Fit to Drive Reforms: What Every Operator Needs to Know

Regulators are raising the bar on driver health and safety, and for the first time, the responsibility won’t stop with the driver. Under new ‘Fit to Drive’ reforms, the entire Chain of Responsibility (CoR) will share accountability for ensuring drivers are medically and physically fit for duty.

National Review Underway

The National Transport Commission (NTC) launched a national review of the Assessing Fitness to Drive standards in August 2025. These standards guide how licensing authorities decide if a person is safe to drive. The review aims to update criteria using the latest medical research, social data, and safety technology.
New standards are expected to take effect in 2027 and will apply to both private and commercial drivers.

A New Duty Under the HVNL

Proposed changes to the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) and the national accreditation framework will make “fit to drive” a key component of every operator’s Safety Management System.
According to ACAPMA, operators must:

  • Identify risks to public safety related to driver health and wellbeing

  • Put controls in place to manage those risks

  • Keep clear records to show ongoing compliance

This means driver fitness will no longer be a personal issue — it becomes a shared business obligation.

Stronger Legal Requirements for Drivers

Drivers will also face a new positive duty to be fit for work. It will no longer be enough to avoid driving when obviously ill or tired. Drivers must take active responsibility for monitoring their health and stepping away from duties if unfit.
The law defines an unfit driver as someone “not of sufficiently good health or fitness to drive the heavy vehicle safely.”

Tougher Penalties Ahead

Fines for allowing or directing a driver to operate while unfit or fatigued could double — from $10,000 to $20,000. This signals a stronger regulatory focus on shared accountability and risk prevention across the transport chain.

NHVR Guidance and Industry Impact

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has begun issuing CoR guidance on managing driver health risks.
Truck driving remains one of Australia’s highest-risk occupations, with elevated rates of diabetes, sleep apnoea, and heart disease. The new approach encourages operators to manage health risks the same way they manage fatigue, load restraint, or maintenance — through structured policies, training and regular reviews.

Preparing Your Business

Operators should begin reviewing their Safety Management Systems now to ensure they include driver fitness. Accreditation will likely require documented evidence that health monitoring, training, and reporting systems are in place. Rostering and scheduling practices must also prevent commercial pressure on unfit drivers.

A Shift Toward Prevention

The Fit to Drive initiative represents a significant cultural change for the heavy vehicle industry — moving from reactive enforcement to proactive prevention.
By 2027, every transport business, from small fleets to national carriers, will need to demonstrate that their systems protect not just their drivers, but everyone who shares the road.