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The NHVR Master Code of Practice

The Master Code is the NHVR's practical guide to managing heavy vehicle safety risks across the supply chain. Here's what the 2026 version covers and how a code of practice can help your business.
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What the Master Code Is

The NHVR released the 2026 Master Code on 21 January 2026, after two years of development with input from across the supply chain. It builds on the first Master Code from 2018, revised and expanded.

It identifies what can go wrong in business activities involving heavy vehicles and sets out practical ways to prevent harm. The NHVR is clear that it adds no new rules.

The 2018 Code was arranged by risk area, such as speed or fatigue. The 2026 Code is arranged by transport activity, running from recruitment to vehicle procurement to premises management.
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How the Code Is Organised

The move to an activity-based layout changes how you find what applies to you.
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Activities, not job titles

Guidance follows what a business does rather than the party role it holds, which makes it easier to find the parts that apply.
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Wide reach

It's aimed at owners and operators, and also at businesses that contract transport, manage warehouses or run loading facilities.
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Hazards and controls

Each activity describes what can go wrong and practical controls to manage the risk.
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Working together

Activities 7 to 10 cover how businesses can collaborate on transport safety, including monitoring and assurance.
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Alongside other codes

Other registered industry codes stay in place for their sectors, and the Master Code is meant to complement them.
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Codes and What Is Reasonably Practicable

The primary duty asks each party to ensure safety so far as is reasonably practicable. Codes of practice help show what that means.

An objective test

Reasonably practicable is judged from the position of an ordinary reasonable person in the same circumstances.

Factors weighed together

The likelihood of a risk, the harm it could cause, what you know or ought to know, and the controls available all count.

Cost comes last

A control is presumed reasonable unless its cost is grossly out of proportion to the risk.

Evidence in court

A court may use the Master Code as evidence in relation to a breach of the primary duty or the executive duty.

What you ought to know

A published code shows what is known about hazards and controls, which makes it harder to say a risk wasn't foreseeable.

When to stop

If a risk can't be brought to an acceptable level with suitable measures, the activity shouldn't go ahead.

Electronic Work Diary vs Paper Logbook

Many controls in a code depend on accurate hours. Here's how the two kinds of work diary compare as a source of that information.
Electronic Work Diary
Paper Logbook
One minute accuracy
Fifteen minute blocks
Automatic syncing
Manual entries
Easy to read and access
Handwriting varies
Real time operator visibility
No live oversight
Secure cloud storage
Can be lost or damaged
Faster audits and reporting
Time consuming
Hours recorded to the minute make it easier to check whether a fatigue control is actually working.
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How It Works

Putting the Master Code to work in your business can follow these steps.
Step 1

Download the Code

Get the current Master Code and its guidance material from the NHVR website.
Step 2

Find your activities

Pick out the activities your business carries out, which may include ones you hadn't thought of as transport work.
Step 3

Compare your controls

Check what you do now against the controls the Code describes for each activity.
Step 4

Record your decisions

Note which controls you use, and why, for each risk you identify.
Step 5

Talk to partners

Use the collaboration activities to agree how you'll share information with the businesses you work with.
Step 6

Review regularly

Revisit your controls as your operation, the Code or the law changes.

Features at a Glance

1. Accurate one minute recording
2. Offline functionality for uninterrupted use
3. Live visibility for fleet managers
4. Fatigue reminders and breach alerts
5. Driver declarations and vehicle checks
6. Secure cloud storage
7. Multi company support for contractors
8. Fast export for audits and reporting
9. Fatigue rule sets including Standard Hours, BFM, AFM, WA plans and bus rules
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Who It's Built For

The Master Code speaks to everyone who influences heavy vehicle activity, not only the businesses that run trucks.
User Type
Benefit
Truck drivers
Easier logging and clear alerts
Transport operators
Real time visibility and compliance
Compliance managers
Reliable logs for inspections
Owner drivers
No paperwork and simple routines
Subcontractors
Easy switching between employers
For the fatigue side of those activities, Logmaster gives each person the hours information they need.

Fatigue Controls You Can Check

Fatigue risk shows up in recruitment, scheduling and day-to-day operations, and a control only helps if you can see whether it's followed. Logmaster records work and rest to the minute, warns drivers before a break is due and shows the office who has hours left, so fatigue controls can be checked against what really happened.
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Hear from Our Users

Ray A.

First day with Logmaster was to my surprise was user friendly. Josh was very thorough in taking me through all the steps in setting up the Logmaster app. I would recommend Logmaster to all drivers regardless of age. Never have to worry about making a mistake as it tells you if you are. Great customer service after hours support is second to none.

Mike H.

Have started using Logmaster after trying 3 other models. I actually enjoy using it. Very easy to use and follow and the help if you need it is top notch by the developer. Does everything by the minute and works when no service is available. My system is customised for me and fits well with my system (I’m WA). Cost is on par with two of the other ones looked at.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ready to Back Your Fatigue Controls With Data?

Book a demo and see how Logmaster shows whether fatigue controls are being followed shift by shift.

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