Oversize loads of baled agricultural commodities - RTA - NSW ...

Oversize loads of baled
agricultural commodities
FACT SHEET
Transportation of baled hay and straw, wool and cotton.
In NSW vehicles carrying loads of baled hay, straw, wool and cotton may exceed the statutory width limit of 2.5
metres to a maximum of 2.7 metres. This initiative was introduced to facilitate the transportation of these loads
by allowing for some irregularity in the size of the bales, which tend to expand once loaded onto a vehicle and
also during travel. The exemption was developed in close consultation with the Australian fodder, wool, cotton
and farming industries.
This fact sheet sets out the operating conditions for vehicles transporting these types of loads to help drivers
and operators comply with requirements which are in place to ensure the safety of all road users. It is
important to note that the exemptions only apply to the width and height of the load, and except where
provided by the exemption, the vehicle must comply with all other requirements under road transport
legislation.
What type of loads
The Class 3 Baled Agricultural Commodities Load
Exemption Notice 2012 applies to vehicles
transporting baled wool, hay and straw. It also
applies to rectangular bales of cotton that have
been baled at a cotton gin. It does not apply to
round cotton bales and modules.
This Notice is available on the Roads and Maritime
Services website.
What type of vehicles
The Notice only applies to vehicles with a gross
vehicle mass or gross combination mass that
exceeds 4.5 tonnes.
Rigid vehicles, prime mover and semi-trailer and B-
doubles combinations may have a load width up to
2.7 metres.
Truck and dog trailer, truck and pig trailer and road
train combinations may have a load width up to 2.6
metres
AB and B-triples can also operate up to 2.6 metres
wide, however the vehicles can only operate in
NSW under a permit issued by Roads and Maritime
Services.
Current Permit holders will need to obtain an
updated permit from Roads and Maritime Services
in order to operate with a load width limit of 2.6
metres.
Maximum dimensions
The constructed width of the vehicle must not
exceed 2.5 metres.
The load may exceed 4.3 metres, but not more
than 4.6 metres in height. The maximum load width
is 2.7 metres wide.
The load on a truck and dog trailer, truck and pig,
road train, B-triple or AB-triple must not exceed 2.6
metres in width.
The load on the vehicle must not project more than
100mm from the outermost part of either side of the
vehicle.
The load on a vehicle or trailer must not be placed
in a way that makes the vehicle unstable or unsafe.
The load must be secured so that it is unlikely to
fall or be dislodged from the vehicle, and an
appropriate method to restrain the load to the
vehicle must be used.
The recommended performance standards are set
out in Load Restraint Guide: Guidelines and
Roads and Maritime Services of New South Wales
This information is intended as a guide only and is subject to change at any time without notice. It does not replace
relevant legislation.
T 1300 364 847 then press 0 | E roadfreight@rms.nsw.gov.au
www.rms.nsw.gov.au | 13 22 13
June 2012
RMS 12.163

performance standards for the safe carriage of
loads on road vehicles, Second Edition, as
published by the National Transport Commission in
April 2004.
Travel conditions
Vehicles with a load width up to 2.6 metres may
continue to operate on the networks that they
currently operate on.
A vehicle with a load exceeding 4.3 metres, but not
more than 4.6 metres in height must only operate
on an approved 4.6 metre high route as set out in
the current 4.6 metre High Vehicle Notice.
A B-double exceeding 19 metres in length may only
operate on an approved route as set out in the
Class 2 B-double Notice 2010.
A road train may only operate on an approved
route as set out in the Class 2 Road Train Notice
2010.
B-triples or AB-triples may only operate on an
approved route as set out in their respective permit.
Truck and dog and truck and pig trailer
combinations are only permitted to operate:
• Outside the NSW Urban Zone; and
• Only when travelling directly between the
location where the agricultural commodity is
produced and where it is stored, and any
other location incidental to the production of
the agricultural commodity.
Loads exceeding 2.6 metres
in width
A vehicle with a load that exceeds 2.6 metres up to
2.7 metres in width may only be operated on the
roads and areas that have been approved.
Any applicable travel restriction that applies to a
prescribed route, area or Limited Access Location
must be observed.
These approved areas and roads, travel restrictions
and Limited Access Locations are set out in
Appendix 1 of each Notice.
Warning devices
Vehicles with loads exceeding 2.6 metres must
observe the warning device requirements of the
Road Transport (Mass, Loading and Access)
Regulation 2005 which is set out in full of Appendix
2 of each Notice. These include:
• A warning sign must be affixed to the front
and the rear of the vehicle.
• The warning sign must comply with the
requirements set out in Part 7, Schedule 2
of the Road Transport (Mass, Loading and
Access) Regulation.
• Delineators must be attached where the
load projects on the side of the vehicle.
• One delineator must be attached to the front
of the lead trailer and another must be
affixed to the rear of the last trailer on the
side of the projection.
• Where the load projects on both sides there
must be at least four delineators – one on
each side at the front of the lead trailer and
one on each side of the rear most trailer.
• When operating between sunset and
sunrise a warning light must be attached to
the top of the cabin of the vehicle or
combination.
• The warning light must only be switched on
when the vehicle or combination is travelling
or where the vehicle is in a stationary
location that may cause danger to other
road users.
• The vehicle must have its low-beam
headlights on while travelling in the daytime.
• The vehicle must maintain a following
distance of at least 200 metres from an
oversized vehicle or a combination
travelling in front, unless it is:
o overtaking, or
o travelling in a separate lane
available for overtaking, or
o travelling in an urban area where it
is not reasonable or practicable to
maintain a distance of 200 metres.
Documents
A copy of the Class 3 Baled Agricultural
Commodities Load Exemption Notice 2012
(excluding the appendicies) must be carried in
the vehicle.
Where a vehicle is operating under a permit, a
copy of the permit must be carried in the
vehicle. The notice or applicable permit must be
produced upon a request made by an
authorised officer or police officer.
Failing to carry the relevant documentation is a
breach of the exemption and fines will apply.
In accordance with the Road Transport (Mass,
Loading and Access) Regulations 2005, all
Notices are published in the NSW Government
Gazette.
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