Livestock Loading Scheme

The Queensland Livestock Loading Scheme enhances the safe and efficient transportation of livestock throughout Queensland.

We manage the Livestock Loading Scheme in partnership with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) under the Heavy Vehicle National Law. The scheme provides increased mass limits for livestock loads and includes measure to improve the safety for both the vehicle and livestock, reducing the incidence of vehicle rollovers.

The Livestock Loading Scheme operates under the Queensland Class 3 Livestock Loading Exemption Notice 2019.

Eligibility under the scheme

Livestock eligibility

Livestock are eligible under the scheme include the following:

cattle
goats
horses
pigs
sheep.

Vehicle eligibility

An eligible vehicle is a heavy vehicle that:

has a current and compliant Livestock Loading S10 plate attached
complies with all the requirements of the Queensland Livestock Loading Scheme
is one of the following vehicle type:
- rigid trucks
- rigid trucks towing a 5 or 6 axle dog trailer
- prime movers towing a semi-trailer
- B-double combinations
- B-triple combinations
- road train combinations

Requirements under the scheme

Loading requirements

While the Livestock Loading Scheme allows for some increase to strict mass regulations, loaded mass is controlled by 3 key principles:

Internal trailer dimensions (deck length) are specified and checked as part of the certification process.
Trailer unladen mass is regulated and checked as part of the certification process.
Manufacturers ratings for all components must not be exceeded.

Transport requirements

Livestock must be loaded in full on the lower deck before livestock are carried in the upper deck.

When livestock does not completely fill a deck, the livestock must be securely restrained in position by full-width barriers to prevent instability of the vehicle when in motion.

Under this scheme, no other freight can be carried at the same time as livestock is carried. The number of decks used to transport livestock can't exceed:

2 decks for cattle
3 decks for pigs
4 decks for sheep.

Interstate mutual recognition requirements

Vehicles registered in another state or territory may operate under the Livestock Loading Scheme in Queensland provided the vehicle complies to all conditions of the Scheme.

Mutual recognition will be applied to vehicles approved to operate as a Livestock Loading Vehicle in the state or territory of scheme registration, including:

Northern Territory Livestock Loading Scheme
NSW Livestock Loading Scheme
South Australia Livestock Loading Scheme
Tasmanian Livestock Loading Scheme
Victorian Livestock Loading Scheme

All conditions of your relevant state's Livestock Loading Scheme will apply when operating in Queensland. This includes, but is not limited to, mass limits, certification and accreditation.

You will need to provide evidence of your relevant Livestock Loading Scheme approval if requested by a member of the Queensland Police Service or an authorised Transport Inspector from the department.

Certification and Livestock Loading Scheme participation

Vehicle certification

Under the Modification Code S10 Concessional Livestock Loading, all vehicles and trailers (excluding tri-axle converter dollies) must be certified. It is not a requirement of the scheme for you to register your vehicle as a participant.

Routes

Scheme vehicles that operate with national based notices

Vehicles operating under the Scheme must also operate with their relevant national based notices, these vehicles include:

B-doubles must operate in conjunction with the National Class 2 B-double Authorisation Notice
road trains must operate in conjunction with the National Class 2 Road Train Authorisation Notice
rigid truck and trailer combination exceeding 19m up to 31.5m must operate in conjunction with the Queensland Class 3 Truck and Dog Trailer (exceeding 19m up to 31.5m in length) Mass and Dimension Exemption Notice.

All nation notices and permit-based schemes are implemented and published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.

Access routes through Queensland Globe

Queensland Globe allows you to quickly identify up-to-date approved heavy vehicle routes and restrictions in an interactive way across various devices. You can create, download and print map specific to the routes and restrictions that apply to you.

View the routes and restrictions for heavy vehicles, or follow these steps:

Visit Queensland Globe
Once you are logged in, select Topics, which is located on the left-hand side
When the new window opens, select Transport and motoring, click circle button with the right arrow
The heavy vehicle routes and restrictions topic will appear, then click the Launch Topic button in the bottom right hand corner.

To get the most out of Queensland Globe's features we recommended that you watch the Queensland Globe video tutorials.

Livestock Loading – B-Triple Loading Advice

The loading advice helps to understand how to load compliantly with tri-axle mass limits. This advice comes from the Queensland Class 3 Livestock Loading Exemption Notice. It does not provide immunity from mass offences related to this notice.

B-triple (20 – 30 – 40 foot configuration trailers)

Average best weight per head	Indicative maximum number of head for compliant loading	Deck	Indicative loading configuration
			Trailer 1	Trailer 2		Trailer 3
520kg	108	Top	13	16		13	11
		Bottom	13	17		13	12

650kg	82	Top	10	7	Empty	20
		Bottom	10	15		20

770kg	70	Top	9	11		6	8
		Bottom	9	12		6	9

For more information about the Livestock Loading Scheme email hv.policy@tmr.qld.gov.au.

For more information

Learn more about the Modification Code S10 on the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator website.

Find out more about animal welfare during transport on the Business Queensland website.

Last updated 05 September 2023