The National Heavy Vehicle Driver Competency Framework (Framework) was developed by Australian governments to set minimum competency and assessment standards for heavy vehicle drivers.
These improvements aim to address inconsistencies in heavy vehicle driver licensing, enhance training quality nationally, and ultimately lead to improved safety for heavy vehicles.
The NHVDCF Project Scope provides an outline of key workstreams within the project.
Austroads is working closely with all Australian states and territories, in consultation with industry stakeholders, to develop and implement this nationally consistent training and assessment standard for heavy vehicle drivers.
Implementation of these changes will begin in 2026, rolling out training and assessment materials first, followed by the progression pathways. A cost-benefit analysis will also be conducted to ensure the practicality and financial feasibility of the new system.
The Austroads Board is updated on progress every quarter. A multi-jurisdiction implementation group is overseeing jurisdictional implementation programs and a national Industry Reference Group has been established.
The review of the NHVDCF was delivered by a highly qualified consortium, led by the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport Australia (CILT-A), in collaboration with the Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC), the National Road Safety Partnership Program and the National Truck Accident Research Centre.
The consortium was led by Dr Kim Hassall, National Chair of CILT-A and Professor Sharon Newman, former Associate Director of the Systems Safety Team at MUARC.
The review aimed to identify a harmonised Australian licence training and assessment framework that produces safe and competent heavy vehicle drivers and reflects the current and future needs of heavy vehicle operators and the future freight task.
Heavy vehicle operators, the driver training industry, and licensing authorities have been engaged throughout all stages of the review which included:
- reviewing the current approaches to licensing in Australia drawing out similarities, differences, and risks, as well as opportunities
- reviewing overseas licensing practice and seeking to identify trends and areas of better practice
- considering research findings in areas including learning models, factors impacting safe driving and heavy vehicle crash rates, and licensing systems and programs
- seeking industry feedback about issues with the current licensing system, job readiness of licence holders, and the learnings from industry-based training programs.
Based on this program of work, in August 2022, Austroads published a Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (Consultation RIS) documenting proposed changes to the Framework.
The development by Austroads of the competencies listed in Appendix B of the Consultation RIS and Decision RIS has been informed by leading industry publications including by using competencies developed by Craig Nicholson and appearing in “Nicholson, C (2020) Low Risk Driver Delivery Program” and “Nicholson, C (2020) Low Risk Heavy Vehicle Driving Analysis v4". Austroads is grateful to Mr Nicholson for providing his consent to Austroads’ use of this material in these publications.
The feedback on the Consultation RIS included approximately 250 formal and informal submissions from heavy vehicle operators, governments, drivers, driver trainers and others.
A summary of the feedback details the levels of support for the different proposals, with most of the submissions in support of the proposed changes.
Some concerns and questions were raised about some of the suggestions. Based on that feedback, the following proposals will not be progressed:
- requiring a person to hold an open/full car licence before gaining their first heavy vehicle licence
- splitting the current MC class into three – although other options to build skills in operating the most complex heavy vehicles, such as industry-based learning, will be explored
- requiring drivers to have a period of post licence supervised driving.
In late 2023, infrastructure and transport ministers agreed in-principle to improvements to the Framework that were documented in a Decision Regulation Impact Statement (Decision RIS) developed by Austroads.
Austroads is leading a program of work to implement the agreed changes, including:
- Strengthening driving skill and knowledge through redesigned learning and assessment requirements specific to each licence class as well as setting minimum course lengths and minimum behind-the-wheel time.
- Introducing experience-based progression options enabling those drivers who can demonstrate driving and work experience to move to higher licence classes more rapidly.
- Strengthening training governance and assisting providers with training and assessment support material.
December 2023 Ministers approve reform package to improve road safety and productivity
August 2022 Have your say on proposed changes to the National Heavy Vehicle Driver Competency Framework
Nov 2020 Delivering safety for heavy vehicle licensingOpens in new window
Sep 2019 Review of the National Framework for Heavy Vehicle Driver Competency – Phase 2Opens in new window
May 2018 Review of the National Heavy Vehicle Driver Competency FrameworkOpens in new window
Nov 2016 Hazard perception test video clip development world first
Project contacts
Email driver@austroads.gov.au if you have any questions about the project.
Sign up to the National Heavy Vehicle Driver Competency Framework mailing list to receive updates about the project.
Updated: 31 March 2025
