National Class 3 Euro VI Vehicle (wide-spaced twinsteer) Mass Exemption Notice Operator's Guide

The National Class 3 Euro VI Vehicle (wide-spaced twinsteer) Mass Exemption Notice 2025 (No.1) grants access to general access heavy vehicles fitted with a twinsteer axle group where the axle group:

complies with the requirements for a EuroVI vehicle (twinsteer); and
the distance between the two steerable axles on the twinsteer group is no more than 2.5 metres.

Note: The Notice bridges the existing regulations to amendments to the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) scheduled to be effective in July 2026. Once the HVNL is effective, this Notice will be revoked as it will no longer be required. 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.

Specifications
Gazette Notice:	C2025G00553
Starts:	3 October 2025
Expires:	2 October 2026
Vehicle types:	Class 3, twinsteer heavy vehicle
Exemptions:	Twinsteer axle group interaxle dimension
Law:	HVNL, MDL
Coverage:	QLD, TAS, VIC
To be carried:	No

Overview

To address the impacts of noxious emissions from heavy vehicles, the Australian Government recently introduced a new emissions standard for new heavy vehicles by amending the Australian Design Rule (ADR) 80/04, which aligns with the European Euro VI (reduced emissions) standard.

This has resulted in heavier ADR 80/04 heavy vehicles than equivalent ADR 80/03 (Euro V) and earlier models. The increased mass is due to the additional advanced emission equipment required.

The Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL Regulation) has been amended to reflect this increase in mass limits for ADR 80/04 heavy vehicles.

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

Explain how the National Class 3 Euro VI Vehicle (wide-spaced twinsteer) Mass Exemption Notice 2025 (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 grants road access to general access vehicles fitted with a Euro VI wide space twinsteer. It applies the relevant mass limits for a vehicle per the MDL Regulation.

These vehicles have as-of-right access to the network unless otherwise signposted.

The Notice does not apply to Performance Based Standards (PBS) vehicles.

Exemptions

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

The Notice only provides an exemption to the requirement of twinsteer axles where the steerable axles must not be longer than 2 metres.

This Notice allows this distance to be up to 2.5 metres.

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.
HVNL	Heavy Vehicle National Law.
MDL	Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation.
The Notice	National Class 3 Euro VI Vehicle (wide-spaced twinsteer) Mass Exemption Notice 2025 (No.1)
VS Regulation	Heavy Vehicle (Vehicle Standards) National Regulation.
Wide-spaced twinsteer axle group	Means an arrangement of two steerable axles on a Euro VI vehicle (twinsteer): where each axle has single tyres; and is fitted to a motor vehicle; and is connected to the same steering mechanism; and where the horizontal distance between the centrelines of each axle is greater than 2.0m but not more than 2.5m; and means a heavy motor vehicle with a twinsteer axle group that— has an engine complying with the requirements about emission control contained in ADR 80/04 or a later version of ADR 80; and has a load-sharing suspension system for the axle group; and has appropriately rated tyres, axles and suspension to permit 11.5t on the axle group; and is fitted with tyres with section widths of at least 275mm; but does not include— a bus; or a heavy motor vehicle forming part of a road train.

Eligible vehicles

To be eligible to operate under the Notice, approved vehicles or combinations must comply with all requirements of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation (MDL).

Note: The eligible vehicles listed in Table 1 are indicative of those that can operate under the Notice, and not an exhaustive list.

**Table 1:** Eligible vehicle examples
Eligible vehicle	Eligible vehicle image
Rigid trucks up to 12.5m in length
Truck towing a trailer up to 19m in length
A prime mover towing a trailer up to 19m in length

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

The distance between the steerable axles of the Euro VI (wide-spaced twinsteer) vehicle cannot be more than 2.5 metres.

Mass conditions - Click to expand

The Notice does not provide additional masses from what is currently specified in the MDL.

The current axle and combination masses are specified in the MDL regulations.

For a Euro VI vehicle (twinsteer) or a Euro VI vehicle (wide-spaced twinsteer), the mass is 11.5t.

Other conditions and additional information

Euro VI emission standards

Euro VI is the sixth and most stringent stage of the European Union's emission standards for heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks, buses, and coaches. It was introduced to significantly reduce harmful pollutants from diesel engines, particularly nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) and particulate matter (PM), which are major contributors to air pollution and health issues.

