NHVR Industry Update

Issue 198 - 26 March 2026

As we head into the Easter school holidays many families will be taking to the roads. With more cars on the road we know this can be a higher-risk period for all road users, so I’d encourage everyone across the heavy vehicle industry to take extra care—be patient, drive to the conditions, look out for others and take a break if you’re feeling fatigued. Safety is something we all share responsibility for.

We also recognise the ongoing pressure of rising diesel prices are placing on operators and businesses. These impacts are very real and being felt across day-to-day operations and long-term sustainability.

The NHVR remains committed to supporting industry through these pressures while continuing to advocate for a safer and more productive sector.

This month I had the opportunity to attend the Victorian Transport Association State Conference, and it was great to speak directly from operators and industry representatives.

Hearing firsthand about the innovations, opportunities and challenges shaping the sector is critical to ensuring our work remains practical, targeted and informed by real-world experience.

Work continues on the implementation of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) reforms, including the transition from the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS) to the new Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (HVA) scheme.

Part of these changes will be supporting the role of NHVR-approved auditors, who play a vital part in supporting safer outcomes across Australia’s heavy vehicle industry.

We are encouraging suitably qualified professionals to consider becoming approved auditors and contributing to the ongoing strength and integrity of the accreditation framework. Please read on for more information.

Finally, I encourage all stakeholders to have their say in shaping the next NHVR Truck Driver Safety Campaign. Your insights are essential to ensuring the campaign reflects the realities of the industry and delivers meaningful impact. Details on how to share your ideas are below.

Thank you for your continued commitment to safety and professionalism across the heavy vehicle sector, and have a happy Easter.

Stay safe,

Nicole Rosie
NHVR Chief Executive Officer

In this issue:

• Supporting the transition to the amended HVNL with new tools
• NVHAS NVHAS to HVA transition: what operators need to know
• HVNL Reforms: Mass, Dimension and Loading Changes
• What MDL changes mean for operators
• Easter travel restrictions
• NHVR secures court order to stop high-risk company and director from operating
• Safety bulletin - increase in trailer drop and decoupling events
• Have your say: Help shape the next NHVR truck driver safety campaign
• Amendment to the National Class 3 Rear Overhang Dimension Exemption Notice

Supporting the transition to the amended HVNL with new tools

Work is well underway to support industry through the transition to the amended Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), with guidance materials, tools and supporting resources currently being developed and set to be released over the coming months.

Engagement with industry has also increased and will continue to ramp up as implementation approaches.

You may also notice new branding across materials, with a new logo designed to help industry distinguish between the current and amended HVNL - particularly for accreditation changes.

Visit the NHVR website to read more about the changes.

NVHAS to HVA transition: what operators need to know

From mid-2026, NHVAS will transition to the new Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (HVA) scheme.

If you are an NHVAS operator you will not need to immediately transition to the new HVA scheme. It’s important that you know your NHVAS accreditation expiry data and are aware of the transition options available to you:

Option 1 – Maintain NHVAS for up to two more years
Option 2 – Extend your current NHVAS accreditation for up to 12 months
Option 3 – Transition to the new HVA scheme when it takes effect

Further information on how to apply to the new scheme will be provided soon, including Safety Management System (SMS) tools and guidance and templated work and rest hours (including Basic Fatigue Management equivalent hours).

Learn more about the transition approach on the NHVR website.

Reforms: Mass, Dimension and Loading Changes

As part of the HVNL reforms, changes to the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension, and Loading) National Regulation are being finalised by the National Transport Commission.

Key changes include:

• Increase to General Mass Limits (GML): The maximum mass available under GML will increase to align with the current Concessional Mass Limits (CML). Buses will not be eligible to access the increased GML.
• Euro VI mass concessions: Euro VI vehicles will receive higher mass allowances to reflect their advanced emissions systems and heavier build under ADR 80/04.
• Length increase: The maximum length for general access vehicles, currently limited to 19 metres, will increase to 20 metres.

