Accreditation

Overview of National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS)

NHVAS was first offered to industry in 1999 as an alternative compliance scheme and was intended to provide transport operators with a voluntary means of demonstrating compliance with aspects of road transport law and in return accredited operators were to be subjected to less conventional enforcement.

Accreditation has evolved as a formal process for recognising operators who have good safety and other management systems in place. It is also increasingly being used to show compliance with the chain of responsibility and duty of care requirements.

To become accredited under NHVAS, operators must be able to provide documentary and auditable evidence that they are complying with the standards. Accredited operators need to:

develop an in-house assurance system;
document the procedures that staff must follow to achieve compliance;
produce (and keep for audit) sets of documents that prove compliance; and
undergo independent audits from time to time.

When an operator has developed an assurance system it must be subjected to a System Accreditation Audit. If the result is successful, the operator is accredited and the vehicles and drivers are identified to show this. Subsequently, Compliance Audits are required before accreditation is renewed.

At present, there are four modules for which accreditation can be granted:

Mass Management;
Maintenance Management
Basic Fatigue Management, and
Advanced Fatigue Management.

These modules have been tested in pilot studies, refined, and then approved for national implementation. For specific information about each module click on the link “Accreditation Information” at the bottom of the page.

Benefits of accreditation

Mass Management: Accredited operators in the Mass Management module can access additional mass concessions. These concessions allow a vehicle to operate at Concessional Mass Limits (CML) for general access to the road network. You can also apply to operate at Higher Mass Limits (HML) for specific routes if you meet additional operating conditions.

>> Click here for more information on CML.
>> Click here for more information on HML.

Maintenance Management: Operators accredited in the Maintenance Management module are provided an exemption of the requirement to have vehicles inspected annually for the purposes of registration. To be provided with the exemption vehicles must be adequately maintained and comply with all applicable vehicle standards at all times.

Basic Fatigue Management (BFM): BFM replaces the Transitional Fatigue Management Scheme (TFMS). BFM accreditation offers more flexible hours and retains the ability to work 14 hour shifts. BFM gives operators a greater say in when they can work and rest providing the risks of working long and night hours are properly managed.

>> Click here for more information about driving hours options.

Advanced Fatigue Management: Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM) brings a genuine risk management approach to managing fatigue, rather than prescribing work and rest hours. It offers more flexible hours than Standard Hours or Basic Fatigue Management (BFM) in return for the operator demonstrating greater accountability for managing fatigue risks. Under AFM drivers may be allowed to split their continuous rest break for more flexibility.

>> Click here for more information about driving hours options.

Additional requirements for Fatigue Management:

It is a requirement of both the Basic Fatigue Management and Advanced Fatigue Management that :

drivers are medically fit to drive and have had the appropriate periodic medical assessment. Follow this link for a copy of the Austroads Assessing Fitness to Drive 2003
drivers and schedulers must undergo training and obtain the appropriate statement of attainment from a registered training organisation. Further details can be obtained here

In addition, all AFM applications must be accompanied by a fatigue expert report.

More information about National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS)

>> Click here to access information guides, forms and other NHVAS information or contact the Accreditation and Intelligence Unit on 1300 811 684.