South Australian Consolidated Regulations South Australian Consolidated RegulationsSchedule 2—Mass and loading requirements for light vehicles
1—Mass limit for a single light vehicle
(1) The mass of any
load on a vehicle must not exceed a maximum specified by the vehicle's
manufacturer.
(2) The total mass of
a vehicle and any load must not exceed a maximum specified by the vehicle's
manufacturer.
2—Mass of vehicle towed by light vehicle
The loaded mass of a vehicle towed by another vehicle must not exceed—
(a) the
capacity of the towing apparatus of the towing vehicle; or
(b) a
mass specified by the manufacturer of the towing vehicle as the maximum mass
of a vehicle that may be towed by the towing vehicle; or
(c) if a
mass is not specified by the manufacturer of the towing vehicle as referred to
in paragraph (b) and the towed vehicle is fitted with brakes that may be
operated by the driver of the towing vehicle—one and a half times the
unloaded mass of the towing vehicle; or
(d) if a
mass is not specified by the manufacturer of the towing vehicle as referred to
in paragraph (b) and the towed vehicle is not fitted with brakes that may
be operated by the driver of the towing vehicle—the unloaded mass of the
towing vehicle.
3—Application of Parts 2 and 3 of Schedule 1
Parts 2 and 3 of Schedule 1 also apply to light vehicles.
In these regulations—
ADR (Australian Design Rule) means a national standard under the
Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 of the Commonwealth, as in force from
time to time;
approved air suspension system , in relation to a vehicle, means a suspension
system in which:
(a)
vertical movement between each axle and the body of the vehicle is controlled
by variations in the pressure of air in an air spring; and
(b) the
proportion of the vehicle's mass that is borne by the air spring remains
substantially constant despite variations in the pressure of air in the air
spring;
axle means one or more shafts positioned in a line across a vehicle, on which
one or more wheels intended to support the vehicle turn;
axle group means a single axle group, tandem axle group, twinsteer axle group,
tri-axle group or quad-axle group;
B-double means a combination consisting of a prime mover towing 2
semi-trailers where the first semi-trailer is connected to the prime mover by
a fifth wheel coupling and the second semi-trailer is connected to the first
semi-trailer by a fifth wheel coupling;
Typical B-double
centre of an axle group means:
(a) a
line located midway between the centre-lines of the outermost axles of the
group; or
(b) if
the group consists of 2 axles, one of which is fitted with twice the number of
tyres as the other axle—a line located one third of the way from the
centre-line of the axle with more tyres towards the centre-line of the axle
with fewer tyres;
Centre of a typical tandem axle group fitted with an equal number of tyres on
each axle
Centre of a typical tandem axle group fitted with a different number of tyres
on each axle
Centre of a typical tri-axle group
Centre of a typical quad-axle group
combination means a group of vehicles consisting of a motor vehicle connected
to one or more vehicles;
complying bus means:
(a) a
bus with 2 or 3 axles and a single steer axle that:
(i)
is fitted with a compliance plate in accordance with the
Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 of the Commonwealth, as in force from
time to time, indicating that the bus was manufactured during or after July
1994; and
(ii)
meets the emergency exit specifications in ADR 44; and
(iii)
meets the rollover strength specifications in ADR 59; and
(iv)
meets the occupant protection specifications in ADR 68;
and
(v)
is equipped with an approved air suspension system; or
(b) a
bus that is the subject of a declaration under regulation 7 or under a
law of another State or a Territory that corresponds to that regulation;
converter dolly means a trailer with one tandem axle group or single axle and
a fifth wheel coupling designed to convert a semi-trailer into a dog trailer;
Typical converter dolly
dog trailer means a trailer (including a trailer consisting of a semi-trailer
and converter dolly) with:
(a) one
axle group or single axle at the front that is steered by connection to the
towing vehicle by a drawbar; and
(b) one
axle group or single axle at the rear;
Typical dog trailer
drawbar means a part of a trailer (other than a semi-trailer) that connects
the trailer body to a coupling for towing purposes;
fifth wheel coupling means a device, other than the upper rotating element and
the kingpin (which are parts of a semi-trailer), used with a prime mover,
semi-trailer or a converter dolly to permit quick coupling and uncoupling and
to provide for articulation;
GCM of a vehicle means the greatest possible sum of the maximum loaded mass of
