While many fines and penalties may be increasing under the new Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), there is still a big practical win ahead for truckies among the looming law changes, says the National Road Freighters Association (NRFA).
The peak body for truckies said the updated Written Work Diary (WWD) requirements coming into effect from August 1 remove some of the “paperwork traps” that have caught drivers out for years.
Key changes include removing the requirement to mark the day of the week, standard hours, and recording of daily work and rest totals. They all now become optional, among other HVNL overhauls to the diary.
“For years, drivers have been exposed to fines for missing a tick box, not adding up totals, or making minor admin slips that had little to do with actual road safety,” the NRFA said in a social media post about the new WWD rules.
“These changes mean fines should no longer be dished out simply because a driver forgot to tick the day, forgot to tick standard hours, or did not add up daily work and rest totals once those requirements are removed.
“That is a win for drivers and it did not happen by accident. Industry fought hard during the HVNL review to make fatigue penalties more proportionate and to separate genuine safety risks from paperwork for paperwork’s sake.”
The NRFA stresses that drivers still need to record their work and rest properly.
“False diary entries, altered records, missing pages, or dishonest paperwork are still serious and the penalties for that conduct are going up.
“But there is a big difference between a driver making a minor admin mistake and someone falsifying a record. That is the point.
“The amended HVNL is finally recognising that difference.”
To further assist truckies in coming to grips with the law changes, the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has released new WWD guidance materials.
An updated WWD information sheet steps drivers, operators, schedulers and record keepers through the key changes to the work diary requirements.
The NHVR said the changes simplify the daily sheet by removing some mandatory entries that are no longer essential for demonstrating compliance, helping reduce administrative burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to purchase an updated WWD on 1 August 2026?
No, drivers can continue using their pre-1 August 2026 WWDs until they are completed. The HVNL changes to filling in a daily sheet will still apply even if a driver is using a pre-1 August 2026 WWD. For example, after 1 August 2026, drivers will no longer need to record the day of the week in pre-1 August 2026 WWDs.
When will the updated WWDs be available?
The updated WWDs will begin to become available for purchase from 1 August 2026, depending on the jurisdiction and location where you are purchasing from. You may still be sold a pre-1 August 2026 WWD as stock is used up.
Where do I purchase an updated WWD?
Locations to purchase a WWD throughout Australia remain the same.
What is ACA – Fatigue and ACH?
Alternative Compliance Accreditation – Fatigue (ACA – Fatigue) is issued to an operator, allowing them to deviate from Standard work and rest hours. Alternative Compliance Hours (ACH) are the specific maximum work and minimum rest hours that apply to drivers operating under ACA – Fatigue. This will replace BFM and AFM under the new ACA framework. If an operator holds valid BFM or AFM accreditation with an expiry date after 1 August 2026, an eligible driver can continue working under this accreditation until the expiry date.
Do I still need to carry my BFM, AFM or ACH paperwork?
Yes, it is a requirement under the HVNL that drivers must carry their current operator’s Accreditation Certificate and supporting documents (such as a letter confirming you have been inducted into the operator’s Fatigue Management System and are operating on the accreditation).
What happens to my BFM or AFM accreditation post 1 August 2026?
Existing BFM or AFM accreditation can continue to be used until they expire or are cancelled by the NHVR. Once expired, operators can apply for the new ACA – Fatigue from the NHVR. Some of the current HVNL requirements will continue to apply to drivers on existing BFM and AFM accreditations after 1 August 2026. These include: • changing between work and rest options • counting time • indicating/marking BFM or AFM hours in the WWD.
Does the new ‘unfit to drive’ duty impact how I fill in my WWD?
No. The new ‘unfit to drive’ driver duty does not introduce any new WWD recording requirements. There is a reminder watermarked on the daily sheet, and a definition for drivers on the Glossary page 5. For more information, visit Unfit to drive.
How do I fill out a WWD?
Instructions on how to complete a WWD can be found under Part 1 in the front section of the National Driver Work Diary.