The HVNL is changing in 2026 – Are you prepared?

Although it’s 8 years  since the last major change to the HVNL, it’s still a topic conversation but let’s hope this one isn’t quite as memorable. 

For parties in the chain who use heavy vehicle services, but don’t operate heavy vehicles, here’s how the amendment may affect your transport activities.

1. Contractor pre-qualification questions

Parties that outsource heavy vehicle services often use a pre-qualification process to seek assurance that the businesses you partner with systematically manage safety and compliance. 

Question sets may need to be updated to capture the amendments. 

Any references to the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS) will need to be changed to Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (HVA), the General Safety Accreditation (GSA) and the accreditation options this provides access to.

Fatigue becomes ‘fatigue and unfit to drive’ and remember these duties apply to all heavy vehicles now, not just fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles. 

2. Loads

If your transport activities require knowledge of vehicles GVM and axle group weights, you should know that general mass limits (GML) are changing and some vehicles will have an extra 500-1000kg. If this affects you, remember to update the NHVR Classes of Heavy Vehicles Chart.

The length of certain combinations will change from 19m to 20m. Rear overhang, and other maximum distances increase by 0.3m, 1m or 1.2m. If this affects you, remember to update the Common Heavy Vehicle Configurations Chart.

3. Driver fatigue

Parties in the chain and drivers already have duties in relation to managing the risk of driver fatigue. Under the amended HVNL, these duties will apply to ALL heavy vehicle drivers, not just those in fatigue-regulated vehicles.

4. Unfit to drive duty

The NHVR have previously produced Regulatory Advice on Managing the Risks Associated with Non-compliant Vehicles Arriving at Premises which includes a driver being unfit to drive. If your transport activities involve interacting with drivers, do you have a procedure for responding to non-compliant vehicles and drivers?  

The primary duty does not make you responsible for the safety other party’s transport activities or to extend beyond what is within the capacity of your business to control.

If you’re feeling uncertain about how to implement these updates, chat to us at CoR Comply – we can help. 

There are a few more vehicle related changes relevant to operators. To learn more and stay up to date with the roll out, follow the HVNL Reforms Implementation page at www.nhvr.gov.au.