The NHVR and NatRoad are warning NSW drivers travelling less than 100km to begin using work diaries from next month
New South Wales truck drivers currently using the work diary exemption notice are being advised it will expire on May 1.
Introduced in March by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) to extend a similar notice which expired, the notice allows drivers of a fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle working under the BFM and AFM work and rest arrangements to be exempt from these requirements if they work within a 100km radius of the driver’s base.
The notice is called the New South Wales work diary exemption for 100km work under basic fatigue management or advanced fatigue management notice 2016 (no. 2).
Only applying in NSW and for drivers travelling less than 100kms per day, the notice was brought in to provide drivers and operators with an adjustment period to transition into using work diaries.
The National Road Transport Association says “drivers working under BFM or AFM who have not already done so, should start preparing for the expiry of the notice now by purchasing a National Driver Work Diary.”
“These can be purchased from any Roads and Maritime Services motor registry or through other outlets in participating jurisdictions listed on the NHVR’s website,” the industry body says.
The NHVR believes the changes to work diaries, which it says can be bought for $20, will create national consistency.
Photography: Steve Skinner