Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated ActsIn this Act:
"articulated bus" means a bus consisting of more than one rigid section with passenger access between the sections and the sections connected to one another so as to allow rotary movement between the sections.
"Australian Transport Council" has the meaning given by section 4 of the National Transport Commission Act 2003 .
"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 combination" means a combination consisting of a prime mover towing 2 semi trailers.
"B-double lead trailer" means a semi trailer that is nominated for use as the lead trailer in a B-double combination.
"B-triple combination" means a combination consisting of a prime mover towing 3 semi trailers.
"B-triple lead trailer" means a semi trailer that is nominated for use as the lead trailer in a B-triple combination.
"B-triple middle trailer" means a semi trailer that is nominated for use as the second trailer in a B-triple combination.
"bus" means a motor vehicle, built mainly to carry people, that seats more than 9 adults (including the driver).
bus (type 1) means a rigid bus that has 2 axles and an MRC not exceeding 12 tonnes.
bus (type 2) means:
(a) a rigid bus that has 2 axles and an MRC exceeding 12 tonnes; or
(b) a rigid bus that has 3 or 4 axles.
"compliance plate" means a plate authorised to be placed on a vehicle, or taken to have been placed on a vehicle, under the Motor Vehicle Standards Act 1989 .
"converter dolly" means a trailer with a fifth wheel coupling designed to support a semi trailer for hauling purposes.
"dog trailer" means a trailer with:
(a) a single axle group or single axle at the front that is steered by connection to the towing vehicle by a drawbar; and
(b) a single axle group or single axle at the rear.
"drawbar" means a part of a trailer (other than a semi trailer) that connects the trailer body to a coupling for towing purposes.
"driver" means the person driving or in control of a motor vehicle.
"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.
"lead trailer" , in a combination, means the trailer that is, or that is to be, attached to the prime mover.
"load carrying vehicle" means a vehicle designed and constructed to haul or carry goods and wares in addition to any fuel, water, lubricants, tools and any other equipment or accessories necessary for normal operation of the vehicle.
"loaded mass" , in relation to a vehicle, means the sum of the mass of the vehicle and the mass of the load on the vehicle that is imposed on the surface on which the vehicle is standing or running.
"long combination truck" means a truck nominated to haul 2 or more trailers.
"low loader" means a gooseneck semi trailer with a loading deck no more than one metre above the ground.
"low loader dolly" means a mass-distributing device that:
(a) is usually coupled between a prime mover and low loader; and
(b) consists of a gooseneck rigid frame; and
(c) does not directly carry any load on itself; and
(d) is equipped with one or more axles, a kingpin and a fifth wheel coupling.
"medium combination truck" means a truck, other than a short combination truck, nominated to haul one trailer.
"MRC" (short for Mass Rating for Charging), in relation to a vehicle, means:
(a) the maximum mass of the vehicle, including any load, recorded on the compliance plate as the Gross Vehicle Mass, Gross Trailer Mass Rating or Aggregate Trailer Mass of the vehicle; or
(b) in relation to a vehicle for which there is no compliance plate--its operating mass.
"multi-combination prime mover" means a prime mover nominated to haul 2 or more trailers.
"nominated" means nominated by the person applying for registration.
"operating mass" , in relation to a vehicle, means the maximum mass of the vehicle, including any load, as determined by the Registration Authority having regard to the design and construction of the vehicle or of any of its components.
"pig trailer" means a trailer with a single axle group or single axle near the middle of its load-carrying surface, and connected to the towing vehicle by a drawbar.
"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.
"prime mover" means a motor vehicle designed to haul 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.
"Registration Authority" means the authority that is responsible for registering vehicles.
"semi trailer" means a trailer (including a pole type trailer) that has:
(a) a single axle group or single axle towards the rear; and
(b) a means of attachment to a prime mover or a converter dolly that results in some of the load being imposed on the prime mover, or the converter dolly, as the case may be.
"short combination prime mover" means a prime mover nominated to haul one semi trailer.
"short combination truck" means a truck nominated to haul one trailer where, according to the nomination:
(a) the combination has 6 axles or fewer; and
(b) the maximum total mass that is legally allowable for the combination is 42.5 tonnes or less.
"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 one 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 one metre but not more than 2 metres.
"trailer" means a vehicle that is built to be towed, or is towed, by a motor vehicle, but does not include a motor vehicle that is being towed.
"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.
"truck" means a rigid motor vehicle that is principally constructed as a load carrying vehicle.
truck (type 1) means a truck that has:
(a) 2 axles and an MRC not exceeding 12 tonnes; or
(b) 3 axles and an MRC not exceeding 16.5 tonnes; or
(c) 4 or more axles and an MRC not exceeding 20 tonnes.
truck (type 2) means a truck that has:
(a) 2 axles and an MRC exceeding 12 tonnes; or
(b) 3 axles and an MRC exceeding 16.5 tonnes; or
(c) 4 or more axles and an MRC exceeding 20 tonnes.
"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 the centre‑lines of which is at least one metre, but not more than 2 metres.
"vehicle" includes a trailer.