the vehicle and of any vehicles that may lawfully be towed by it at any one
time:
(a) as
specified by the vehicle's manufacturer; or
(b) as
specified by an Australian Authority if:
(i)
the manufacturer has not specified the sum of the maximum
loaded mass; or
(ii)
the manufacturer cannot be identified; or
(iii)
the vehicle has been modified to the extent that the
manufacturer's specification is no longer appropriate;
GTM (gross trailer mass) means the maximum loaded mass transmitted to the
ground by the axles of a trailer when it is connected to a towing vehicle:
(a) as
specified by the manufacturer; or
(b) as
specified by an Australian Authority if:
(i)
the manufacturer has not specified a maximum loaded mass
transmitted to the ground by the axles of the trailer when connected to a
towing vehicle; or
(ii)
the manufacturer cannot be identified; or
(iii)
the trailer has been modified to the extent that the
manufacturer's specification is no longer appropriate;
GVM of a vehicle means the maximum loaded mass of the vehicle:
(a) as
specified by the vehicle's manufacturer; or
(b) as
specified by an Australian Authority if:
(i)
the manufacturer has not specified a maximum loaded mass;
or
(ii)
the manufacturer cannot be identified; or
(iii)
the vehicle has been modified to the extent that the
manufacturer's specification is no longer appropriate;
load of a vehicle, or in or on a vehicle, means:
(a) all
the goods, passengers and drivers in or on the vehicle; and
(b) all
fuel, water, lubricants and readily removable equipment carried in or on the
vehicle and required for its normal operation; and
(c)
personal items used by a driver of the vehicle; and
(d)
anything that is normally removed from the vehicle when not in use,
and includes a part of a load as so defined;
load-sharing suspension system means an axle group suspension system that:
(a) is
built to divide the load between the tyres on the group so that no tyre
carries a mass more than 10% greater than the mass it would carry if the load
were divided equally; and
(b) has
effective damping characteristics on all axles of the group;
night-time means the time beginning at sunset and ending at sunrise;
pig trailer means a trailer with one axle group or single axle near the middle
of its load-carrying surface, and connected to the towing vehicle by a
drawbar;
Typical pig trailer
pole-type trailer means a trailer that:
(a) is
attached to a towing vehicle by means of a pole or an attachment fitted to a
pole; and
(b) is
ordinarily used for transporting loads, such as logs, pipes, structural
members or other long objects, that are generally capable of supporting
themselves like beams between supports;
Typical pole-type trailer
prime mover means a motor vehicle built to tow a semi-trailer;
quad-axle group means a group of 4 axles, in which the horizontal distance
between the centre-lines of the outermost axles is more than 3.2 metres but
not more than 4.9 metres;
rear overhang line means:
(a) if
there is a single axle at the rear of the vehicle—the centre-line of the
axle; or
(b) if
there is an axle group at the rear of the vehicle—the centre of the axle
group, determined without regard to the presence of any steerable axle or
retractable axle in the group unless all axles in the group are steerable or
retractable;
Rear overhang line on a typical motor vehicle that has an axle group
Rear overhang line on a typical semi-trailer
retractable axle means an axle that can be raised so that the tyres on the
axle do not touch the ground;
road train means a combination, other than a B-double, consisting of a motor
vehicle towing at least 2 trailers (counting as one trailer a converter
dolly supporting a semi-trailer);
Typical triple road train
semi-trailer means a trailer that has:
(a) one
axle group or single axle towards the rear; and
(b) a
means of attachment to a prime mover that would result in some of the load
being imposed on the prime mover;
single axle means an axle not forming part of an axle group;
single axle group means a group of 2 or more axles, in which the horizontal
distance between the centre-lines of the outermost axles is less than 1 metre;
tandem axle group means a group of at least 2 axles, in which the horizontal
distance between the centre-lines of the outermost axles is at least 1 metre,
but not more than 2 metres;
tri-axle group means a group of at least 3 axles, in which the horizontal
distance between the centre-lines of the outermost axles is more than 2
metres, but not more than 3.2 metres;
twinsteer axle group means a group of 2 axles:
(a) with
single tyres; and
(b)
fitted to a motor vehicle; and
(c)
connected to the same steering mechanism; and
(d) the
horizontal distance between whose centre-lines is at least 1 metre, but not
more than 2 metres;
Typical twinsteer axle group on a motor vehicle
vehicle standards means the Road Traffic (Vehicle Standards) Rules 1999
.