The heavy vehicle industry’s Master Code has been updated for the first time in eight years, raising safety benchmarks across Australia’s transport supply chain.
Released by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator in January, the updated code provides practical guidance for businesses managing safety responsibilities under the Heavy Vehicle National Law, reflecting improvements across the industry since 2018.
Aaron Louws, NTI’s supply chain technical manager, said the updated code would help the industry understand what is reasonably practicable when managing safety risks in transport activities.
“The law hasn’t changed, but the benchmark has,” Louws said. “If a business controls or influences heavy vehicle transport activities, the updated Master Code is the single largest collection of reference material in Australia on how to manage those activities, associated hazards, and risks.”
The code is designed to support businesses in understanding their primary duty and executives in understanding their executive duty under the Heavy Vehicle National Law.
Louws said the updated code provides clearer guidance for businesses beyond traditional road transport sectors.
“The Master Code applies to industries outside traditional transport, including manufacturing, construction, mining, retail, and logistics,” he said. “If you send or receive freight, outsource transport, or impose requirements that affect delivery times or loading practices, the Code provides guidance on how to balance safety, productivity, and compliance.”
A key update involves the code’s framework, which has moved away from role-based obligations to focus on activities. This shift prompts businesses to consider a broader range of operations that might impact their heavy vehicle activities.
Louws encouraged businesses to identify applicable transport activities, review existing controls, and document how risks are managed.
“You don’t have to implement every control in the code, but you should be prepared to explain that what you’re choosing to do is equally as effective for your business at managing the risk,” he said.
NTI’s CoRSafe is supporting industry with free resources through its Road to the Code series, including a webinar scheduled for 18 February aimed at helping businesses understand the practical implications of the updates.
“This is about being aware of the changes and how they impact you so you can take appropriate action,” Louws said.
The Master Code applies in all Australian jurisdictions except Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
Recent developments highlight the broader safety push in the sector. The Australian Government and NHVR have opened a new $4.4 million round of grants under the Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative (HVSI) to support innovative safety projects, including technology and programs that improve compliance and long-term outcomes.
Industry bodies have also submitted pre‑budget recommendations calling for federal investment in a National Automated Access Scheme (NAAS) and streamlined performance-based standards approvals to improve safety, productivity, and consistency across jurisdictions.
