Heavy Vehicle Legislation
Mass, Dimensions and Loading
On 3 March 2010 new legislation for heavy vehicles commenced in the ACT. The commencement of the Road Transport (Mass, Dimensions and Loading) Act 2009 (MDL Act) and the Road Transport (Mass, Dimensions and Loading) Regulation 2010 (MDL Regulation) replaced the Road Transport (Dimensions and Mass) Act 1990, which has been repealed.
The MDL Act incorporates the national model of heavy vehicle compliance and enforcement legislation. The new legislation gives effect to the chain of responsibility concept in the ACT, where any party, including off-road entities, who has control in a transport operation, can be held responsible for breaches of road transport laws.
The purpose of the MDL Act and MDL Regulation is to set out the conditions under which heavy vehicles and heavy vehicle combinations may travel safely and efficiently on the ACT road network, including through the issuing of exemption notices and permits to allow vehicles and combinations that exceed general mass and dimension limits access to the road network.
The following link will redirect you to the ACT Legislation Register where an up-to-date version of the MDL Act and MDL Regulation can be found. To view exemption notices, go to the Heavy Vehicle Exemption Notices Webpage.
Road Transport (Mass, Dimensions and Loading) Act 2009 ![[External Link]](http://www.tams.act.gov.au/__data/assets/image/0014/17150/externallinkimage.gif){kind=small}
Road Transport (Mass, Dimensions and Loading) Regulation 2010
Other ACT Road Transport Laws
Other road transport laws in the ACT have applicability to heavy vehicle operation in the ACT. This includes, but is not limited to, legislation on alcohol and drugs, driver licensing, vehicle registration and safety and traffic management. Operators and drivers are required to comply with all road transport laws in the ACT where applicable.
Dangerous goods legislation relevant to road transport also gives effect to the chain of responsibility concept in the ACT, and any party in a transport operation, including off-road entities, can be held liable for a breach of legislation. For more information, go to the Chain of Responsibility Webpage.
ACT Road Transport Laws - This link will redirect you to the ACT Legislation Register's listing of all Acts that begin with the letter "R", which includes all Road Transport legislation.
