Work and rest hours

The content on this page refers to transitional arrangements put in place due to changes to the Heavy Vehicle National Law and Regulations that commence on 1 August 2026. There may be references to different rules that are operating side by side for a fixed amount of time. For more information, please see HVNL reform implementation.

Drivers of fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles must comply with the maximum work and minimum rest limits that apply to the hours option they are operating under.
Drivers must only operate under one hours option at a time.

Work and rest requirements

Important information

The maximum work and minimum rest limits are designed to ensure the safe operation of fatigue-regulated heavy vehicles; however, it is important to be aware that you can still be impaired by fatigue or unfit to drive even when operating within these outer limits.

As of 1 August 2026, a driver must not drive any heavy vehicle over 4.5 tonnes GVM while impaired by fatigue or unfit to drive - even if the driver is within their permitted work and rest hours.

Parties in the Chain of Responsibility must, so far as is reasonably practicable, ensure their activities do not cause or encourage a driver to exceed those limits. Drivers must be able to stop driving when necessary and alternative arrangements should be available.

For more information on fatigue management, as well as obligations under the HVNL for parties in the CoR, please see:

Counting time

For more information on how to count time within your hours option, refer to Counting time.

Standard hours

Standard Hours are the default hours option unless the driver is operating under BFM, AFM, ACH or exemption hours.
No accreditation is required to operate under Standard Hours.

Solo drivers

Download the Daily work and rest hours planner - Standard hours (solo drivers) (PDF, 24KB)

in any period of	Maximum work time	Minimum rest required
5 ½ hours	5 ¼ hours work time	15 continuous minutes rest time
8 hours	7 ½ hours work time	30 minutes rest time in blocks of 15 continuous minutes
11 hours	10 hours work time	60 minutes rest time in blocks of 15 continuous minutes
24 hours	12 hours work time	7 continuous hours stationary rest time*
7 days	72 hours work time	24 continuous hours stationary rest time
14 days	144 hours work time	2 x night rest breaks**and 2 x night rest breaks taken on consecutive days
Stationary rest time is the time a driver spends out of a heavy vehicle or in an approved sleeper berth of a stationary heavy vehicle. *Night rest breaks are 7 continuous hours stationary rest time taken between the hours of 10pm on a day and 8am on the next day (using the time zone of the base of the driver) or a 24 continuous hours stationary rest break.

Solo drivers - Bus and coach

Solo drivers of fatigue-regulated buses may choose to operate under either the standard solo driver hours (above) or the bus and coach sector hours (below), but not both at the same time.

In any period of	Maximum work time	Minimum rest time
5 ½ hours	5 ¼ hours work time	15 continuous minutes rest time
8 hours	7 ½ hours work time	30 minutes rest time in blocks of 15 continuous minutes
11 hours	10 hours work time	60 minutes rest time in blocks of 15 continuous minutes
24 hours	12 hours work time	7 continuous hours stationary rest time*
7 days		6 x night rest breaks**
28 days	288 hours work time	4 x 24 hours continuous hours stationary rest time
Stationary rest time is the time a driver spends out of a heavy vehicle or in an approved sleeper berth of a stationary heavy vehicle. *Night rest breaks are 7 continuous hours stationary rest time taken between the hours of 10pm on a day and 8am on the next day (using the time zone of the base of the driver) or a 24 continuous hours stationary rest break.

Two-up drivers

If two people are sharing the driving of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle, this is considered a two-up arrangement under the HVNL. In this instance, both drivers must operate under a two-up work option and must remain compliant with the work and rest requirements of the work option. This includes Standard Hours two-up, BFM two-up, and ACH two-up.

Use of an approved sleeper berth for two-up drivers: The NHVR recommends that two-up drivers only use an approved sleeper berth for continuous rest while the vehicle is moving before taking their major rest break.

In any period of	Maximum work time	Minimum rest required
5 ½ hours	5 ¼ hours work time	15 continuous minutes rest time
8 hours	7 ½ hours work time	30 minutes rest time in blocks of 15 continuous minutes
11 hours	10 hours work time	60 minutes rest time in blocks of 15 continuous minutes
24 hours	12 hours work time	5 continuous hours stationary rest time* or 5 hours continuous rest time in an approved sleeper berth while the vehicle is moving
52 hours		10 continuous hours stationary rest time
7 days	60 hours work time	24 continuous hours stationary rest time and 24 hours stationary rest time in blocks of at least 7 continuous hours of stationary rest time
14 days	120 hours work time	2 x night rest breaks and** 2 x night rest breaks taken on consecutive days
Stationary rest time is the time a driver spends out of a heavy vehicle or in an approved sleeper berth of a stationary heavy vehicle. *Night rest breaks are 7 continuous hours stationary rest time taken between the hours of 10pm on a day and 8am on the next day (using the time zone of the base of the driver) or a 24 continuous hours stationary rest break.