Impact and adoption

Euro VI has led to up to 99% reduction in certain pollutants compared to earlier standards.
Many countries outside Europe (e.g., Australia, Japan, the U.S.) have adopted similar standards.
Encouraging fleet renewal to Euro VI-compliant vehicles is seen as a key strategy to improve urban air quality and public health.

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 s142 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 local government authorities who have consented to use Euro VI (wide-spaced twinsteer) vehicles under the Notice.

Since the access requested is applicable to all suitable roads, access will be recorded by listing the names of participating jurisdictions.

Signposted mass limits restrict all vehicles to the limits imposed by the sign and are not overridden by mass exemptions in a notice.

Participating road managers

For road networks, see the National Network Map.

Australian Capital Territory

All public roads

New South Wales

State-controlled roads

Queensland

State-controlled roads
Brisbane City Council
Logan City Council
Somerset Regional Council
Sunshine Coast Council

South Australia

State-controlled roads
Campbelltown City Council
City of Charles Sturt
City of Mithcam
Town of Walkerville

Tasmania

State-controlled roads

Victoria

State-controlled roads
Bayside City Council

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 2 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 2:** Traffic advisory services
Jurisdiction	Website	Purpose
Australian Capital Territory	Road closures	View current and upcoming road closures across the Australian Capital Territory.
New South Wales	Live Traffic NSW	View live information about incidents and changes in New South Wales traffic conditions.
Queensland	QLD Traffic	View live information about incidents and changes in Queensland traffic conditions, including outback road conditions.
South Australia	Outback Road Warnings	Access the latest information about temporary closures, restrictions, and warnings for outback roads north and west of Port Augusta.
	Prescribed burns	Information about upcoming prescribed burns in South Australia that may disrupt travel.
	Traffic SA	View live information about incidents and changes in South Australia traffic conditions. Traffic SA is available as a mobile app. See Addinsight download details on the Traffic SA website.
Tasmania	Tasmanian Police Community Alerts	View Tasmania Police alerts for road closures due to emergencies or special events.
	TasALERT	View emergency warnings and incidents across Tasmania, including mapped road closures.
	Tasmanian Roadworks map	Access the latest information about planned roadworks and road closures across Tasmania, including a map of current roadworks.
Victoria	VicTraffic	View live information about incidents and changes in Victoria traffic conditions.
Victoria	Big Build	View live information about transport disruptions in Victoria.

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 National Class 3 Euro VI Vehicle (wide-spaced twinsteer) Mass Exemption Notice 2025 (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
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.
Victoria	Victoria Class 3 Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1) Allows twinsteer prime movers to operate at HML, but restricts twinsteer axle group mass to 10.5t.

Jurisdiction

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.

Victoria

Victoria Class 3 Twinsteer Prime Mover and Semitrailer Combination Mass Exemption Notice 2024 (No.1)

Allows twinsteer prime movers to operate at HML, but restricts twinsteer axle group mass to 10.5t.

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:

Australian Capital Territory: Transport Canberra and City Services - Heavy vehicle conditions and network
New South Wales: Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) - Heavy vehicles
Queensland: Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) - Heavy vehicles
South Australia: Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT) - Heavy vehicles
Tasmania: Department of State Growth (DSG) - Heavy vehicles
Victoria: Department of Transport and Planning - Heavy vehicle industry

Changes and updates

Date	Summary	Links to resources and communications
28 Oct 2025	Added in Network and Mapping > Participating road managers: Queensland - Brisbane City Council, Logan City Council, Somerset Regional Council, Sunshine Coast Council. South Australia - Campbelltown City Council, City of Charles Sturt, City of Mithcam, Town of Walkerville. Victoria - Bayside City Council.
15 Oct 2025	In Network and Mapping > Participating road managers, ACT roads added.
14 Oct 2025	In Network and Mapping > Participating road managers, New South Wales and South Australia state-controlled roads added.
9 Oct 2025	In Network and Mapping > Participating road managers, Queensland and Tasmania state-controlled roads added.
3 Oct 2025	National Class 3 Euro VI Vehicle (wide-spaced twinsteer) Mass Exemption Notice 2025 (No.1) commenced with network covering Victoria state-controlled roads.	C2025G00553

National Class 3 Euro VI Vehicle (wide-spaced twinsteer) Mass Exemption Notice Operator's Guide

National Class 3 Euro VI Vehicle (wide-spaced twinsteer) Mass Exemption Notice Operator's Guide

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