Find out more about the HVNL reform implementation.

What MDL changes mean for operators

To access alternative compliance through notices and schemes, including Higher Mass Limits and Performance-Based Standards, operators will continue to need Mass Management accreditation (and maintenance accreditation for some PBS Vehicle Approvals).

The NHVR is reviewing affected notices to maintain continuity. Notices requiring Mass Management accreditation will now reference Alternative Compliance Accreditation (ACA) – Mass to align with the amended HVNL. Read more on the new scheme. 

Percentage-based mass uplifts will be converted to clear maximum mass limits, while references to CML are mostly administrative, with no impact on mass limits, eligible vehicles, or networks.

Learn more about the notices and permit-based schemes requiring ACA-Mass.

Easter travel restrictions

Some states and territories have travel restrictions over the Easter holiday period that limit travel for Class 1 heavy vehicles (agricultural, oversize/overmass and special purpose vehicles).

The NHVR recommends operators and drivers check their permits and notices for applicable restrictions and confirm with their relevant state and territory road transport authority.

Learn more about Easter travel restrictions.

NHVR secures court order to stop high-risk company and director from operating 

The NHVR secured a Supreme Court injunction preventing a Queensland-based transport company and its director from operating after they repeatedly ignored prohibition notices.

The actions follow the detection of more than 200 mechanical faults and almost 70 offences across the fleet over two years.

NHVR Executive Director of Statutory Compliance Paul Alsbury said the company’s compliance history demonstrated a clear disregard for safety obligations.

Read more here.

Safety bulletin - increase in trailer drop and decoupling events

The NHVR has issued a safety bulletin in response to recent increases in incidents involving unplanned trailer drop and decoupling events that have resulted in heavy vehicle crashes.

Intelligence collection and media scanning indicates a clear rise in decoupling events when compared with previous reporting periods.

The bulletin outlines key preventative measures that heavy vehicle operators and drivers should take to reduce the risk of these incidents and support the safe movement of goods on our roads.

You can view the safety bulletin here.

Have your say: Help shape the next NHVR truck driver safety campaign

The NHVR is developing a new national truck driver safety campaign, designed to roll out over time with different safety focuses. The goal is simple: deliver safety information that is relevant, practical and useful for drivers, and shared in ways that actually work on the road.

To get this right, we’re asking the industry to help shape the direction.

We want to hear directly from truck drivers across Australia about:

• The safety risks you see most often on the road.
• Where safety and compliance information can be confusing or unclear.
• What kind of education actually cuts through and what gets ignored.

This is not a compliance check and not about individual behaviour. The survey focuses on industry‑wide patterns and your general experience as a driver.

The survey:

• Takes around 10 minutes to complete.
• Is completely anonymous.
• Can be completed on your phone, tablet, or computer.

If you’re a truck driver, your experience matters.

By taking part, you’re helping ensure future safety campaigns reflect the realities of the job and provide information that genuinely supports drivers on the road.

Complete the survey. 

Amendment to the National Class 3 Rear Overhang Dimension Exemption Notice 

This is to advise that an amendment has been made to the National Class 3 Rear Overhang Dimension Exemption Notice 2024 (No.2) (“the Notice”) to remove a reference to a ‘truck towing a trailer’. The Notice exempts rigid trucks, prime movers, semitrailers and B-doubles from the prescribed rear overhang limit where a forklift mount is attached to the rear of the truck or the last trailer in the combination.

In our On the Road newsletter of 14 February 2023, we advised that operators of rigid truck and trailer combinations were excluded from operating under the Notice because of unsafe tail swing.

This is a reminder to operators of rigid truck and trailer combinations that exceed prescribed rear overhang limits that the Notice does not apply to them. The amendment will remove any uncertainty about the matter. The amendment to the Notice commenced on 23 March 2026.

Find the Notice here.