The transport of livestock as defined under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) may be undertaken using a range of heavy vehicles in South Australia. The following outlines the applicable vehicle combinations, exemptions issued under the HVNL and mass limits that apply.
Note: all notice exemptions listed below can are located on the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator's (NHVR) notices and permit based scheme website.
Transport at General Mass Limits (GML)
The transport of livestock at General Mass Limits is available to the following vehicle combinations using the exemptions below:
| Vehicle Combination | Applicable Exemption(s) |
|---|---|
| Prime mover and semi-trailer | National Class 2 4.6 m High Livestock Carrier Authorisation Notice |
| B-Double |
National Class 2 B-Double Authorisation Notice National Class 2 4.6 m High Livestock Carrier Authorisation Notice |
| Road Train |
National Class 2 Road Train Authorisation Notice National Class 2 4.6 m High Livestock Carrier Authorisation Notice |
| AB-Triple | Permit issued by the NHVR |
Transport at Higher Mass Limits (HML)
The transport of livestock at Higher Mass Limits is available to the following vehicle combinations using the exemption below:
| Vehicle Combination | Applicable Exemption |
|---|---|
| Road Train | Permit issued by the NHVR |
| AB-Triple | Permit issued by the NHVR |
Transport at Increased Mass (Volumetric Loading)
Volumetric (or Livestock) loading provides an additional mass exemption to allow livestock to be loaded volumetrically to increase productivity for transport operators and reduce the impacts on animals being transported.
Volumetric loading is only available to prime mover and semi-trailer combinations and B-Doubles under the South Australia Class 3 Articulated Motor Vehicle and B-Double Livestock Loading Mass Exemption Notice (SA Class 3 Livestock Loading Notice).
Note: Volumetric loading is not applicable to road trains including B-triples.
Minimum requirements for prime movers
The prime mover must comply with the minimum rated capacity as follows:
| Tonne (t) | |
|---|---|
| Steer Axle | 6.0 |
| Tandem axle group (dual drive) | 17.3 |
| Gross Vehicle Mass - Prime mover | 23.3 |
| Gross Combination Mass - Prime mover towing single semi-trailer | 48.3 |
| Gross Combination Mass - Prime mover used in a B-double combination | 73.3 |
Eligibility to operate
Eligible vehicles must abide by the South Australia Class 3 Articulated Motor Vehicle and B-Double Livestock Loading Mass Exemption Notice in all matters, including jurisdictional requirements.
Approved areas or routes
The South Australia Class 3 Articulated Motor Vehicle and B-Double Livestock Loading Mass Exemption Notice provides travel on the following roads:
- Articulated motor vehicles may use all roads in South Australia, except as limited by the Information Bulletin - Areas or routes of operation - Livestock Loading Mass Exemption (315.1 KB PDF).
- B-Doubles must use the 26m B-Double (GML) network as published on RAVnet excluding:
- B-double commodity routes
- any routes in the Adelaide Hills Area
- any routes restricted by the Information Bulletin - Areas or routes of operation - Livestock Loading Mass Exemption (315.1 KB PDF).
Note: B-doubles up to 27.5m long are provided route-specific access to transport livestock between Western Australia and Dublin, north of Adelaide as per the SA Class 3 Livestock Loading Notice.
Animal welfare
During the transport of livestock, operators and drivers must ensure they meet the loading density requirements as detailed in the Animal Welfare Regulations 2012.
Recognition of other livestock loading schemes
Vehicles registered in another state or territory, and enrolled in the livestock loading scheme of that state or territory, are not required to be inspected in South Australia, however, they must comply with the South Australia Class 3 Livestock Loading Notice.
All vehicles must comply with the Livestock Loading scheme requirements in the jurisdiction of registration.
Labelling requirements
The requirement for RAVs to undergo an annual inspection, or to be in the Maintenance Module of the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme, was removed in 2020. This also removed the need for an inspection label.
You still need to ensure any vehicle you operate is roadworthy. Inspections are still required when a vehicle changes ownership.
This is consistent with the NHVR's National Notice harmonisation program, and is expected to create efficiencies for RAVs travelling across different states and territories.
More information on heavy vehicles is available at NHVR – National notices.
Long livestock trailers
Operators are able to apply for a Class 3 permit from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator to operate long livestock trailers in South Australia. Conditions of operation include:
- the semi-trailer may only be used in a combination consisting of a prime mover towing a semi-trailer
- the semi-trailer must not have more than two decks
- the semi-trailer must not carry cattle on more than one deck
- the deck length available for the carriage of livestock must not exceed the total length of the semi-trailer.
- the lower deck of the semi-trailer must be fully loaded before the upper deck is used.
A long livestock semi-trailer is a semi-trailer with a maximum length of 14.6 metres and a distance from the front articulation point to the rear of the semi-trailer that does not exceed 13.2 metres that is used for carrying livestock.
Related information
Documents
Contact National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
Online
Email - info@nhvr.gov.au
Web - www.nhvr.gov.au
Phone
Post
PO Box 492
Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
