NHVAS is the acronym for the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme. Transport operators receive benefits upon demonstration of compliance to specific Standards through records which are audited by independent third-party auditors.

There are three modules to NHVAS - Mass, Maintenance and Fatigue.

The standards of these modules were originally developed by the NTC (National Transport Commission) during the 1990s and piloted by the States for further development and enforcement via Pilot Schemes. Victoria piloted Mass, New South Wales piloted Maintenance and Queensland piloted Fatigue. Eventually the Pilot Schemes in Victoria and New South Wales were closed and those two modules rolled out nationally.

The National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme is now administered through the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) based in Brisbane.  The NHVR also administers the scheme for Performance-Based Standards (PBS).  In the latter part of 2013 the NHVR will officially become the sole administration point for the NHVAS, PBS and for the issuing of the various permits required in heavy vehicle transport. 

Options:

NHVAS gives four options to road transport operators:

• Mass Management - higher weights for specific axle groups on specified vehicles
• Maintenance Management - demonstration of maintenance and roadworthiness
• Basic Fatigue Management (14 hrs)
• Advanced Fatigue Management (15 hrs or 16 hrs dependant upon the accrediting state)

The individual aspects of these accreditations are discussed in greater detail throughout this website.

Who do you contact for registration?

 
The NHVR is the contact for registration into any of the modules in the NHVAS. 

When considering the name in which an operator is accredited, there are only two alternatives - an individual person or a company. A partnership is not a recognised legal identity, therefore the accredited operator would be the person. Where an operator operates as a trust via a company as the trading identity, the accreditation would be in the name of the company.

It is possible for two or more operators to be accredited under the one accreditation. To do this, one operator would take on the duties and responsibilities of an accredited operator - the vehicles or drivers of the other operators would become "captured" and all would be accountable to the accredited operator. The person (or company) becoming accredited would need assurance that all essential paperwork would be completed as required by the accreditation. In these circumstances we strongly suggest that a formal agreement be drawn up between the individual operators.