vehicles

Changes and updates