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How do Electronic Work Diaries (EWDs) work under the HVNL?
An Electronic Work Diary is an NHVR-approved electronic system that a driver can choose to use instead of a written work diary to record required work and rest information.
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What is load restraint and who is responsible?
A heavy-vehicle load must be placed and restrained so the vehicle remains stable and the load is unlikely to fall or move, with responsibility extending to every party whose transport activities influence the loading risk.
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How do the HVNL Primary Duty and WHS laws interact?
The HVNL Primary Duty and work health and safety laws operate alongside each other: one focuses on public risk from heavy-vehicle transport activities and the other on health and safety at work.
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What is the difference between a notice, permit and pre-approval?
A notice authorises an eligible class of vehicles on stated networks, a permit authorises a specific application, and a road-manager pre-approval only streamlines later permit decisions—it is not authority for an operator to travel.
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What is a heavy-vehicle Safety Management System?
A heavy-vehicle Safety Management System is the documented and operating system a business uses to identify, control, monitor and improve the safety risks created by its transport activities.
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Do I need a heavy-vehicle access permit?
You generally need an access permit only when a restricted-access heavy vehicle is not already authorised for the exact vehicle, route and conditions by a current notice or another lawful access instrument.
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What is the Heavy Vehicle Accreditation scheme?
Heavy Vehicle Accreditation is the voluntary national framework introduced on 1 August 2026 for audited safety management and approved alternative compliance in maintenance, mass and fatigue.
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What is ACA–Fatigue?
ACA–Fatigue is the HVA alternative compliance pathway for operators that need approved work and rest hours different from Standard Hours and can demonstrate effective fatigue-risk controls through an audited system.
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What is the Unfit to Drive duty?
A person must not drive a heavy vehicle on a road while impaired by fatigue or otherwise not of sufficiently good health or fitness to drive it safely.
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How do Standard Hours and 24-hour counting periods work?
Under Standard Hours, a solo driver must satisfy every applicable short and long counting period, including no more than 12 hours work and at least seven continuous hours stationary rest in any applicable 24-hour period.