NHVAS to HVA
NHVAS to HVA: what your entry audit needs
The NHVR no longer grants new NHVAS accreditation. If your business is moving to Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (HVA), the entry audit will look at your whole safety management system, not individual modules. This guide sets out what has changed and what to prepare.
What changed
- From 1 August 2026 the NHVR no longer grants new NHVAS accreditation.
- Existing NHVAS accreditations continue until they expire. An accreditation period can be up to three years.
- An operator can hold accreditation in only one scheme at a time.
- HVA has two tiers: General Safety Accreditation (GSA) and Alternative Compliance Accreditation (ACA). GSA is a prerequisite for ACA for mass and fatigue.
Source: NHVR, changes to accreditation. Check the NHVR page for current dates, as they may change.
Why the SMS matters
Under HVA, the audit is built around a whole-of-business safety management system. Maintenance, mass and fatigue are still audited, whichever alternative compliance option you choose. The SMS Standard 2026 sets out what the system must cover.
1. Leadership and commitment
Management accountability and resourcing for safety.
2. Risk management
Identifying hazards, assessing risk, and controlling it.
3. People
Competence, training and fitness of the people doing the work.
4. Assurance, monitoring and improvement
Checking that controls work, and acting on what you find.
5. Safety systems
The procedures, equipment and processes that run day to day.
These five areas are the broad structure of the standard. Check the criteria in the NHVR's Safety Management Systems guidance.
What an entry audit looks for
The auditor checks that each requirement is in place (present) and fit for your operation (suitable). Later audits also check that the system is in use and achieving its purpose. Make sure your evidence covers what each criterion asks for, not just the topic area.
The initial compliance audit normally takes place 6 to 7 months after accreditation is granted. It can be waived if your SMS was assessed as meeting the requirements at the entry audit, and you can show at least 6 months of verifiable evidence during that audit with no major nonconformances. The waiver is not available if the entry audit is done by desktop.
Source: NHVR, HVA scheme audits. The NHVR says the waiver is an option, so check its conditions for your situation.
How to prepare
- Find your gaps. Go through the five areas and mark what you already have, what is partly done, and what is missing.
- Write procedures for your operation. Generic templates rarely show an auditor how your business actually works.
- Keep records as you go. Evidence of training, inspections, risk reviews and corrective actions is what the auditor asks for.
- Check the transition timing. Confirm your current accreditation end date and the NHVR's current guidance before you plan the audit.
Where Truck SMS fits
Truck SMS is a safety management system for heavy vehicle operators. It holds your procedures, forms, training records, risk register and compliance calendar in one place, so the evidence for your entry audit is already organised. You can check where your system stands with our free SMS gap check, or request a demo and we'll walk through the system with you.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Check the Heavy Vehicle National Law, the SMS Standard 2026 and current NHVR guidance before making decisions about your accreditation.