Basic Fatigue Management (BFM)

BFM was available as an accreditation module under the previous HVNL (prior to 1 August 2026) under the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS).

Operators currently holding BFM accreditation may continue to operate under its conditions until their accreditation expires, is cancelled, or they choose to transition to the Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (HVA) scheme.

BFM solo drivers

Download the BFM daily work and rest hours planner for solo drivers (PDF, 24KB)

In any period of	Maximum work time	Minimum rest required
6 ¼ hours	6 hours work time	15 continuous minutes rest time
9 hours	8 ½ hours work time	30 minutes rest time in blocks of 15 continuous minutes
12 hours	11 hours work time	60 minutes rest time in blocks of 15 continuous minutes
24 hours	14 hours work time	7 continuous hours stationary rest time*
7 days	36 hours long/night work time**	No limit has been set
14 days	144 hours work time	24 continuous hours stationary rest time taken after no more than 84 hours work time and 24 continuous hours stationary rest time and 2 x night rest breaks*** and 2 x night rest breaks taken on consecutive days.
Stationary rest time is the time a driver spends out of a regulated heavy vehicle or in an approved sleeper berth of a stationary regulated heavy vehicle. Long/night work time is any work time (outside of the period midnight to 6.00 am) that is in excess of 12 hours of work in a 24-hour period or any work time between midnight and 6 am (or the equivalent hours in the time zone of the base of a driver). **Night rest breaks are 7 continuous hours stationary rest time taken between the hours of 10pm on a day and 8am on the next day (using the time zone of the base of the driver) or a 24 continuous hours stationary rest break.

BFM two-up drivers

In any period of	Maximum work time	Minimum rest required
24 hours	14 hours work time	No limit has been set
82 hours	No limit has been set	10 continuous hours stationary rest time*
7 days	70 hours work time	24 continuous hours stationary rest time and 24 hours stationary rest time in blocks of at least 7 continuous hours of stationary rest time
14 days	140 hours work time	4 night rest breaks**
Stationary rest time is the time a driver spends out of a regulated heavy vehicle or in an approved sleeper berth of a stationary regulated heavy vehicle. *Night rest breaks are 7 continuous hours stationary rest time taken between the hours of 10pm on a day and 8am on the next day (using the time zone of the base of the driver) or a 24 continuous hours stationary rest break.

Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM)

Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM) was available as an accreditation module under the previous HVNL (prior to 1 August 2026) under the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS).

Operators with existing AFM accreditation may continue to operate under the conditions of their accreditation certificate until it expires, is cancelled, or they choose to transition to the Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (HVA) scheme.

The maximum work times and minimum rest times for AFM drivers are set out on the operator's AFM accreditation certificate. Drivers must carry a copy of the certificate in the vehicle at all times.

For more information, see Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM).

Alternative Compliance Hours (ACH)

Alternative Compliance Hours (ACH) describe the work and rest hours available through Alternative Compliance Accreditation–Fatigue (ACA–Fatigue) under the reformed HVNL. This is available under the new Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (HVA) scheme and replaces the previous BFM and AFM accreditation pathway for new applicants.

ACH provides operators with work and rest hours that meet their specific operational needs, as an alternative to Standard Hours. The maximum work times and minimum rest times that apply are stated on the operator's ACA–Fatigue certificate. Drivers must carry a copy of the certificate in the vehicle at all times.

ACH requires ACA–Fatigue. Drivers cannot self-select ACH without the operator holding this accreditation.

For more information, see Alternative Compliance Accreditation–Fatigue (ACA–Fatigue).

Exemption hours

Drivers operating under exemption hours must comply with the work, rest and other conditions stated in the applicable exemption.

See Fatigue management exemptions for more information.

Switching between work and rest options

Changing work and rest options

You must only operate under one work and rest hours option at a time. The work and rest hours options are standard hours, BFM hours, AFM hours, ACH or exemption hours.

Changing from standard hours

You may change from standard hours to any other work and rest hours option, provided that you fully comply with the maximum work requirements and minimum rest requirements under the work and rest option you are changing to or have taken a reset rest break of at least 48 continuous hours rest.

Changing from BFM hours

You may change from BFM hours to any other work and rest hours option provided that you fully comply with the maximum work requirements and minimum rest requirements under the work and rest option you are changing to or have taken a reset rest break of at least 48 continuous hours rest.

For more information, see the Swapping between standard hours and BFM fact sheet (PDF, 249KB)

Changing from AFM, ACH or exemption hours

You may change from:

AFM hours to any other work and rest hours option;
ACH to any other work and rest hours option; or
exemption hours to any other work and rest hours option,

providing you have taken a reset rest break at least 48 continuous hours rest, or the amount of reset rest required on your AFM or ACH certificate or exemption permit or notice

You must comply with all other requirements of the work and rest option to which you have changed.

More information

Contact info@nhvr.gov.au for more information on fatigue management.

Safety, Accreditation & Compliance