National Heavy Vehicle Regulator updates South Australia grain transport notice ahead of HVNL reforms

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has revised South Australia’s Class 3 Grain Transport Mass Exemption Notice for 2026, replacing the 2025 Farm Gate notice. The update aligns the notice with amendments to the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) that take effect on 1 August 2026 and is intended to improve clarity and usability for operators ahead of the harvest season.

Key changes include specifying mass limits directly in the notice, adding mass tables and an axle‑mass appendix, and replacing the previous paddock‑and‑trip condition with a period‑of‑travel condition covering October to January. Existing access arrangements and Chain of Responsibility obligations remain unchanged. NHVR Service Delivery Director Steven Miller said the revision supports the safe and efficient movement of South Australia’s roughly 7.9 million tonnes of grain each year, a sector contributing about $4 billion to the state’s food revenue. The regulator has begun consulting South Australian road managers before the notice comes into effect.