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S10 certification: concessional livestock loading

S10 certification: concessional livestock loading

What is the Queensland Livestock Loading?

The Queensland Government introduced the Queensland Livestock Loading (QLL) to support the safe and efficient movement of livestock across Queensland, while prioritising both animal welfare and vehicle safety.

QLL has three primary objectives:

Uphold animal welfare
Ensure vehicle safety
Facilitate appropriate road access.

QLL operates under the Queensland Class 3 Livestock Loading Exemption Notice, authorised under section 117 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (Queensland).

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator is responsible for compliance with the Notice.

For more than 30 years, QLL has supported the livestock transport industry by providing mass concessions to eligible heavy vehicles.

How does Queensland Livestock Loading work?

To participate, eligible vehicles must:

be certified under the Modification Code S10—Concessional Livestock Loading—Vehicle Rating Code (the Code) and fitted with a compliant Livestock Loading S10 modification plate
operate in accordance with the Heavy Vehicle National Law - Queensland Class 3 Livestock Loading Exemption Notice (the Notice).

Participation is voluntary for livestock transport operators.

S10 modification code

The purpose of the Code is to ensure each livestock vehicle operating under the Notice:

has been assessed for suitability
is certified with appropriate maximum mass limits
does not exceed manufacturer or component ratings.

The S10 Code cannot increase any manufacturer’s ratings.

An S10 accredited Approved Person (AP) or Approved Vehicle Examiner (AVE) must complete the assessment and certification.

Once certified, the vehicle is issued with an S10 mass rating, enabling operation under the Notice.

The Notice

The Notice provides exemptions and conditions for access, including mass limits and S10 certification requirements.

The Heavy Vehicle National Law - Queensland Class 3 Livestock Loading Exemption Notice is located on the NHVR website.

Note: drivers and operators must comply with the mass limits in the Notice and on the Livestock Loading S10 Modification Plate.

Eligible vehicles

Under the Notice, eligible heavy vehicles include:

rigid trucks
dog trailers
prime movers
semitrailers
converter dolly trailers

Eligible heavy vehicles must be fitted with a valid Livestock Loading S10 modification plate and comply with all requirements of the Notice.

Eligible combinations are listed in the Livestock Loading Operator’s Guide.

Livestock

Livestock eligible for transportation under QLL are:

cattle
goats
horses
pigs
sheep.

Livestock type determines:

the maximum number of decks in a livestock crate
the simulated livestock mass that is applied for S10 certification by the AP/AVE.

Maximum permitted decks:

2 decks for cattle or horses
3 decks for pigs
4 decks for sheep or goats.

S10 certification

To participate in QLL, a vehicle must be assessed, certified and fitted with a Livestock Loading S10 modification plate by an S10 accredited AP/AVE using the Code. The Code sets out the required:

assessments
calculations
vehicle measurements
certification procedures.

The maximum laden masses under the S10 certification may be less than the vehicle’s maximum rated capacity. The S10 Code cannot increase any manufacturer’s ratings.

AP/AVE responsibilities

The AP/AVE must:

weigh the vehicle to determine tare mass
complete the relevant vehicle checklist
calculate imposed (livestock) load
calculate maximum S10 laden masses
inscribe these masses on the Livestock Loading S10 modification plate
affix the plate to the vehicle.

Accurate measurements are essential. Incorrect tare or imposed load calculations may lead to unsafe overloading, compromising both vehicle safety and animal welfare.

Prior to weighing a vehicle for S10 certification, the AP/AVE should confirm that:

the vehicle is fully assembled and ready-for-service (all equipment and accessories fitted)
fuel and water tanks are full
effluent tanks are empty.

Assessment and certification process

Below is a general guide to a typical assessment and certification procedure for an eligible vehicle.

Example S10 mass calculations

Please note the following are examples only. Every vehicle must be weighed, measured and certified by an AP/AVE to operate under QLL.

Semitrailer

The following example outlines the S10 mass calculation for a two-deck livestock semitrailer.

To determine the S10 laden mass there are several dimensions, tare masses and calculations that need to be completed. These are outlined in the vehicle specific S10 checklists that can be downloaded from the NHVR website.

In this example the trailer:

has an internal deck width of 2.40m
is fitted with a toolbox – applied as a simulated mass of 100kg
measured king pin tare mass of 3,500kg
measured triaxle group tare mass of 8,350kg
is intended for transporting cattle on two decks

The remainder of the measurements of the trailer are as shown in Figure 1.

