BFM Hours and NHVR Fatigue Management Requirements

Basic Fatigue Management (BFM) lets drivers of BFM-accredited operators work up to 14 hours in any 24 hour period, two more than Standard Hours, with stricter rest, record keeping and audit rules. Since 1 August 2026 no new BFM accreditation is granted, and when an operator's BFM accreditation ends, its drivers work Standard Hours unless the operator is approved for ACA-Fatigue.

From 1 August 2026, the Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (HVA) scheme replaced the NHVAS for new accreditation applications. Existing BFM operators can continue under their current accreditation until it expires, is cancelled, or they transition to HVA. The NHVR's transition arrangements depend on the operator's accreditation and circumstances.

This article explains the BFM requirements that remain relevant to existing operators, including work and rest limits, record keeping obligations, penalties, and how the former BFM framework compared with AFM.

Note: HVNL and BFM apply in QLD, NSW, VIC, SA, TAS and ACT. Western Australia and the Northern Territory use separate fatigue management rules with different requirements.

What is Basic Fatigue Management?

The Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) fatigue rules apply to a fatigue regulated heavy vehicle. This includes:

• Any vehicle with a GVM over 12 tonnes
• Any combination where the total GVM or GCM is over 12 tonnes
• A truck or truck combination, over 12 tonnes with a machine or implement attached
• A bus over 4.5 tonnes designed to carry more than 12 adults including the driver

Vehicles and combinations that do not meet the definition of a fatigue regulated heavy vehicle are generally outside these national fatigue rules. However, other fatigue, workplace and road safety obligations may still apply.

Under the former fatigue framework, drivers could operate under Standard Hours, BFM or AFM, depending on the operator's accreditation and the work being undertaken. Standard Hours was the default option and did not require fatigue accreditation. From 1 August 2026, new alternative-hours applications are made under ACA-Fatigue within the HVA scheme.

Under the former NHVAS, BFM required an application, an entry audit, a documented fatigue management system and scheduled compliance audits. The first scheduled compliance audit was conducted between the sixth and seventh month after accreditation was granted. These requirements describe the legacy BFM framework and should be read in that context.

Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM) was the former NHVAS option for operators seeking work and rest hours tailored to their operation. The approved limits were set out in the operator's AFM accreditation certificate and supported by the required risk-management documentation. Existing AFM operators may continue under their accreditation until it expires, is cancelled, or they transition to HVA.

BFM Work and Rest Hour Limits

The following table summarises the former BFM solo driver work and rest limits. These requirements remain relevant to operators who continue to hold BFM accreditation during the transition to HVA.

BFM Solo Driver: Work and Rest Limits

Standard Hours Compared

Standard Hours is the default option for drivers of fatigue regulated heavy vehicles, and the option BFM drivers return to when their accreditation ends. These are the NHVR limits for solo drivers.

Under the former BFM framework, solo drivers could work up to 14 hours in a 24 hour period, compared with the 12 hour maximum under Standard Hours. Other work and rest limits still applied.

For a driver running a route such as Sydney to Melbourne on the Hume Highway, the additional work time available under BFM could provide more scheduling flexibility. Whether a driver can complete the journey solo still depends on the full work and rest limits, the route and the driver's fitness to drive.

In most linehaul operations, the daily limit is not the main challenge. The real constraint is the 36 hour long and night work cap.

Under BFM, long/night work time includes work time between midnight and 6am in the driver's base time zone, as well as work time beyond 12 hours in a 24 hour period outside those overnight hours. These hours are combined when calculating the 36-hour limit.

A solo BFM driver must not exceed 36 hours of long/night work time in a 7 day period. Once the limit is reached, the driver cannot work more than 12 hours in a 24 hour period or work between midnight and 6am until their accumulated long/night work time falls below 36 hours. Overlapping hours are counted only once, and the limit does not reset on a fixed day of the week.

What Counts as Work Time?

