Confused about heavy vehicle fatigue plans? You’re not alone. The rules can often be difficult to understand and remember. However, these rules exist for a very important reason: to prevent fatigue and fatalities on the road. We’ve put together an overview of each fatigue plan so that you can see which is right for you.
In a nutshell, there are three work and rest options available:
- Standard Hours
- Basic Fatigue Management (BFM)
- Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM)
We will explore each of these in detail, so that you can make an informed decision about which fatigue plan is best for your circumstances.
Fatigue Units of Competency
First off, the NHVR (National Heavy Vehicle Regulator) has a requirement that drivers, schedulers, and even supervisors or managers of drivers and schedulers complete short fatigue management courses offered by Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) before they can operate under Basic Fatigue Management (BFM) and Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM) plans.
Those who do not undertake these courses are required to operate under the Standard fatigue management plan only. The advantage of undertaking these courses and operating under a BFM plan is that a BFM fatigue plan will allow for more flexibility compared to Standard hours.
These units of competency will help you to understand your obligations for fatigue management, regardless of whether you are a driver or fleet manager. They can help you to feel empowered about managing fatigue and contributing to safe roadways.
The required units of competency are:
- TLIF005 – Apply a Fatigue Risk Management System
- Involves the skills and knowledge required heavy vehicle drivers to manage fatigue and work safely within the transport and logistics industry
- TLIF006 – Administer a Fatigue Risk Management System
- Involves the skills and knowledge required for road transport schedulers or supervisors/managers to administer a fatigue risk management system
- TLIF007 – Manage a Fatigue Risk Management System (optional)
You can find the list of accredited educators here. It is highly recommended that you undertake one of these courses. They are usually short, can be completed online, and inexpensive.
Standard Hours
If you haven’t undertaken one of the units of competency mentioned above and gained fatigue management accreditation, you must only operate under the Standard hours fatigue plan. This also applies to drivers if the business they work for does not hold BFM or AFM accreditation.
Standard Hours for Solo Drivers
Standard hours are less flexible than BFM and AFM plans. If you’re a solo driver, the following rules apply to you, according to the NHVR:
| In any period of: | You must not work for more than a maximum of: | And must have a minimum rest break of: |
| 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 hours 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 day |
*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.
Those who drive under Standard hours must abide by the above rules to effectively manage fatigue and prevent accidents. Records must be kept to prove compliance with the HVNL (heavy vehicle national legislation), using a work diary. All rest and work times must be logged, regardless of which fatigue plan is being followed.
Interested in what the rules are for solo bus and coach drivers or two-up drivers? Click here to view the full NHVR work and rest requirements for standard hours.
Basic Fatigue Management (BFM)
Operators who are accredited for Basic Fatigue Management (who have completed the units of competency mentioned earlier) can operate under more flexible work and rest hours in comparison to standard hours. BFM allows operators and fleet managers to have a greater say in when their drivers can work and rest, as long as the risks of driver fatigue are managed effectively. This is where undertaking accreditation really pays off.
BFM Hours for Solo Drivers
If you are a solo driver for a BFM accredited business, the following rules may apply to you, according to the NHVR:
| In any period of: | You must not work for more than a maximum of: | And must have a minimum rest break of: |
| 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 hours 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.
As you can see, when you compare Standard hours and BFM hours, there is greater flexibility within the BFM plan. Drivers are able to drive for longer periods without needing to take rest breaks, because they and their operators have demonstrated to the NHVR that they can manage fatigue risks appropriately.
If you are interested in the BFM rules for two-up drivers, click here.
Operators who are BFM accredited must meet the NHVR’s 7 Fatigue Business Rules and Standards.
Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM)
Advanced Fatigue Management is the most flexible fatigue plan available to drivers and fleet managers. It allows businesses to propose their own work and rest hours based on individual needs, rather than by using the Standard or BFM hours.
AFM is all about offsetting risk. To gain accreditation for AFM, operators must first demonstrate to the NHVR that they understand the risks that their proposed hours may create. They must then demonstrate that they can and will take steps to offset these risks.
The two sets of criteria used by the NHVR to assess a proposed fatigue risk management system are the 7 Fatigue Risk Principles and 7 Fatigue Business Rules and Standards.
Operators who wish to pursue the AFM plan must submit an application. The NHVR has a toolkit to guide you through this process, as there are many requirements.
Fatigue Plans are Easy with an EWD
If you are a fleet manager, business owner or driver who works on a Standard, BFM or AFM fatigue plan, using an EWD can be a great way to ensure that you are meeting all the requirements. Electronic work diaries replace the written work diary (WWD) and offer a paperless solution for logging work and rest times. With an EWD, you don’t have to memorise the work and rest times above – the hours are programmed right into the app. Rest break and potential non-compliance notifications are automatically issued, so that you can focus on doing what you do best.
The Smart eDriver EWD is compatible with the following fatigue plans:
- Standard solo
- Standard bus/coach
- Standard two-up
- BFM solo
- BFM two-up
- AFM* (available upon request, may require additional development)
EWDs make heavy vehicle fatigue management easy and accurate. Enquire today to learn more.