The NHVR has revoked a notice that granted exemptions from prescribed mass requirements for Euro VI twin-steer vehicles and made provision for them to operate with a pair of steerable axles up to 2.5m apart.
The notice was introduced following changes to Australian Design Rule (ADR) 43/04 in October 2024 that increased the maximum twin-steer axle spacing for those vehicles from 2.0 to 2.5 metres.
At the time, that change created a conflict between the ADR and the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), under which the axle spacing remained limited to 2.0 metres.
The change was further exacerbated by delays to the HVNL review, which was only finalised with the updated law coming into force on August 1, 2026.
As an interim measure, HVIA called on the NHVR and National Transport Commission (NTC) to implement a national notice to allow the benefits of the ADR change to be realised and not hindered by the HVNL delays.
That advocacy work resulted in the creation of the National Class 3 Euro VI Vehicle (wide-spaced twin-steer) Mass Exemption Notice 2025 (No.1), which is available here. That notice granted exemptions from prescribed mass requirements for Euro VI twin-steer vehicles and made provision for them to operate with a pair of steerable axles up to 2.5m apart.
In its September 2026 newsletter, the NHVR advised that the recent HVNL changes have effectively made the notice defunct, and it has now been revoked, with an expiry date of October 2, 2026.
HVIA invites any members with interests in wide-spaced twin-steer vehicles, including any that operated under the notice, or under any generic or unique approval pathway, to contact HVIA if further information is required.