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Driver fatigue, defined as driving while feeling sleepy, physically or mentally tired, or lacking energy, is a major heavy vehicle safety hazard. Not getting enough sleep, driving at night, and being awake for a long time are the main causes of fatigue. Understand the rules and requirements of fatigue management.
You must not operate a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle if you are impaired by fatigue. Even if you comply with work and rest requirements, you may still feel too tired to drive, so it’s important to be aware of the signs of fatigue.
Drivers who feel pressured to drive while fatigued should call the Heavy Vehicle Confidential Reporting Hotline.
- For more information on fatigue in the heavy vehicle transport industry, as well as obligations under the HVNL for parties in the Chain of Responsibility (CoR), see Regulatory Advice – Fitness to drive: Fatigue.
- For more information on fatigue management for primary producers see Heavy vehicle fatigue management - primary producers.
- For more information on fatigue obligations for fatigue-regulated buses see Heavy vehicle fatigue management - bus industry.
Fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles
National heavy vehicle driver fatigue laws apply to fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles, which are:
- a vehicle with a GVM of over 12t
- a combination when the total of the GVM/GCM is over 12t
- buses with a GVM over 4.5t fitted to carry more than 12 adults (including the driver)
- a truck, or a combination including a truck, with a GVM of over 12t with a machine or implement attached.
GVM - Gross Vehicle Mass. GCM - Gross Combination Mass.
