Drivers of fatigue-related heavy vehicles will be required to complete a new National Driver Work Diary from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator from 10 August 2014.
Work diaries are not new. They record a driver’s work and rest hours and ensure operators work within the limits of the legislation relating to the vehicle their operate.
They must be completed by operators of fatigue-related heavy vehicles, which are vehicles that have a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of
more than 12 tonnes. These include a vehicle combination of a total GVM of more than 12 tonnes, and a bus of more than 4.5 tonnes fitted to carry more than 12 adults, including the driver.
The NHVR took responsibility for administering the national driver work diary when the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) commenced. Following consultation with industry and government, the work diary was updated to reflect the requirements of the Heavy Vehicle (Fatigue Management) National Regulation.
The updated work diary includes a number of changes, such as drivers now only have to record their vehicle registration once a day or if their vehicle changes, rather than at every break.
Currently the fatigue laws that have introduced the revised work diaries only apply in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and Victoria.
For more information on the new work diaries and how they apply in your state, visit the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.