Verification of Competency

A Verification of Competency (VoC) is a structured, evidence-based assessment used to confirm that a worker is currently competent to operate plant, equipment, or heavy vehicles safely, legally, and in line with their actual work tasks.

Under the updated Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) commencing July 2026, holding a licence or qualification alone is no longer sufficient. Businesses must now be able to demonstrate and retain evidence that a driver’s competency is:

• Current
• Task-specific
• Relevant to the vehicle, load, routes, and operating conditions
• Regularly reviewed

VoC assessments align with the National Assessment Instrument (NAI) framework, ensuring consistency with the standards applied during formal licensing and recognised best practice.

🎯 Why VoC Matters Under the HVNL Update

From July 2026, the HVNL places greater emphasis on documented competency, training records, and due diligence across all Chain of Responsibility (CoR) parties.

VoCs help transport and logistics businesses to:

• Meet expanded CoR obligations for ensuring driver competence
• Satisfy new training and competency record-keeping expectations
• Demonstrate reasonable steps in the event of an incident or investigation
• Be audit-ready for compliance activity by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR)
• Reduce liability exposure for directors, managers, schedulers, and operators 

Under the HVNL reforms, regulators will increasingly look beyond licences and ask:

“How did you verify this driver was competent for this task, in this vehicle, under these conditions?”
 

A VoC answers that question.

💡 Why Beck’s Approach is Different

Beck’s Transport Training assessors bring frontline industry experience and deep knowledge of ACT and NSW operating environments. Our VoCs are practical, defensible, and tailored to real-world conditions, not box-ticking exercises.

 👷  Who Needs a VoC?

VoCs are particularly important under the updated HVNL for:

• New drivers entering your business
• Drivers operating different vehicles, loads, or configurations
• Staff moving onto construction sites or higher-risk environments
• Subcontractors and labour-hire drivers working under your duty of care
• Drivers returning after extended leave or injury
• Businesses transitioning to HVNL-ready systems and records 

🧠 Why Use a Third-Party VoC Provider?

Using a qualified third-party assessor like Beck’s Transport Training provides:

✔️ Independent and impartial assessments
✔️ Current regulatory insight (HVNL, NHVR, Access Canberra, Transport NSW)
✔️ Documentation suitable for audits, investigations, or client compliance checks
✔️ Reduced internal bias and business risk
✔️ Clear evidence of “reasonable steps” under CoR
✔️ Pathways to follow-up training where gaps are identified

🚛 Transport Consultancy Services – Beyond the VoC

To support businesses preparing for the July 2026 HVNL changes, Beck’s also provides:

• Chain of Responsibility (CoR) audits and risk assessments
• Training and competency record gap analysis
• Policy and procedure reviews (fatigue, load restraint, licence management)
• SMS-aligned compliance support for small to medium operators
• Custom inductions and task-specific training programs
• Pre-audit preparation for NHVR or principal contractor requirements

Whether you operate 2 vehicles or 200, we tailor compliance solutions to suit your operation, not generic templates.

📈 Benefits for Employers

• Demonstrate HVNL-compliant competency management
• Reduce WHS incidents and legal exposure
• Strengthen insurance and contractual compliance
• Avoid downtime caused by compliance failures
• Be prepared for audits, investigations, or client scrutiny
   

🙋 Benefits for Employees

• Confirm and refresh skills and knowledge
• Build confidence in vehicles, loads, and tasks
• Ensure legal and workplace eligibility to operate
• Support career progression and new responsibilities
• Promote a safety-first, professional culture
   

📋 What’s Included in a VoC?

Each VoC includes:

• Knowledge check (legislation, safety, and task-specific requirements)
• Practical assessment against the actual vehicle and task
• Written competency report with clear outcome
• If required, an Action Plan outlining training or supervision needs 

📍 VoCs can be completed on-site or at our facility, with minimal operational disruption.

📌 Stay Ahead of the HVNL Changes

With the July 2026 HVNL reforms, competency verification and record-keeping are no longer optional, they are a core compliance requirement.

Whether you are a subcontractor, fleet manager, or director, you must be able to prove your drivers are competent for the work they perform.

Beck’s Transport Training helps you protect your business, your people, and your reputation, now and into the future.