Introduction

Amendments to the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) passed Parliament in November 2025 and commenced on 1 August 2026.

The reform package, which includes the Heavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Act 2025 (the Amendment Act) and the Heavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Regulation 2026, brings significant changes aimed at improving the administration and efficiency of the heavy vehicle industry and the safety of heavy vehicle drivers and road users alike.

Over two comprehensive articles, we explain the key amendments, including but not limited to the new accreditation framework, expanded driver duty and key changes to the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation. We explore their impact on operators, drivers and others who work for heavy vehicle operations, as well as outline the requirements for compliance.

Contents

  1. The new heavy vehicle accreditation framework
  2. Applying for a General Safety Accreditation
  3. Applying for an Alternative Compliance Accreditation
  4. Auditing the accreditation requirements
  5. Stay attuned with Environment Essentials

The new heavy vehicle accreditation framework

The previous National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS) consisted of three accreditation modules: Mass Management, Maintenance Management and Fatigue Management (of which there were two options: Basic Fatigue Management (BFM) and Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM)).

Under the reformed legislation, the NHVAS is replaced with a new tiered accreditation framework that consists of a General Safety Accreditation (GSA) and Alternative Compliance Accreditation (ACA), with the implementation of a comprehensive Safety Management System (SMS) at its centre.

  • GSA: This is the entry point into the framework; the first accreditation granted to operators who demonstrate a compliant SMS. The GSA absorbs the Mass Management accreditation as General Mass Limits (GML) align with Concessional Mass Limits (CML) and accreditation is no longer required for access to CML weights.
  • ACA – Fatigue: This supplementary accreditation replaces the BFM and AFM options.
  • ACA – Mass: This supplementary accreditation replaces the existing Mass Management accreditation for operators requiring additional alternative compliance through notices and other schemes.
  • GSA – Maintenance Assurance Program (MAP): The existing Maintenance accreditation remains, with annual vehicle exemptions for applicable states. This accreditation tier has a new title, and operators are required to obtain a GSA and meet certain maintenance requirements.

Transitioning to the new accreditation framework

Existing NHVAS accredited operators can transition to the new HVA framework any time after the 1 August 2026 or when their current accreditation expires, however, to ensure ample preparation for a smooth transition the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has provided options based on the accreditation’s expiration date:

  • Before 1 August 2026: Extend the current accreditation until after 1 August 2026.
  • After 1 August 2026: Operators who no longer require accreditation can submit an exit application.
  • Before 17 January 2027: Maintain the current accreditation for up to two years or transition to the new HVA framework.
  • After 17 January 2027: Extend the current accreditation for 12 months or transition to the new HVA framework.

Supporting statutory instruments

These statutory instruments support the new legislation and inform accreditation decisions and compliance.


Applying for a General Safety Accreditation

An operator applying for a GSA is required to have an SMS that complies with the NHVR’s SMS Standard.

The NHVR must also be satisfied that the applicant meets suitability criteria and has, among other things, processes in place for quarterly compliance statements and annual internal reviews and informing the NHVR of notifiable occurrences.

Building a Standard-compliant SMS

Defined in new Section 457A of the HVNL, the SMS for a heavy vehicle operator consists of a set of “policies, systems and procedures relating to the safety of the operator’s transport activities and the driving of heavy vehicles.” This includes a mandatory focus on identifying and assessing public risks associated with those activities and specifying controls to mitigate those risks.

An operator’s SMS must satisfy the evidentiary requirements outlined in Part 2 of the SMS Standard to be deemed suitable for a GSA. These requirements, which cover the five standard areas, highlight that an integrated, aligned and performance-based approach to safety management is expected from heavy vehicle operators applying for accreditation.

SMS requirements

Operators are required to provide evidence of the following (among other things) that is proportionate to the size, nature, risk and complexity of their operations:

Leadership and commitment

  • Systems and processes that clearly assign responsibility and accountability for managing public risks arising from their heavy vehicle transport activities;
  • The ongoing allocation of financial, personnel and technical resources for the effective functioning of the SMS;
  • A safety culture that allows staff, contractors and CoR parties to participate in safety-related processes and decision-making and to report safety issues and concerns openly without fear of reprisal.

Risk management

  • Processes for the ongoing identification of physical, behavioural and systemic hazards, assessment of risks, and the establishment of effective risk control measures;
  • Procedures for reporting, recording and responding to incidents and near misses and for supporting investigations, corrective actions and recovery.

People

  • Mechanisms for confirming the appropriate licensing and fitness of each driver at the time they are required to perform safety-related tasks;
  • Training and competency arrangements to ensure workers at all levels, have the relevant knowledge and skills to perform their roles safely and without risk to the public;
  • Mechanisms for timely, accurate and reciprocal communication between workers, CoR parties, contractors and senior management on safety-related expectations, requirements and information relating to the SMS.

Assurance, monitoring and improvement

  • Documented safety performance indicators and targets that provide meaningful insight into the effectiveness of their SMS and risk controls in managing public risk;
  • Processes for identifying improvement opportunities and performing timely and proportionate change management on the SMS and risk controls.

Safety systems

  •  The integration of the SMS across the whole organisation and its requirements and expectations embedded into day-to day transport operations, decision-making and activities.


Applying for an Alternative Compliance Accreditation

To demonstrate compliance with prescribed operations requirements for fatigue management, mass management and heavy vehicle maintenance, inspection and roadworthiness, an operator applying for an ACA needs to comply with GSA requirements and additional accreditation and SMS requirements.

