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Key takeaways
- The NHVR administers the Heavy Vehicle National Law in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, TAS and the ACT.
- WA and the NT regulate heavy vehicles under their own frameworks.
- Work diaries, mass limits and fatigue requirements are among the most commonly breached obligations.
- Responsibility is shared across the supply chain, not carried by the driver alone.
Who the NHVR is
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator is the regulator for heavy vehicles over 4.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass in participating jurisdictions. It administers the Heavy Vehicle National Law, conducts on-road compliance activity, and issues notices and permits for access, oversize and over-mass movements.
Western Australia and the Northern Territory have not adopted the HVNL. If you drive in those jurisdictions, check the relevant state or territory transport authority for the rules that apply.
Work diaries and fatigue
Drivers of fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles must record work and rest times in a written work diary or an approved Electronic Work Diary. Whether a vehicle is fatigue-regulated depends on its mass and configuration, and on bus seating capacity.
Standard hours set default work and rest limits. Operators accredited for Basic or Advanced Fatigue Management may work to different limits under documented controls.
Mass, dimension and loading
Axle and gross mass limits depend on the vehicle configuration and any applicable notice or permit. Overloading is a common breach detected at weigh stations and through camera networks.
Loads must be restrained to the performance standards in the Load Restraint Guide. The guide sets out the forces a restraint system must withstand in each direction and gives worked examples for common freight types.
Vehicle standards and pre-start checks
Heavy vehicles must meet the applicable vehicle standards regulation. A documented daily pre-start check — tyres, lights, brakes, coupling, restraint equipment and bodywork — is the simplest way to catch a defect before an authorised officer does.
On-road interactions
You must comply with directions from NHVR authorised officers and police. Breaches are tiered by severity, with the most serious dealt with by the courts. Keep your work diary, permits and load documentation accessible.
Sources and review
Last reviewed by the Aussie Transport Jobs editorial team.
Coverage: The HVNL applies in NSW, VIC, QLD, SA, TAS and the ACT. Western Australia and the Northern Territory administer their own heavy vehicle frameworks.
Limitations: This is a summary only. Penalty levels, notices and exemptions change; always check the current NHVR guidance.
Official sources
- National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) (opens in a new tab)
- Heavy Vehicle National Law (registered legislation, Queensland) (opens in a new tab)
- NHVR — Fatigue management (opens in a new tab)
- NHVR — Load Restraint Guide (opens in a new tab)
This guide provides general information only. Licensing, safety, employment and training requirements can change and may differ between states and territories. Confirm current requirements with the relevant government authority or qualified provider.
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