The Master Code for Australia’s heavy vehicle industry has been updated for the first time since 2018, with a key change the shift from role-based obligations and primary risk areas to a set of 46 distinct ‘transport activities’.
Released by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) in January 2026, the updated Code provides renewed guidance to help set a consistent benchmark for managing safety responsibilities across the supply chain, reflecting the uplift of standards demonstrated across industry since 2018.
The Code is designed as a practical guide to support businesses in understanding their ‘Primary Duty’, and executives in understanding their ‘Executive Duty’, under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).
NTI’s Supply Chain Technical Manager Aaron Louws says the updated Code will play an important role in helping industry understand what is reasonably practicable when managing safety risks associated with transport activities.
“The law hasn’t changed, but the benchmark has. If a business controls or influences heavy vehicle transport activities, then the updated Master Code is the single largest collection of reference material in Australia on how to manage those activities, associated hazards and risks,” he says.
Louws says the updated Code also provides clearer and more relevant guidance for businesses beyond the traditional road transport sector.
“The Master Code applies to industries outside traditional transport, including manufacturing, construction, mining, retail and logistics,” he says.
“If you send or receive freight, outsource transport, or impose requirements that affect delivery times or loading practices, the Code provides guidance on what you can do to balance safety, productivity and compliance.”
Louws points out that one of the key updates is the Code’s framework, which moves away from role-based obligations to activities, prompting businesses to consider a broader range of things that they do, that might impact their heavy vehicle operations.
Instead of the previous focus on four primary risk areas – speed; fatigue; mass, dimension and loading; and vehicle standards, he says the new Code is organised around 46 distinct ‘transport activities’ that the NHVR believes represent what actually occurs across every stage to enable the transportation of goods or people.
Each activity has a set of controls – about 524 in total, including some that overlap – and these go beyond just reducing risk across the four primary areas.
“Instead, they address a broad range of hazards that could arise from these activities, with a focus on how multiple parties working together are often required to achieve a safe (or unsafe) outcome,” he adds.
“This still covers well-known risks like fatigue and load restraint, but also adds issues not traditionally linked with CoR – from pests in loads to workplace behaviour, bullying, harassment, criminal infiltration and blackmail.”
Additionally, Louws notes the new Code introduces groupings for different activities, including ‘foundation activities’ for all businesses, that emphasise the importance of a strong safety culture, executive due diligence, training and proper management of third-party relationships.
“Your responsibilities are tied to activities, not just your role. The proposed Code makes it clear that meeting your chain of responsibility obligations isn’t about how you identify your role in the supply chain – it’s about the transport activities you influence and control, and managing the risks involved,” he says.
Louws encourages businesses to identify which transport activities apply to them, review existing controls and document how risks are managed.
“Start preparing now to avoid pressure later. This isn’t a ‘watch and wait’ situation. Businesses should review the proposed 46 activities today, identify those they influence and control, consider any gaps in their systems based on the guidance, and strengthen their controls, particularly for any critical risks, as soon as possible,” he advises.
“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.”
NTI’s CoRSafe is supporting industry through a range of free resources as part of its ‘Road to the Code’ series aimed at helping businesses understand what the updates mean in practice.
“This is about being aware of the changes and how they impact you so you can take appropriate action,” he says.
The Master Code applies in all jurisdictions except Western Australia and the Northern Territory.