National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme
The National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS) is a voluntary alternative to conventional heavy vehicle compliance. Accredited operators must demonstrate that their vehicles and drivers comply with standards set by the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme through regular audits of their transport management systems and vehicle or driver assessments. The National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme is intended to increase transport efficiency by reducing the costs of compliance by allowing members greater flexibility in the management of their transport business.
Please note: From 21 January 2013 the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) is responsible for the management of the NHVAS. Heavy vehicle operators will now deal directly with the NHVR and not the department for all NHVAS business.
The NHVR:
- responds to all NHVAS enquiries
- manages all NHVAS requests, such as applications and renewal
- coordinates information and education on all NHVAS modules.
Visit the NHVAS section of the NHVR website for more information.
Under the national agreed scheme business rules all audits are to be conducted by an approved independent auditor. These auditors must be certified by the Registered Accreditation Board Quality Society of Australasia International to be recognised as a National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme.
Spot Checks
Departmental officers randomly conduct spot checks on scheme members’ accreditation management systems.
The objective of conducting Spot Checks is to indicate to the department that the accredited operators are complying with the conditions of approval and the NHVAS Accreditation Standards.
Transport Inspectors may carry out random inspections in conjunction with departmental auditors to identify that the condition of a vehicle(s) is consistent with the national standard.
The Spot Check checklist (developed from the NHVAS Mass, Maintenance and Fatigue Management Accreditation Standards) has been introduced as an independent indicator to the national audit matrix. Non-compliance identified during these spot checks may result in sanctions being imposed and/or show cause notice including suspension or cancellation.
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