Heavy Vehicle Exemption Notices

The Road Transport (Mass, Dimensions and Loading) Regulation 2010 (MDL Regulation) provides the Road Transport Authority (RTA) with the power to exempt specific class 1 or class 3 vehicles or combinations from a mass or dimension limit in the regulation or in the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2000 by issuing a notice.   The RTA may also declare areas or routes on which a vehicle or combination may travel on when operating under a class 1 or class 3 notice.

For class 2 vehicles and combinations the RTA has the power to declare areas or routes on which specific class 2 vehicles may operate.

Class 1 Restricted Access Vehicles - These vehicles exceed a dimension or mass limit under road transport laws and may only be given restricted access to the road network through an exemption notice or a permit.  For example:

• prime movers with semitrailers that are oversize or overmass;
• cranes and other special purpose vehicles;
• agricultural machines or implements;
• tractors and road-going earthmoving equipment; and
• vehicles designed to carry large indivisible items. 

Class 2 Restricted Access Vehicles - These vehicles comply with the dimension and mass limits in the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2000 and schedule 1 of the MDL Regulation.  However, they may only be given restricted access to the road network through an exemption notice or a permit.  For example:

• B-doubles;
• road trains;
• livestock carrying vehicles between 4.3 and 4.6 metres in height; and
• vehicle transporters not more than 4.6 metres in height.

Class 3 Restricted Access Vehicles - These vehicles may only be given restricted access to the road network.  Class 3 Restricted Access Vehicles (RAVs) are RAVs that are not Class 1 or Class 2.  These include:

• Class 2 RAVs that are oversize or overmass (eg 26 metre B-doubles);
• Class 2 RAVs that are concessionally loaded (eg vehicles operating under the Concessional Mass Limits Scheme); and
• Class 2 RAVs that do not meet the Australian Vehicle Standards Rules in terms of axle spacing.

General Access Vehicles - any vehicles that are not Restricted Access Vehicles.  For example, rigid trucks and most prime movers with semitrailers.  These vehicles qualify for general access to the road network and generally do not require any permits or exemptions from regulatory requirements.  The term 'General Access' does not mean access to all roads.  Some roads are too narrow or have sharp bends making them unsuitable for heavy vehicles and trailers.  Heavy vehicles and combinations must be operated in compliance with the Australian Road Rules.  In addition, some roads have bridges which may have a restricted mass limit.  Operators and drivers must ensure that they comply with all limits and restrictions relating to heavy vehicle operation in the ACT.

Notices issued by the RTA under the Road Transport (Mass, Dimensions and Loading) Regulation 2010 must be notified on the ACT Legislation Register.

This webpage also provides a link to an exemption notice relating to semitrailers under the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2000.

Exemption Notice Conditions and Restrictions

Conditions and additional restrictions may be applied to the operation of a vehicle or combination when travelling under a notice.  Any conditions stated in a notice must be complied with when travelling under a notice.

Additional restrictions may be contained in a notice relating to a specific area or a specific route.  Where applicable, these are outlined in the schedule of the notice where declared routes are identified.  These are mainly time of day restrictions where operation is not permitted, however for some routes they include restrictions relating to bridge crossings.  Further restrictions may apply in relation to access to specific sites.  Information on these restrictions are detailed in the exemption notice, where relevant.

Compliance with Exemption Notices

While the RTA does not require drivers to carry a copy of a notice in the compartment of their vehicle when operating under a notice, the driver and operator must always ensure that the vehicle or combination is being operated in accordance with the notice and in accordance with any conditions or restrictions that may apply.

Where a vehicle or combination operating under a notice is not in compliance with the provisions of that notice, the driver and/or operator will be committing an offence and may be subject to enforcement activity such as an infringement penalty or prosecution.

Accessing notices from this webpage

All notices made under the MDL Regulation are accessible from this webpage.  Each notice identified below contains a link to the ACT Legislation Register where authorised and up-to-date versions of these instruments are publicly available.  By clicking on the link at the notice below, you will be redirected to the webpage for the notice on the ACT Legislation Register.

Additional information relating to several of the notices is provided in the form of fact sheets and a link to the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme, where relevant.

National Mass Management Schemes

While the ACT recognises national mass management schemes, it does not provide accreditation for mass management under the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme.  Heavy vehicle operators wishing to take advantage of concessional or higher mass limit schemes in the ACT must obtain accreditation through other jurisdictions that provide accreditation.

Notices made under the Road Transport (Mass, Dimensions and Loading) Regulation 2010

Road Transport (Mass, Dimensions and Loading) Class 1 Single Steer Axle Mass Limit Exemption Notice 2010 (No 1)

A notice to increase the steer axle mass limit by 500kg for certain class 1 heavy vehicles and combinations.

Notifiable Instrument 2010 - 97

Road Transport (Mass, Dimensions and Loading) Class 3 Single Steer Axle Mass Limit Exemption Notice 2010 (No 1)

A notice to increase the steer axle mass limit by 500kg for certain class 3 heavy vehicles and combinations.

Notifiable Instrument 2010 - 96

Road Transport (Mass, Dimensions and Loading) Class 1 Oversize Vehicles Exemption Notice 2010 (No 1)

A notice to allow specified oversize vehicles and combinations to travel under certain conditions on specified routes.

Notifiable Instrument 2010 - 94

Road Transport (Mass, Dimensions and Loading) 4.6m High Vehicle Exemption Notice 2010 (No 1)

A notice to allow specified over-height vehicles and combinations to travel under certain conditions on specified routes.

Notifiable Instrument 2010 - 95

Road Transport (Mass, Dimensions and Loading) General B-Double Exemption Notice 2010 (No 1)

A notice to allow B-double combinations to travel under certain conditions on specified routes.

Notifiable Instrument 2010 - 102

Road Transport (Mass, Dimensions and Loading) 26 metre B-Double Exemption Notice 2010 (No 1)

A notice to allow 26m B-double combinations to travel under certain conditions on specified routes.

Notifiable Instrument 2010 - 101

Road Transport (Mass, Dimensions and Loading) 14.5m Long Bus Exemption Notice 2010 (No 1)

A notice to allow specified oversize vehicles and combinations to travel under certain conditions on specified routes.

Notifiable Instrument 2010 - 100

Notices where vehicle or driver accreditation may be required under the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme

Road Transport (Mass, Dimensions and Loading) Concessional Mass Limits (CML) Exemption Notice 2010 (No 1)

A notice to allow specified vehicles to travel under certain conditions.

Notifiable Instrument 2010 - 99

Fact Sheet - CML ( Word 111Kb)

Road Transport (Mass, Dimensions and Loading) Higher Mass Limits (HML) Exemption Notice 2011 (No 1)

A notice to allow eligible vehicles to travel under certain conditions.

Notifiable Instrument 2011 - 418
 
Fact Sheet - HML ( Word 107Kb)

National Transport Commission - National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme

Other notices relating to heavy vehicles and combinations

Semitrailer Exemption Notice made under the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2000.

A notice to permit the registration of refrigerated semitrailers up to 14.9 metres in length and semitrailers up to 14.63 metres in length. 

• Semitrailer Exemption Notice 2004 ( Word 157Kb)
  

Other information

Measurement Adjustments (MA's) 

A Fact Sheet providing information on national arrangements for weighing heavy vehicles.

Fact Sheet - Measurement Adjustments ( Word 124Kb)