NHVR launches new heavy vehicle 2026 Master Code

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has today released the 2026 Master Code, described as an industry-driven guide designed to support safer heavy vehicle operations and help all parties in the Chain of Responsibility (CoR) meet their safety obligations.

This official launch follows the release of the Draft Master Code of Practice in August 2025.

According to the NHVR, the 2026 Master Code was developed with extensive input from across the supply chain. It is designed to support owners, operators and supply-chain participants to better understand, manage and reduce safety risks in day-to-day operations.
NHVR Acting Chief Safety and Productivity Officer Kelli Walker said the updated Master Code and supporting material provided clear, practical ways to help businesses meet their Primary Duty to ensure safety under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).
“This revised and expanded Master Code is not about introducing new rules or red tape,” Walker said.

“It provides a clear roadmap to safer operations, informed by the collective experience of industry, regulators and operators right across the heavy vehicle supply chain.”

While the HVNL sets out specific legal requirements – such as limits on driving hours, axle loads and vehicle dimensions – it also includes a Primary Duty that requires all parties to ensure safety so far as is reasonably practicable.

The 2026 Master Code aims to bridge the gap between this legal duty and everyday business decisions by identifying what can go wrong in business operations that involve heavy vehicles, and outlining practical ways to prevent harm.

NHVR CEO Nicole Rosie said the Code would be published today (Wednesday January 21) alongside practical guidance material, with the Regulator continuing to work closely with industry over the coming months to develop further resources to support its understanding and application.

“The heavy vehicle industry operates in a complex and demanding environment, and we know operators and drivers are balancing safety, productivity and compliance every day,” she said.

“By continuing to work alongside industry, we can help turn information into action and support safer outcomes for drivers, operators and the wider community.”

The Master Code applies beyond businesses that own trucks or employ drivers. Parties that contract transport services, manage warehouses, operate loading facilities or otherwise influence heavy vehicle activities should also use the Code to understand and meet their CoR obligations.

Developed over two years and building on the original 2018 version, the 2026 Master Code reflects the lived experience and operational realities of the heavy vehicle industry, incorporating lessons learned, improved safety practices and new insights gained as the industry’s understanding of risk management has matured.

“Many of the recommendations reflect practices already in place across the industry, while also providing a strong foundation for businesses looking to strengthen or reassess their safety systems,” Walker said.

“By working together and using tools like the new Master Code, we can improve safety outcomes, protect workers and the public, and support a more consistent and informed approach to safety across the industry.”

The new Master Code along with how-to-use guidance material and FAQs can be viewed now on the NHVR website.