Additional accreditation requirements

ACA- Fatigue

The NHVR must be satisfied that the operator’s proposed alternative compliance hours are consistent with the Ministerial Standard for Alternative Compliance Hours and have been assessed against the Risk Classification System Matrix (RCSM), among other things.

ACA – Mass

The NHVR must be satisfied that each nominated vehicle meets the legal requirements for its intended use, each nominated vehicle has current registration and roadworthiness verification, and if required by the NHVR, each nominated vehicle is issued with a unique accreditation label, among other things.

GSA – MAP

The NHVR must be satisfied that an operator requesting assessment against Schedule 2 of the SMS Standard demonstrates compliance with heavy vehicle inspection or roadworthiness requirements through their SMS.

Additional SMS requirements

The operator’s SMS requires additional evidence of the following (among others) for each type of ACA:

ACA – Fatigue

  • Clearly defined and assigned fatigue management responsibilities and authorities to relevant staff;
  • Documented and monitored driver schedules and rosters that comply with alternative compliance hours requirements;
  • Processes for identifying and managing fatigue risks from schedule changes, extended work or unplanned events;
  • Processes for monitoring and reviewing approved operating limits and implementing fatigue countermeasures when limits are exceeded;
  • Mechanisms for ensuring drivers are certified as fit to drive by a medical practitioner under Austroads’ Assessing Fitness to Drive guidelines (or an equivalent document approved by the NHVR);
  • Training and competency qualifications for personnel involved in managing fatigue. (TLIF0030 for drivers and TLIF0031 for schedulers/managers or any previously recognised fatigue management qualification completed prior to 1 July 2018);
  • Ongoing internal review processes that analyse the effectiveness of fatigue management and identify improvement opportunities.

ACA – Mass

  • Clearly assigned responsibilities for roles that involve managing and verifying mass-related activities;
  • Documented, accurate and current information on vehicle identification, configuration, specifications, and applicable mass concessions and authorisations for heavy vehicles within the scope of the accreditation including vehicles supplied by subcontractors;
  • Loading practices that measure and determine vehicle mass compliance and identify potential risks before vehicle departure;
  • Processes for ensuring vehicle suspension systems are maintained and repaired in accordance with appropriate technical standards;
  • Methods for verifying vehicle mass determination, for example confirming assessed weights against certified or calibrated weighing devices at periodic intervals;
  • Training and competency arrangements for personnel who perform or influence mass-related activities;
  • Ongoing internal review of mass-related controls and processes to ensure their effectiveness, adequacy and alignment with operating practices.

GSA – MAP

  • Clearly assigned roles and responsibilities for the ongoing management, operation and verification of vehicle condition controls, and the allocation of resources to ensure vehicle maintenance standards;
  • When Daily Checks are being performed, by whom and how the results are recorded;
  • Fault recording and reporting processes that promptly capture, communicate and assess identified defects, their severity and corrective actions, and that allow for drivers to also record faults as they occur;
  • A systematic and documented plan for ongoing maintenance schedules and servicing that reflects time, distance or usage and is in accordance with recognised technical standards;
  • Training and competency arrangements for personnel holding maintenance management responsibilities;
  • Ongoing internal review of vehicle maintenance processes to ensure their effectiveness, adequacy and alignment with operating practices.

Proposing alternative compliance hours for accreditation

The NHVR has created ten Alternative Compliance Hours templated tables to assist operators applying for an ACA – Fatigue to propose alternative compliance hours in accordance with the Ministerial Standard for Alternative Compliance Hours.

The templated tables provide work and rest options that are similar to the current BFM and AFM options, as well as tables that cover extended work hours.

Operators also have the option of submitting their own bespoke table for assessment, and if they choose to do so must be within the bounds of the Standard, which includes but not limited to:

  • a solo driver cannot work for more than 15.5 hours within a 24-hour period, and must have a minimum of 7 continuous hours of rest;
  • a two-up driver cannot work for more than 14 hours within a 24-hour period and must have a minimum of 5 continuous hours of stationary rest or rest in an approved sleeper berth while the vehicle is moving;

  • split rest breaks are not scheduled and can only be granted by the NHVR for drivers with unforeseen circumstances, emergencies, or problems with sleep;
  • fatigue risks are assessed against the RCSM.

Auditing the accreditation requirements


NHVR-approved auditors will conduct audits on the performance of a heavy vehicle operator’s SMS and their compliance with ACA requirements. The audits will occur at scheduled intervals during the accreditation’s lifespan.

In addition to these audits, the NHVR may perform other performance monitoring activities such as inspections and random and triggered spot checks.

There is also onus on operators, between the audits, to implement internal evaluation systems to assess and improve their SMS.

Stay attuned with Environment Essentials

The new accreditation framework is one component of the heavy vehicle law reform. In our other article, we cover other key amendments including the expanded driver duty, key changes to the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation, the shift from Act to regulation for some requirements and other regulatory changes.

For Environment Essentials subscribers, you will also be notified of additional developments through the HSE Bulletin.

Our health and safety online directory, SafetyLaw, will include summaries of the new legislation on 14 August 2026. These summaries can be integrated into your new SMS, processes and procedures, used for internal compliance evaluations or as an aid to cultivate understanding and compliance amongst employees.

If you would like to stay on top of the heavy vehicle reform or maintain a compliant SMS, then sign up for a free trial today or get in touch with our sales team.

Fill up your tank with even more information on the Heavy Vehicle National Law reform with our eBook – Unpacking the Heavy Vehicle National Law reform.

Email info@enviroessentials.com.au for your copy today.

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