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NHVAS to HVA, in plain English.

Q: How do I know my company's doing their bit?

Ask. Specifically: When does our accreditation expire and have we started the transition yet? If the person you ask doesn't know, they should be finding out. Staying on top of the transition is the company's responsibility, not yours.

The accreditation scheme that runs heavy vehicles in Australia is changing. We've stripped the jargon out so you can see what's happening, what you need to do, and when.

Start here

The short version, in 30 seconds.

NHVAS (National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme) is being retired. The new scheme, HVA (Heavy Vehicle Accreditation), is set to take over from mid-2026. HVA is designed to manage safety throughout the business, not just the vehicles. Your current accreditation keeps working until it expires. You don't have to switch on day one.

The three tiers

Similar to NHVAS, HVA is a tiered system.

Tier 1 is the foundation required by all businesses who participate in HVA. Tier 2 and Tier 3 both branch off Tier 1 as parallel add-on options, depending on whether you want concessions on Mass / Fatigue, on Maintenance, or both. You can't skip Tier 1.

1 Foundation

General Safety Accreditation

A whole-of-business Safety Management System which is the foundation requirement to participate in Heavy Vehicle Accreditation. HVA demonstrates that you have a Safety Management System that covers leadership, risk, people and monitoring.

Some heavy vehicle operators may elect only to operate under GSA to demonstrate they have proper safety systems in place even without participating in Alternative Compliance Accreditations.

Plain English: "Assists with verifying your whole business is running safely, not just your trucks."

2 Mass / Fatigue branch

Alternative Compliance Accreditation

The add-on you pick if you want concessions on Mass or Fatigue. You can only apply for ACA once you hold GSA.

Plain English: "Same Mass and Fatigue choices you know from NHVAS, sitting on top of the new foundation."

3 Maintenance branch

GSA – Maintenance Assurance Program

The add-on for Maintenance. Lets you skip annual vehicle inspections in states that allow it. Accessed through GSA plus additional maintenance-specific requirements. It does not sit under ACA.

Plain English: "Your safety system and maintenance regime replace the required annual heavy vehicle inspections."

Module by module

What changes for Mass, Fatigue and Maintenance.

Mass

NHVAS Mass Module → ACA Mass

The big win is that general mass limits are being increased to the outgoing CML weights. For most operators that's an extra tonne at general weights, with no accreditation required.

If you want to run higher mass limits and PBS combinations, you'll need ACA Mass accreditation.

Fatigue

BFM & AFM → ACA Fatigue

BFM and AFM transition to a single, performance-based fatigue accreditation. NHVR will offer templated work and rest hours, so most operators don't have to write their own from scratch.

With templated work and rest hours, operators can choose the pattern that best suits their operation.

Maintenance

Maintenance Module → GSA – Maintenance Assurance Program

Exempts operators from annual heavy vehicle inspections. The maintenance pathway now sits as an extension of General Safety Accreditation, with additional maintenance-specific requirements that NHVR will publish in the lead-up to commencement.

For drivers

What drivers actually ask.

Do I have to do anything different?

From a process point of view, no. Assuming you're operating under fatigue, mass, and maintenance accreditation, the only changes are to work and rest hours, and regulated weights. The recording processes remain the same.

Will my work and rest hours change?

There is a good possibility that they will. This depends on which work and rest hours template has been chosen under the new fatigue accreditation. The pattern chosen may not align exactly with what you run now.

Will these changes do anything to affect my licence?

No. Nothing in this reform affects your licence.

What about my work diary?

Completing a work diary remains mandatory under accreditation. The only thing that may change is where you draw the lines.

How do I know my company's doing their bit?

Ask. Specifically: "When does our accreditation expire and have we started the transition yet?" If the person you ask doesn't know, they should be finding out. Staying on top of the transition is the company's responsibility, not yours.

This guide is a plain-English summary of NHVR-published information at the time of writing. For the full and current detail, go to the source: nhvr.gov.au — NHVAS transition to HVA. Specific deadlines may shift; check before you act on them.

Need a hand transitioning?

CnX Modular is built around the new scheme. Audit register, risk management, fatigue and maintenance records, all in one place. We can help you get ready for HVA without rebuilding from scratch.