From Table 1 in the S10 Code, cattle have a simulated livestock weight of 420kg per square metre.

Using this information and the Semitrailer S10 Checklist the process to determine the S10 laden masses is as follows:

Step 1: Load Area and Imposed Load

Calculate the load area using the stock crate dimensions from Part B of the S10 Checklist and imposed load due to livestock (Figure 2)
The referenced data from in Part B can be entered into the relevant section of the Vehicle Drawings sheet from the S10 Checklist. Use this data and follow the calculations to determine the imposed load from livestock (M) (Figure 3)

Step 2: Centre of Mass to Rear Overhang (ROH) Line and Wheelbase

Measure the distances from the centre of mass to the ROH line, centre of the toolbox to the ROH line and the trailer S-dimension/wheelbase. The S-dimension/wheelbase will correspond to the value in Part B of the S10 Checklist (Figure 4)

Step 3: Calculate Forward Axle Mass (FAM)

The FAM is the sum of all the masses imposed through the trailer king pin. In this case the imposed mass comes from the trailer tare mass, livestock loading and the toolbox. The calculations below are for livestock loading and the toolbox. The trailer tare mass will be applied later (Figure 5)

Step 4: Calculate Rearward Axle Mass (RAM)

The RAM is the sum of all the masses imposed through the tri-axle group. In this case the imposed mass comes from the trailer tare mass, livestock loading and the toolbox. The calculations below are for livestock loading and the toolbox. The trailer tare mass will be applied later (Figure 6)

Step 5: Calculate S10 Laden Masses

Once the FAM and RAM have been calculated, these can be added to the tare masses to determine the S10 laden mass limits for the trailer kingpin, tri-axle axle group and total S10 laden mass for the trailer. The tare masses will be found/recorded in Section C of the S10 Checklist (Figure 7)

The calculated S10 laden masses must be assessed and meet the following conditions as per the S10 Checklist:

The kingpin S10 laden mass is less than or equal to 15,000kg
The trailer triaxle group S10 laden mass is less than or equal to:
- The axle manufacturer’s load ratings
- The total axle group tyre load ratings
- The trailer manufacturer’s Gross Trailer Mass rating
The total trailer S10 laden mass is less than or equal to the trailer manufacturer’s Aggregate Trailer Mass

If the calculated S10 laden masses meet these conditions they can be inscribed on the Livestock Loading S10 modification plate (Figure 8) by the AP/AVE, which is then securely affixed to the vehicle.

Prime Mover

The following S10 mass calculation example is for a single steer, tandem axle prime mover.

In this example the measurements of the prime mover are as shown below (Figure 9)

S10 Mass Calculation Process

Step 1: Fifth Wheel Offset (FWO), Centre of Mass to Rear Overhang (ROH) Line and Wheelbase

Measure the FWO, vehicle wheelbase and distance from the centre of the toolbox to the ROH line. The FWO and wheelbase will correspond to the values in Part B of the S10 Checklist, (Figure 10)
The referenced data from in Part B can be entered into the relevant section of the Vehicle Drawings sheet from the S10 Checklist. Use this data and follow the calculations to determine the forward and rearward axle masses (Figure 11).

Step 2: Calculate Forward Axle Mass (FAM)

The FAM is the sum of all the masses imposed through the front axle. In this case the imposed mass comes from the prime mover tare mass, fifth wheel loading and the toolbox. The calculations below are for fifth wheel loading and the toolbox. The tare mass will be applied later (Figure 12).

Step 3: Calculate Rearward Axle Mass (RAM)

The RAM is the sum of all the masses imposed through the prime mover drive axle group. In this case the imposed mass comes from the vehicle tare mass, fifth wheel loading and the toolbox. The calculations below are for fifth wheel loading and the toolbox. The tare mass will be applied later (Figure 13).

Step 4: Calculate S10 Laden Masses

Once the FAM and RAM have been calculated, these can be added to the tare masses to determine the S10 laden mass limits for the front axle group, rear axle group and total S10 laden mass for the prime mover. The tare masses will be found/recorded in Section C of the S10 Checklist (Figure 14).
Note that the there is an additional 40kg applied to the tare mass for driver personal items. This is applied as an additional 20kg on both the front and rear axle groups respectively.
For example, front axle group: tare mass of 5,500kg + 20kg = 5,520kg.