{"id":"F2009L04051","name":"National Transport Commission (Model Amendments Regulations 2008 (Twin Steer Mass and Loading Limits)) Regulations 2009","slug":"national-transport-commission-model-amendments-regulations-2008-twin-steer-mass-and-loading-limits-r","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"293 of 2009","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":437403,"registerId":"F2009L04051-fast-fetch-1775954243208","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"National Transport Commission (Model Amendments Regulations 2008 (Twin Steer Mass and Loading Limits)) Regulations 2009","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![](image.001.png)\n\nNational Transport Commission (Model Amendments Regulations 2008 (Twin Steer Mass and Loading Limits)) Regulations 20091\n\nSelect Legislative Instrument 2009 No. 293\n\nI, QUENTIN BRYCE, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, make the following Regulations under the National Transport Commission Act 2003.\n\nDated 29 October 2009\n\nQUENTIN BRYCE\n\nGovernor‑General\n\nBy Her Excellency’s Command\n\nANTHONY ALBANESE\n\nMinister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government\n\n1 Name of Regulations\n\n  These Regulations are the National Transport Commission (Model Amendments Regulations 2008 (Twin Steer Mass and Loading Limits)) Regulations 2009.\n\n2 Commencement\n\n  These Regulations commence on the day after they are registered.\n\n3 Model legislation — Model Amendments Regulations 2008 (Twin Steer Mass and Loading Limits)\n\n  Under section 7 of the National Transport Commission Act 2003, Schedule 1 sets out amendments, in the form of a Bill, to model legislation about heavy vehicles.\n\nSchedule 1 Model Amendments Regulations 2008 (Twin Steer Mass and Loading Limits)\n\n(regulation 3)\n\n \n\nContents\n\n Page\n\nPART 1 — GENERAL MATTERS 4\n\n1. Name \n\n2.  Purpose\n\n3.  Approval\n\n \n\nPART 2 — AMENDMENTS TO THE ROAD TRANSPORT REFORM (MASS AND LOADING) REGULATIONS\n\n4.  Regulations being amended by this Part\n\n5.  Mass limits relating to axle spacing \n\n \n\nPART 3 — AMENDMENTS TO THE HIGHER MASS LIMITS – LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE\n\n6.  Provisions being amended by this Part \n\n7.  Application\n\n8.  Interpretation\n\nModel Amendment Regulations 2008 (Twin Steer Mass and Loading Limits)\n\n \n\nThe following provisions are intended to provide the basis for nationally consistent transport laws on the topics with which they deal. They do not, of themselves, have any legal effect.\n\nPart 1 — General Matters\n\n \n\n1. Name\n\nThese are the Model Amendments Regulations 2008 (Twin Steer Mass and Loading Limits).\n\n2. Purpose\n\nThe main purpose of these Regulations is to enable certain heavy vehicles fitted with a twin steer axle group to operate at an increased mass.\n\n3. Approval\n\nThese Regulations were approved by the Australian Transport Council on 21 February 2008.\n\nPart 2 — Amendments to the Road Transport Reform (Mass and Loading) Regulations\n\n \n\n4. Regulations being amended by this Part\n\nThese Regulations amend the Road Transport Reform (Mass and Loading) Regulations.\n\n5. Mass limits relating to axle spacing\n\n(1) In clause 1.3 of the Schedule –\n\n(a) in subclause (1), for “42.5 tonnes” substitute “46.5 tonnes”;\n\n(b) in Table 2, for the last item substitute –\n\n| “10.0 | 10.5 | 42.5”; |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n\n\n(c) at the end of Table 2 insert the following items –\n\n| “10.5 | 11.0 | 43.0 |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| 11.0 | 11.5 | 43.5 |\n| 11.5 | 12.0 | 44.0 |\n| 12.0 | 12.5 | 44.5 |\n| 12.5 | 13.0 | 45.0 |\n| 13.0 | 13.5 | 45.5 |\n| 13.5 | 14.0 | 46.0 |\n| 14.0 |  | 46.5”. |\n\n\n(2) For subclause 1.4 (1) of the Schedule substitute –\n\n“(1) The total mass of a combination (including any load) other than a road train or a B-double must not exceed –\n\n(a) in the case of a 7 axle combination that has a prime mover that is fitted with a twin steer axle group and that has a semi-trailer that is fitted with a tri-axle group, 46.5 tonnes; or\n\n(b) in any other case, 42.5 tonnes.”.\n\nPart 3 — Amendments to the Higher Mass Limits — Legislative Package\n\n \n\n6. Provisions being amended by this Part\n\nThis Part amends the Higher Mass Limits — Legislative Package.\n\n7. Application\n\nIn clause 2, for item 3 of the Table substitute –\n\n| “3 | A combination where the prime mover is fitted with a tandem axle group, and either a single steer axle group or a twin steer axle group, and the semi-trailer is fitted with either a single tandem axle group or a tri-axle group”. |\n| --- | --- |\n\n\n8. Interpretation\n\nIn clause 3, after the definition of tri-axle group insert –\n\n“twin steer axle group means a group of 2 axles:\n\n(a) with single tyres; and\n\n(b) fitted to a motor vehicle; and\n\n(c) connected to the same steering mechanism; and\n\n(d) the horizontal distance between whose centre-lines is at least 1 metre, but not more than 2 metres.”