The higher tier of Australia's HVA scheme — unlocking regulatory concessions through demonstrated compliance excellence in mass, maintenance, and fatigue management.
Advanced Compliance Accreditation (ACA) is the second tier of the Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (HVA) scheme. It builds on the foundation of General Safety Accreditation (GSA) and adds specific compliance modules that unlock regulatory concessions.
ACA is designed for operators who want to demonstrate a higher level of compliance maturity in specific areas — mass management, maintenance management, and fatigue management — and access the operational benefits that come with that recognition.
ACA requires GSA as a prerequisite. You must hold General Safety Accreditation before you can apply for any ACA modules. Your SMS forms the foundation — ACA modules build on top of it.
ACA offers three specific compliance modules. You can apply for one, two, or all three — depending on your operational needs and the concessions you require:
Demonstrates that your business has robust systems for managing vehicle mass and loading. This includes weighbridge procedures, load calculation methods, container weight verification, and mass record keeping.
Concessions: Access to Concessional Mass Limits (CML) and Higher Mass Limits (HML), allowing increased payload capacity on approved routes and networks.
Builds on the MAP required for GSA with additional requirements for advanced maintenance practices. This includes component life tracking, trend analysis, maintenance KPIs, and predictive maintenance approaches.
Concessions: Extended maintenance intervals, exemption from annual vehicle inspections in participating jurisdictions, and recognition of advanced maintenance capability.
Demonstrates advanced fatigue risk management beyond standard work/rest hours. ACA Fatigue includes two levels:
Choose your ACA modules based on genuine operational need. Each module requires significant systems and resources to maintain. It's better to hold fewer modules with genuine compliance than to overextend and risk audit failure. ATCC can help you determine which modules are right for your operation.
ACA modules unlock specific regulatory concessions that provide real operational advantages:
Access to CML and HML allows you to carry more payload per trip — reducing the number of trips needed and improving operational efficiency. Available through the Mass Management module.
BFM and AFM fatigue schemes provide greater scheduling flexibility than standard hours. This allows more efficient trip planning and better utilisation of driver resources. Available through the Fatigue Management module.
Advanced maintenance accreditation can reduce the frequency of roadside inspections and provide exemptions from annual vehicle inspections in participating jurisdictions.
ACA demonstrates to customers, regulators, and insurers that your business operates at a higher standard. This can be a competitive advantage in tender processes and contract negotiations.
Accredited operators are recognised by regulators as having demonstrated commitment to safety. This can influence enforcement outcomes and regulatory interactions.
The systems required for ACA — when genuinely implemented — improve operational efficiency, reduce incidents, lower maintenance costs, and improve driver retention.
The Fatigue Management module provides access to alternative work/rest hour schemes that offer greater flexibility than standard hours:
BFM provides modified work/rest hours that allow longer work periods and shorter rest periods than standard hours, within defined limits. BFM requires:
AFM provides the most flexible work/rest hours available under Australian law. It requires a comprehensive, scientifically-based fatigue risk management system including:
Most operators start with BFM, which provides meaningful flexibility with manageable system requirements. AFM is suited to operators with complex scheduling needs who are prepared to invest in advanced fatigue risk management systems. ATCC can help you determine which level is appropriate for your operation.
Here's the process for achieving Advanced Compliance Accreditation:
GSA is a prerequisite for ACA. If you don't already hold General Safety Accreditation, you must achieve it first. Your SMS forms the foundation that ACA modules build upon.
Determine which ACA modules you need based on your operational requirements and the concessions you want to access. Consider mass, maintenance, and fatigue modules individually.
Assess your current systems against the specific requirements for each ACA module you're targeting. Identify gaps in procedures, records, training, and operational practices.
Develop the additional procedures, controls, and records required for each ACA module. These must integrate with your existing SMS — not operate as standalone systems.
Develop the additional procedures, controls, and records required for each ACA module. These must integrate with your existing SMS — not operate as standalone systems.
Put your module systems into practice across your operation. Allow sufficient time for procedures to become embedded — auditors will look for evidence of genuine, ongoing implementation, not just documentation.
Conduct a thorough internal review of each module against the relevant standards and audit criteria. Identify and close any remaining gaps before applying for accreditation.
Submit your ACA application through the NHVR portal, specifying which modules you are applying for. Include all required supporting documentation and evidence of system implementation.
An NHVR Registered Auditor will conduct a compliance audit for each module. The audit assesses your systems, records, and operational practices against the module-specific requirements.
Once all audit findings are resolved and the auditor recommends accreditation, NHVR will grant your ACA for the approved modules. Maintain your systems to retain accreditation at each renewal cycle.
ATCC has been helping transport operators achieve and maintain accreditation since 2003. Our team provides end-to-end support for every ACA module:
We assess your current systems against each ACA module's requirements and provide a clear, prioritised action plan to close any gaps.
We build the procedures, forms, registers, and controls required for each module — fully integrated with your existing SMS and tailored to your operation.
We work alongside your team to implement new systems, train staff, and ensure genuine operational embedding before audit.
We conduct pre-audit reviews using the same criteria as NHVR auditors, identifying and resolving any issues before your formal compliance audit.
All ACA module requirements — mass records, maintenance schedules, fatigue management, driver records — are managed through our Compliance Easy™ platform for seamless ongoing compliance.
We provide continuous compliance management, monitoring, and support to ensure you maintain accreditation through every renewal cycle.
Whether you need one module or all three, ATCC will guide you through every step — from gap analysis to accreditation and beyond.
Contact Us Today Learn About GSA First