Work time under HVNL is not limited to driving alone and includes a range of other tasks carried out as part of operating a heavy vehicle. It also includes:

• Loading and unloading freight.
• Checking, securing and adjusting loads.
• Pre trip and post trip vehicle inspections.
• Completing paperwork and consignment documentation.
• Other activities that fall within the HVNL definition of work, including tasks associated with the operation of the vehicle or the transport task.

Night Rest Breaks Are a Separate Requirement

Drivers must take at least 7 continuous hours of stationary rest within every 24 hour period. This daily rest can be taken at any time of day, but it does not count as a night rest break.

The night rest break has its own requirements and must include 7 continuous hours of stationary rest between 10pm and 8am in the time zone of the driver's base or depot.

Within a 14 day period, a BFM solo driver must take two night rest breaks, plus another two night rest breaks on consecutive days. A qualifying 24 hour continuous stationary rest period can also count as a night rest break.

Split Rest Breaks Under BFM

Under the former BFM rules, a split rest break could provide a defence in certain proceedings where a solo driver did not take the required 7 continuous hours of stationary rest. The split must not be scheduled or rostered and must include at least 6 continuous hours of stationary rest, with at least 8 hours in total across the two rest periods within the relevant 24 hour period. The driver must also have had at least 7 continuous hours of stationary rest in the previous 24 hours and must not have used a split rest break during that period.

Record Keeping Under BFM

Under Standard Hours, drivers travelling within 100 kilometres of their base are generally not required to use a National Driver Work Diary, but they must keep a local area record. Drivers operating under BFM must use a work diary regardless of whether they are travelling within or outside the 100 kilometre radius. A diary is also required if the driver has operated under BFM hours in the previous 28 days.

Record keepers must maintain the information and records required under the HVNL and the applicable accreditation standards. Depending on the operator and the records involved, these may include:

• Driver identification and contact details.
• Work and rest records, including work diary information.
• Rosters, trip schedules and relevant changeover information.
• Timesheets and other records that support the driver's recorded work and rest hours.
• Records required by the operator's fatigue management system and accreditation conditions.

Record keepers must retain the records required by the HVNL for the applicable retention period and make them available when lawfully requested. Record keeping and work diary offences are separate from offences involving breaches of work and rest limits. If a diary goes missing, see our guide to lost work diaries.

An electronic work diary (EWD) may be used only if it is approved by the NHVR and the driver complies with the applicable requirements for using it. Software that records or monitors hours but is not an approved EWD does not replace the legal work diary requirement.

Saphyroo supports fatigue management through operational visibility and compliance evidence management. Its electronic work diary is going through the NHVR approval process.

Knowing When to Move from BFM to AFM

Under the former NHVAS framework, BFM and AFM provided different levels of flexibility for operators who needed to work outside Standard Hours. Under the HVA scheme, ACA-Fatigue provides a single alternative fatigue accreditation pathway, with work and rest hours selected to suit the operation.

Former BFM vs AFM Frameworks Compared

A driver returning from BFM to Standard Hours must ensure they meet the applicable Standard Hours requirements before operating. If the driver is outside the Standard Hours limits, a 48 hour continuous reset rest break may be required.

What Happens When Drivers Breach BFM Hours?

Under the HVNL, fatigue offences are classified according to their seriousness. Penalties may include infringement notices, court imposed penalties and demerit points, depending on the offence. Penalty amounts are indexed annually, so refer to the current NHVR penalties and infringements schedule for the applicable amounts.

Fatigue Breach Categories and Penalties (2026/27)

Penalty amounts and demerit points may vary depending on the offence and applicable accreditation arrangements. Check the NHVR penalties and infringements page for the current schedule and details.

The HVNL also imposes a primary duty on each party in the Chain of Responsibility. Under section 26C, each party must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of their transport activities relating to a heavy vehicle. This duty applies beyond individual driver breaches, and effective systems for identifying and managing fatigue risk can help parties meet their obligations.

Managing BFM Compliance Across Your Fleet

BFM required operators to maintain a fatigue management system and actively manage work and rest hours, scheduling and records throughout the accreditation period.

Under the former NHVAS framework, drivers and relevant scheduling staff were required to complete approved fatigue management training. Operators transitioning to HVA should follow the training requirements that apply to their new accreditation.

