The updated Heavy Vehicle National Law

The NTC has delivered the updated law and supporting Statutory Instruments for heavy vehicles in Australia. 

The updated law was developed in consultation with Australian governments and industry and commenced on 1 August 2026. 

The reforms deliver a more flexible, risk-based and outcomes-focused approach to heavy vehicle regulation, while supporting improved safety and productivity.

Key changes include:

• A new Heavy Vehicle Accreditation scheme - with a stronger focus on safety management systems.
• More flexible fatigue management - allowing accredited operators greater flexibility where fatigue risks are appropriately managed.
• A new National Audit Standard - supporting a more consistent and streamlined approach to accreditation audits.
• A new fitness-to-drive duty - heavy vehicle drivers must not drive while impaired by fatigue or otherwise unfit to drive safely.
• Higher General Mass Limits - General Mass Limits have increased to align with the former Concessional Mass Limits.
• Longer general access vehicles - the general access length limit has increased from 19 metres to 20 metres for certain combinations that meet the relevant requirements.
• Updated penalties - penalties have been reviewed to better reflect the seriousness and safety risk of different offences.

The updated HVNL was developed through policy development, legislative drafting and consultation with governments, the heavy vehicle industry, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and other stakeholders. 

In developing the updated law, the NTC consulted on:

• policy options for the reforms
• the draft HVNL Amendment Bill and supporting regulations
• the statutory instruments supporting accreditation, safety management, auditing and fatigue management
• changes to the Mass, Dimension and Loading National Regulation.

Feedback and analysis received throughout this process informed the legislation, regulations and statutory instruments now approved by Australia's transport ministers.

The NTC extends its thanks to the heavy vehicle industry, Australian governments and the NHVR for their collaborative efforts in improving the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

Information sessions

In support of these consultations, we hosted a number of public information sessions. You can view the recordings below.

• HVNL Amendment Bill and Regulations
• Mass, Dimension and Loading Regulation Amendment consultation
• Statutory Instruments consultation

The updated legislative framework includes the amended Heavy Vehicle National Law, supporting regulations and four key statutory instruments:

• Ministerial Guidelines for Heavy Vehicle Accreditation
• Safety Management System Standard
• National Audit Standard
• Ministerial Standard for Alternative Compliance Hours.

Further information on the Heavy Vehicle National Law is available here.

The NTC, Australian governments and the NHVR will continue working with industry to maintain and improve the HVNL following commencement of the updated law.

What is the new Heavy Vehicle Accreditation scheme?

• The new Heavy Vehicle Accreditation scheme introduces a simpler, tiered approach to accreditation.
• General Safety Accreditation provides the foundation, with additional accreditation available for operators seeking alternative mass or fatigue arrangements.
• Transitional arrangements allow operators accredited under the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS) to transition to the new Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (HVA) scheme over time.

What is a Safety Management System?

• A Safety Management System is a structured way for an operator to identify and manage safety risks.
• Operators seeking accreditation must have a system that meets the new Safety Management System Standard and is appropriate for the size and nature of their operations.

What has changed for fatigue management?

• The new scheme provides greater flexibility for accredited operators to manage fatigue.
• Operators may be able to use alternative work and rest arrangements where they can demonstrate that fatigue risks are being appropriately managed.

What is the National Audit Standard?

• The National Audit Standard introduces a more consistent approach to accreditation audits.
• It focuses on whether an operator's safety systems are working effectively and managing safety risks.

What is the new fitness-to-drive duty?

• Heavy vehicle drivers must not drive if they are impaired by fatigue or otherwise unfit to drive safely.
• The duty applies to all heavy vehicle drivers covered by the HVNL.

What has changed to heavy vehicle mass limits?

• General Mass Limits have increased to align with the former Concessional Mass Limits.
• This means operators no longer need accreditation simply to access the mass previously available under Concessional Mass Limits.
• The change allows eligible heavy vehicles to carry more freight at general access mass limits, helping improve freight productivity and, in some cases, reduce the number of trips needed to move the same amount of freight.

What has changed to general access vehicle length?

• The general access length limit has increased from 19 metres to 20 metres for certain heavy vehicle combinations that meet the relevant requirements.
• The change can allow eligible vehicles to carry more freight on each trip, helping improve freight productivity and potentially reduce the number of trips needed.
• Additional safety requirements apply to some vehicles operating above 19 metres.

What has changed to HVNL penalties?

• Penalties across the HVNL have been reviewed and updated to support a more proportionate and risk-based approach to compliance and enforcement.
• Some penalties have increased where stronger deterrence was considered appropriate, including for offences with greater potential safety consequences or where existing penalties did not provide a sufficient compliance incentive. 
• Other penalties have decreased, and some offences have been amended or removed.
   

If you’d like to ask us a question about our work, we’d like to hear from you. You can contact us at hvnlteam@ntc.gov.au.