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Heavy Vehicle accreditation (hVA)

The Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (HVA) scheme is a national voluntary accreditation framework designed to recognise heavy vehicle operators who demonstrate strong safety management capability.

The scheme introduces a nationally consistent, tiered accreditation framework that supports operators with different levels of safety maturity.

The framework includes:

  • General Safety Accreditation (GSA) – the foundational level of accreditation that recognises operators with an effective and compliant Safety Management System (SMS).
  • Alternative Compliance Accreditation (ACA) – advanced accreditation pathways that allow eligible operators to access alternative approaches to compliance where they can demonstrate equivalent or improved safety outcomes.

Operators must achieve GSA before accessing ACA pathways.

 Contact us for assistance in transitioning to the HVA or gaining new HVA Accreditation 

Get your SMS ready. Take the next step toward accreditation.

A practical guide for new operators and businesses moving from NHVAS to the Heavy Vehicle Accreditation scheme.

New operators: your steps

1. Confirm the accreditation you need
Start with General Safety Accreditation (GSA). If your operation needs an available alternative-compliance option, check whether an ACA pathway is suitable. Confirm the current pathway and requirements with the NHVR before applying. 

2. Build your Safety Management System
Document how your business identifies, manages and reviews safety risks. Make responsibilities clear, and make sure your processes fit the way your operation actually works.

3. Put the system into practice
Brief the people involved in transport activities. Keep records showing that your procedures are being used.

4. Check your evidence against PSOE
Before an audit, ask whether each relevant part of your SMS is:

  • Present: documented and available
  • Suitable: appropriate for your operation and its risks
  • Operating: used in everyday work
  • Effective: reviewed to see whether it is achieving the intended result

5. Arrange an entry audit and apply
Engage an auditor approved for the HVA scheme. Confirm the required audit and application steps with the NHVR, then submit the required material through its current process.

Apply for and maintain HVA

Existing NHVAS operators: transition steps

1. Check your expiry date
Record your accreditation expiry and use it to plan your transition. Existing NHVAS accreditation remains valid until expiry; the transition period can extend up to three years. Confirm the dates and requirements that apply to your accreditation with the NHVR. 

2. Review what you already have
Gather your current policies, procedures, audit records and evidence from daily operations. The NHVR’s NHVAS-to-HVA Gap Analysis Tool can help identify areas to review and strengthen. Gap Analysis Tool

3. Close gaps and keep evidence
Update your SMS where needed, assign responsibility for actions, and record evidence that controls are being used and reviewed.

4. Plan your audit and transition
Speak with a HVA-approved auditor and confirm the current NHVR process and timing for your circumstances. Keep operating under your existing accreditation conditions until your transition is complete.

Apply for and maintain HVA

FAQ

Is HVA the same as NHVAS?
No. HVA uses a Safety Management System as the foundation for accreditation. GSA is the baseline pathway, with ACA as an additional pathway.

Can I just write an SMS and submit it?
The system needs to be more than documentation. The audit approach considers whether it is present, suitable, operating and effective. 

Does my existing NHVAS accreditation end when I start transitioning?
Existing NHVAS accreditation remains valid until its expiry date. Confirm the transition timing and requirements that apply to your situation with the NHVR. 

Where can I check the current application requirements?
Use the NHVR’s current HVA guidance and application information. The exact process and required documents should be confirmed before you book an audit.

Quick Links

HVA Resources

Gap Analysis Tool

Risk Register Builder