Put simply, the NHVR National Driver Work Diary is a log book used by heavy vehicle drivers to record their work and rest times. Under the HVNL (Heavy Vehicle National Law), all drivers of fatigue-regulated vehicles such as trucks and buses must keep records of their work and rest times to demonstrate anti-fatigue compliance. When it was launched in 2013, the only option for using the National Driver Work Diary was a paper logbook, but today there is also the more efficient option of using an electronic logbook, known as an electronic work diary or EWD. Both choices fall under the definition of a national driver work diary, so which one you select is up to you.
While both options are designed to help drivers record their work and rest times, they are also quite different. The paper work diary requires a lot of manual handling, with the driver having to remember complicated rules and regulations to calculate their own work and rest times. In comparison, electronic work diaries will automatically work this out for you, and send automated notifications when it’s time to take a rest.
Paper work diaries must be filled out by hand, and can become easily lost or damaged. Electronic driver work diaries, by contrast, run on mobile devices and are cloud-based.
How Do I Decide Which One to Use?
When deciding on which option to proceed with, it’s important to think about what is important to you. There’s no use in selecting a work diary which does not positively benefit you or your business; you must consider what makes the most sense.
Some things to take into consideration:
- Written work diaries are very prone to human error, as the driver must calculate their own work and rest times according to which NHVR fatigue plan they are driving under
- Written work diaries can be stolen, lost or damaged quite easily
- Written work diaries will only count time in 15-minute blocks, whereas electronic work diaries count down to the nearest minute
- Written work diaries must be filled out by hand, with a pen or pencil which can be tedious, whereas electronic work diaries are mobile and cloud-based, so your data is not easily lost or damaged
- Electronic work diaries are programmed with NHVR fatigue plans, and will automatically send notifications for rest breaks and potential breaches
- Electronic work diaries can be used to drive for multiple businesses
- Electronic work diaries eliminate paperwork and double-handling, allowing you to email your fatigue reports with the tap of a button
If you do decide to proceed with an EWD, ensure that it has been approved for use by the NHVR, otherwise your data won’t be compliant.
Where Do I Get an NHVR Driver Work Diary?
If you are choosing to proceed with the written driver work diary, you can purchase one at an approved location across Australia for $26. You will need to buy a new logbook every time yours has been filled.
If you want to record your work and rest times more efficiently with an EWD, it’s as simple as downloading an app from the Google Play or Apple App stores. You can then use the electronic work diary on your mobile phone or tablet.
You may want to consider an electronic work diary like Smart eDriver, which was the very first NHVR approved EWD to be released. Unlike some other choices, it is entirely cloud-based and does not require any connection to the vehicle or use of telematics equipment. It’s simple to use, efficient, and offers a free two-week trial.
No matter which option you use for your record keeping, you must make sure that you are fully compliant with the HVNL, otherwise you could be facing fines or prosecution.
Contact the team at Smart eDriver today to discuss switching to an electronic national driver work diary.