Effective fatigue management requires clear visibility of drivers' work and rest hours as work is happening. For example, if a solo BFM driver is approaching the 36 hour long/night work limit, schedulers need to understand how much long/night work time remains before assigning further work in their driver scheduling system.

Centralising driver hours in fatigue management software alongside live driver location data allows schedulers to make decisions based on where drivers actually are, rather than where a roster assumes they are.

What Happens if Your BFM Accreditation Is Suspended?

If an operator's BFM accreditation is suspended or cancelled, drivers must not continue using BFM hours unless they are legally entitled to do so. Before operating under Standard Hours, they must meet the applicable work and rest requirements, including any reset rest break that is required.

During an investigation, records may be used to assess work and rest compliance, scheduling practices and how fatigue risks were managed. Accurate records are important, but parties must also meet their primary duty obligations under the HVNL.

Is BFM Right for Your Operation?

If your fleet operates mainly within Standard Hours limits, alternative hours accreditation may not be necessary. Operators should assess their work patterns and fatigue risks before deciding whether alternative hours are appropriate.

Under the former NHVAS framework, BFM provided additional flexibility for operations that needed to work beyond Standard Hours limits. Operators who regularly reached BFM limits may need to review whether their work and rest arrangements remain suitable.

Under HVA, ACA-Fatigue provides a pathway for operators who need alternative hours. The approved hours and conditions should suit the operation and be manageable in practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are BFM hours?

BFM hours are the work and rest limits for drivers of operators with Basic Fatigue Management accreditation. A solo BFM driver can work up to 14 hours in 24, must take 7 continuous hours of stationary rest in each 24 hours, and must not exceed 36 hours of long/night work in any 7 days. No new BFM accreditation has been granted since 1 August 2026.

What are the NHVR Standard Hours for solo drivers?

A solo driver under Standard Hours can work up to 12 hours in any 24 hour period, with at least 7 continuous hours of stationary rest. Over 7 days the maximum is 72 hours of work with 24 continuous hours of stationary rest, and over 14 days it is 144 hours with 2 night rest breaks plus 2 more on consecutive days.

How long can a truck driver drive before a break?

Under Standard Hours, a solo driver needs a 15 minute continuous break after no more than 5 hours 15 minutes of work in any 5.5 hour period. Under BFM, the first break is due after 6 hours of work in any 6.25 hour period. Work time includes loading, checks and paperwork, not only driving.

Under BFM, what is the minimum rest in any 9 hours?

A solo BFM driver can work no more than 8.5 hours in any 9 hour period and must take at least 30 minutes of rest, in blocks of at least 15 continuous minutes.

What is the 36 hour long/night rule?

Under BFM, a solo driver must not do more than 36 hours of long/night work in any 7 days. Long/night work is any work between midnight and 6am, plus any work beyond 12 hours in a 24 hour period. Once the 36 hours is reached, the driver can't work past 12 hours a day or between midnight and 6am until the total drops.

What is a night rest break?

A night rest break is 7 continuous hours of stationary rest taken between 10pm and 8am in the time zone of the driver's base, or a 24 hour continuous stationary rest. BFM and Standard Hours solo drivers both need 2 night rest breaks plus 2 more on consecutive days in every 14 day period.

Can you still apply for BFM?

No. Since 1 August 2026, new applications for alternative hours are made under ACA-Fatigue, which gives Alternative Compliance Hours (ACH) through the Heavy Vehicle Accreditation scheme. Existing BFM operators keep their hours until their accreditation expires, is cancelled or they transition. After that, drivers work Standard Hours unless the operator holds ACA-Fatigue.

What is the fine for breaching BFM hours?

For 2026/27, a minor breach carries up to $5,630 in court or a $563 infringement notice, and a substantial breach up to $8,480 or $848. A severe breach carries up to $14,120 and 3 demerit points, and a critical breach up to $21,170 and 4 demerit points, with no infringement option. Penalties are indexed every 1 July.

See how Saphyroo supports fatigue hour visibility across your fleet