.\n\nNote\n\n1. All legislative instruments and compilations are registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments kept under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003. See http://www.frli.gov.au.\n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly focused on its original purpose: adjusting mass limits for twin steer axle vehicles. The scope has not expanded beyond this specific technical amendment to heavy vehicle regulations."},"complexity_factors":["Short document (8 operative provisions across 3 Parts)","Minimal defined terms (only 1 new definition added: 'twin steer axle group')","Simple amendment structure (substituting specific values in tables and subsections)","No nested exceptions or conditional logic beyond basic vehicle configuration requirements","Clear purpose statement and straightforward mechanical amendments to existing regulations","Limited cross-referencing (only references to specific clauses in existing model regulations)"],"plain_english_summary":"This model law lets specific heavy combinations—semi‑trailers with twin‑steer prime movers and tri‑axle trailers—carry up to 46.5 tonnes (up from 42.5 tonnes). It updates which vehicles qualify and sets axle‑spacing‑based limits so states can adopt consistent rules.\n\nWhy it matters: trucking operators get clearer, nationally consistent weight rules and can load these configurations more efficiently across state borders."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"These amendments expand the permissible total mass for specified heavy vehicle combinations by increasing the cap from 42.5 t to 46.5 t for certain 7‑axle twin‑steer configurations, add new axle‑spacing bands to the mass table, and introduce a statutory definition of a twin steer axle group—thereby changing who may legally carry higher loads and how axle spacing is measured and applied (Schedule, Part 2 clause 5; Part 3 clauses 7–8)."},"complexity_factors":["Technical numeric thresholds and tables: multiple specific mass values and axle‑spacing bands are inserted and adjusted (Schedule, Part 2, clause 5).","Vehicle‑configuration specificity: the higher limit applies only to defined combinations (7‑axle combination with a twin steer prime mover and tri‑axle semi‑trailer) (Schedule, Part 2, subclause 1.4(1)(a)).","Cross‑instrument interaction: amendments operate by changing the Road Transport Reform (Mass and Loading) Regulations and the Higher Mass Limits legislative package, requiring cross‑reference for compliance (Schedule, Part 2 and Part 3).","New definitional precision: introduces a statutory definition of “twin steer axle group” with geometric limits (1–2 m centre‑line spacing) that must be measured and enforced (Schedule, Part 3, clause 8).","Enforcement and measurement burden: regulators and operators must measure axle centre‑line spacing to statutory tolerances and apply updated tables when assessing legal mass, increasing compliance and inspection precision.","Narrow scope with potential distributed impacts: benefits concentrate on operators of the specified configuration while infrastructure managers and road users may face indirect effects from higher axle loads.","Minor drafting ambiguity risk: table entries include a final row with an empty upper spacing bound (\"14.0 |  | 46.5\"), which may require interpretive guidance in practice (Schedule, Part 2, clause 5(c))."],"plain_english_summary":"These regulations amend model heavy‑vehicle rules to allow certain 7‑axle combinations with a twin steer axle group to carry up to 46.5 tonnes (previously 42.5 tonnes). They revise axle‑spacing tables and insert a definition of “twin steer axle group”. Operators of affected prime movers and semi‑trailers can carry higher loads under the new limits; regulators must apply the new spacing measurements and mass caps in enforcement and permitting."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/national-transport-commission-model-amendments-regulations-2008-twin-steer-mass-and-loading-limits-r","history":"/api/acts/national-transport-commission-model-amendments-regulations-2008-twin-steer-mass-and-loading-limits-r/history","analysis":"/api/acts/national-transport-commission-model-amendments-regulations-2008-twin-steer-mass-and-loading-limits-r/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/national-transport-commission-model-amendments-regulations-2008-twin-steer-mass-and-loading-limits-r/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/national-transport-commission-model-amendments-regulations-2008-twin-steer-mass-and-loading-limits-r/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/national-transport-commission-model-amendments-regulations-2008-twin-steer-mass-and-loading-limits-r/documents"}}