General Transport Compliance

The Load Restraint Guide, published by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), provides essential information on how to safely secure all types of loads during transport. Designed to help drivers, loaders, and operators meet their legal obligations under the Heavy Vehicle National Law, the guide outlines best practices, restraint methods, and compliance requirements to prevent load shifts, spills, and incidents on the road.

The Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) is the legal framework that governs the operation of heavy vehicles over 4.5 tonnes across most Australian states and territories. Administered by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), the HVNL sets out the rules for fatigue management, vehicle standards, mass and loading, speed compliance, and Chain of Responsibility (CoR) obligations.

Whether you're a driver, operator, consignor, or loader, the HVNL ensures everyone in the supply chain shares responsibility for safe and legal transport practices. Understanding and complying with the HVNL is essential to running a safe, efficient, and lawful heavy vehicle operation.

The Local Area Work Diary Exemption applies to drivers of fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles who operate solely within a 100km radius of their base and return to that base at the end of each workday. Under this exemption, drivers are not required to carry or complete a National Work Diary, provided they are working under Standard Hours and meet the NHVR’s exemption conditions.

While the diary may not be required, operators must still maintain accurate internal records of work and rest hours to ensure compliance with fatigue laws. This exemption offers flexibility for local operations but still holds drivers and businesses accountable under Chain of Responsibility (CoR) obligations.

Always check the specific requirements for your operation to ensure you're covered under the exemption.

The National Work Diary is a mandatory logbook for drivers of fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles operating outside a 100km radius from their base or who are working under Basic or Advanced Fatigue Management. It is a paper-based record required by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) to track driving hours, rest breaks, and work time to ensure compliance with fatigue laws.

Drivers must carry the diary at all times while working and record entries daily, even on days off if working in a regulated capacity. Accurate record-keeping is essential to avoid penalties and demonstrate compliance during roadside checks or audits.

The NWD is available for purchase from NHVR-approved outlets and is a vital tool in maintaining safe and legal heavy vehicle operations.

Managing work and rest times is essential for preventing driver fatigue and ensuring compliance with the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL). Fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle drivers must follow strict schedules that outline how long they can work, drive, and rest each day and week.

There are three key schemes: Standard Hours, Basic Fatigue Management (BFM), and Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM), each with specific limits and requirements.

Keeping accurate records through a National Work Diary or Electronic Work Diary (EWD) is mandatory when working outside local area exemptions. Proper fatigue management not only keeps drivers safe but also helps businesses meet their Chain of Responsibility (CoR) obligations.

Chain of Responsibility (CoR) is a critical part of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) that ensures everyone in the transport supply chain, not just the driver, shares legal responsibility for safety and compliance. 

This includes schedulers, loaders, consignors, operators, and company directors.

CoR laws mean that if your actions, decisions, or inactions affect a heavy vehicle’s safety on the road, such as setting unrealistic delivery times or overloading a vehicle, you can be held legally accountable.

Understanding your role in CoR helps prevent unsafe practices, protect your business, and improve overall road safety. It's not just the driver’s job, it’s everyone’s responsibility.

Pre-start checks are a vital daily safety task for all heavy vehicle drivers. Before getting on the road, drivers must inspect their vehicle to ensure it is roadworthy and safe to operate. This includes checking brakes, lights, tyres, fluid levels, load security, and any potential defects.

Completing and recording pre-starts helps prevent breakdowns, reduce accidents, and meet Chain of Responsibility (CoR) and Work Health & Safety (WHS) obligations. It also ensures issues are reported early and addressed promptly, keeping both drivers and the public safe.

Remember: a thorough pre-start isn’t just good practice, it’s a legal requirement.