Alternative Compliance Accreditation – Fatigue

The content on this page includes amendments due to changes to the Heavy Vehicle National Law and Regulations that commenced on 1 August 2026. For more information, please see HVNL reform implementation.

Alternative Compliance Accreditation – Fatigue (ACA-Fatigue) is a Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (HVA) scheme for operators of fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles who need different work and rest hours for drivers. It replaces the previous NHVAS Basic Fatigue Management (BFM) and Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM) modules and is available from 1 August 2026.

Note: If you currently hold BFM or AFM accreditation, your existing accreditation remains valid until it expires, is cancelled, or you choose to transition to the HVA scheme. Contact us at fatigue.management@nhvr.gov.au for information about transitioning to ACA-Fatigue.

With ACA-Fatigue, we work with you to set Alternative Compliance Hours (ACH) that fit your operations. These hours can be used instead of standard hours. For more information, see the Ministerial Standard for Alternative Compliance Hours.

What is ACA-Fatigue?

ACA-Fatigue is an accreditation under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) through the Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (HVA) scheme. It lets you apply for Alternative Compliance Hours (ACH) so you can run your business efficiently while still managing fatigue risk, instead of using standard hours.

If your ACH are approved, they will be listed on your ACA-Fatigue accreditation certificate. Drivers working under your accreditation must follow those hours and carry the certificate, a signed letter confirming they are operating under your accreditation, and a work diary.

Who can apply?

ACA-Fatigue is available to operators of fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles. You may apply if you are seeking tailored work and rest hours for your drivers because standard hours are not suited to the nature of your operations.

To hold ACA-Fatigue accreditation, you must also hold General Safety Accreditation (GSA) through the HVA scheme. If you do not already hold GSA, you can apply for both at the same time.

How does the NHVR assess an ACA-Fatigue application?

Each ACA-Fatigue application is assessed on a case-by-case basis using a performance-based approach. We consider your proposed ACH, fatigue risk management system, fatigue controls and countermeasures, and the specific risks of your operations.

The NHVR must be satisfied that:

your proposed ACH provide a safe balance between work time, rest time, risk management and fatigue countermeasures
your proposed ACH are within the outer limits stipulated in the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL)
granting the accreditation will result in a standard of safety at least equivalent to what would be achieved under standard hours
you have a safety management system that complies with the safety management system standard (as obtained through general safety accreditation).

To help you apply, we have ACH templates. If you use a template or submit your own table, it must stay within the maximum work times and minimum rest times in the Heavy Vehicle (Fatigue Management) National Regulation, and it must meet the Standard for ACH. For solo drivers, work in any 24-hour period cannot be more than 15.5 hours, and stationary rest must include at least 7 hours continuous rest. What we approve will depend on the risks in your operation and how you manage them.

We assess ACH using the Risk Classification System Matrix. It uses seven principles to help set safer work and rest hours. The templates below have already been checked against these principles. If you submit your own table, use these principles when setting your ACH:

Keep continuous work periods as short as possible
Schedule driving breaks often
Allow enough rest time for drivers to sleep
Give drivers the best chance to sleep at night
Avoid shifts ending between midnight and 6 am
Keep shifts as short as you reasonably can
Plan reset breaks to stop fatigue building up (at least 30 hours and including two night periods between work blocks)

How to prepare an ACA-Fatigue application

To apply for ACA-Fatigue, you need to submit a safety case. This explains your proposed ACH and how you will manage fatigue risk in your operation. You also need to submit your Fatigue Risk Management System with your ACH. The requirements for ACA–Fatigue are detailed in Schedule 1 of the Safety Management System Standard 2026: The Fatigue Accreditation Requirements and the Ministerial Standard for Alternative Compliance Hours.

When you are ready, log in to , complete the application, and submit it for assessment. Your case manager will then keep you updated.

ACH templates

We have developed ACH templates based on common hours used under NHVAS (including BFM and AFM). You can choose a template when you apply for ACA-Fatigue. If none fit your operation, you can submit your own table of hours for assessment.

Alternative Compliance Accreditation – Fatigue (ACA-Fatigue) Templated Tables of Hours (PDF, 234KB)

More information

For questions about ACA-Fatigue, contact us at fatigue.management@nhvr.gov.au or call 13 NHVR (13 64 87).

Safety, Accreditation & Compliance