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Commercial vehicle driver fatigue: operating standards

This guide is a summary of the main requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Regulations 1996 with respect to managing fatigue for commercial vehicle operators.  Please refer to the Regulations and the Code of practice fatigue management for commercial vehicle drivers for full details.

Contents

  1. Frequently asked questions
  2. Operating standards for commercial vehicle drivers

1. Frequently asked questions

Are you covered by the regulations for driving commercial vehicles?

Do you drive a commercial vehicle in the list below?

  • an omnibus;
  • a school bus;
  • mobile plant with a gross vehicle mass (GVM) more than 4.5 tonnes;
  • a motor vehicle with a GVM more than 4.5 tonnes that is desgned to carry of is carrying a large integrated piece of equipment; or
  • any other motor vehicle with a GVM more than 4.5 tonnes that is used, or intended to be used, to carry goods for hire or reward.

AND you work time:

  • is more than 60 hours per week; or
  • more than once a week, is more than 10 hours in any 24 hour period; or
  • more than once a week, includes the period from midnight to 5am.

I employ commercial vehicle drivers.  What do the regulations require me to do?

As the responsible person at a workplace you must ensure that:

  • a driver fatguie managment plan (see note 1) is developed and kept current by a competent person, which covers all commercial vehicle drivers who are required to drive commercial vehicles; and
  • a record of worktime, breaks, from driving and non work time (see note 2) is established and kept current for each commercial vehicle driver who is required to drive commercial vehicles; and
  • a commercial vehicle driver drives the comercial vehicle in accordnace with the operating standard (below); and
  • is certifified by a medical practitioner as fit to drive the commercial vehicle.

I am a commercial vehicle driver.  What do the regulations require me to do?

You must:

  • drive the commercial vehicle in accordance with the operating standards (below);
  • hold a certificate from a doctor that says you are fit to drive the commercial vehicle.


Do I need to do any specific training?

Yes, you must have fatigue management training.  The training should be recorded and a copy of your training certificate should be given to your employer.

What do the regulations mean by work time?

Generally, all of the time from the start of the day until you finish work at the end of the day, but does not include meal breaks which last longer that 30 minutes.

What do the regulations mean by breaks from driving?

Any time when you are "at work" but may not actually be driving a commercial vehicle - such as loading, unloading, doing maintenace, paperwork changing tyres etc.

What fo the regulations mean by non work time?

Generally, any period of time greater than 30 minutes, where you are resting or away from work - such as resting in an appropriate sleeper berth, or at home.  It does not include time spent queuing to load or unload unless it is greater that 30 continuous minutes where you are not doing ANY type of work.

2. Operating standards for commercial vehicle drivers

All drivers
Maximem continuous work time before a break must be taken 5 hours
Minimum break from driving during or after 5 hours work time 10 minutes
Minimum breaks from driving for every five hours work time 20 minutes
Maximum work time in any 14 days 168 hours
Solo drivers
Maximum time between non work periods of 7 continuous hours 17 hours
Minimum non work time in any 72 hour period 27 hours
Minimum days off in any 14 day period 2 days - (each day must be a minimum 24 continuous hours)
Minimum days off in any 28 day period if working up to a 28 day roster (provided hours of work do not exceed 144 hours in any 14 day period within the 28 days) 4 days - (each day must be a minimum 24 continuous hours)
Two up drivers
Minimum non work time in any 24 hours 7 hours
* does not have to be continuous
* can be taken in a moving vehicle

and either
Minimum non work time in any 28 hours 7 hours
* does not have to be continuous
* cannot be taken in a moving vehicle

or
Minimum non work time in any 7 days

48 hours
* at least 24 of those hours must be continuous
* the balance must be taken in no less than 7 continuous hours
* cannot be spent in a moving vehicle

Drivers who work shifts on 5 or more consecutive days
Minimum non work time between shift changes 24 consecutive ho

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