Alternative Compliance Accreditation (ACA)

Alternative Compliance Accreditation offers heavy vehicle operators a different way to meet their legal safety and compliance obligations.

Instead of following only standard rules and procedures, accredited operators can use their own approved systems and processes to manage risks in their business. This approach recognises that operators are best placed to understand their operations and take responsibility for keeping them safe and compliant.

Alternative Compliance Accreditation (covering fatigue and mass management), along with the Maintenance Program, builds on General Safety Accreditation (GSA). This means operators must first establish and maintain a compliant core Safety Management System (SMS) as required under GSA. In practice, operators can’t hold Alternative Compliance Accreditation without demonstrating that this foundational system is in place and working effectively.

To become accredited, operators must show they have strong systems to identify risks, follow the law and continually improve their performance. In return, accreditation may provide greater flexibility and access to certain concessions, while still maintaining high safety standards.

Alternative Compliance Accreditation supports a modern, outcomes‑focused approach to regulation. It promotes industry leadership, accountability and continuous improvement, helping keep road transport safe for everyone.

Maintenance

What it is

The Maintenance component of heavy vehicle accreditation ensures that vehicles are safe, roadworthy and fit for purpose at all times. It focuses on how operators inspect, service and repair their fleet to prevent incidents and manage safety risks.

A strong maintenance system helps identify defects early, ensures timely repairs and supports safe operation for drivers and other road users. It forms a critical element of an operator’s Safety Management System (SMS).

Maintenance requirements are found in Schedule 2 of the Safety Management System (SMS) Standard.

  1. Application
  2. Responsibility and accountability
  3. Daily check controls
  4. Fault recording and reporting controls
  5. Fault repair controls
  6. Maintenance schedules and methods controls
  7. Training and competence
  8. Review and continuous improvement
  9. Evidence

Present and Suitable

To be Present and Suitable, operators must have maintenance systems and processes that reflect the size, complexity and risk of their operations, including:

  • Documented maintenance policies and procedures
  • Scheduled inspection and servicing programs based on manufacturer guidance and operating conditions
  • Processes for identifying, reporting and managing defects
  • Clear responsibilities for maintenance activities
  • Recordkeeping to track maintenance, inspections and repairs

Operating and Effective

To be Operating and Effective, operators must demonstrate that their maintenance system is being consistently applied and delivering safe outcomes:

  • Vehicles are maintained in line with schedules and requirements
  • Defects are promptly identified, assessed and repaired
  • Vehicles are not operated unless safe and roadworthy
  • Maintenance records are complete, accurate and current
  • Maintenance performance is monitored, with trends used to drive improvement

Continuous improvement

  • Maintenance outcomes (defects, failures, inspection results) are regularly reviewed
  • Trends (e.g. recurring faults or component failures) are analysed
  • Root causes of maintenance issues are identified and addressed
  • Changes are made to schedules, parts or processes where required
  • Improvements are verified to ensure they deliver safer vehicle performance

Alternative Compliance Accreditation for Mass

What it is

The Mass component ensures that heavy vehicles are loaded and operated within approved mass limits. It focuses on how operators plan, verify and control loads to prevent overloading and reduce risks such as vehicle instability, road damage and safety incidents.

Effective mass management supports safe vehicle performance and protects road infrastructure while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

Mass requirements are found in Schedule 3 of the Safety Management System (SMS) Standard.

  1. Application
  2. Responsibility and accountability
  3. Vehicle identification and capability controls
  4. Vehicle use controls
  5. Suspension maintenance controls
  6. Verification controls
  7. Training and competence
  8. Review and continuous improvement
  9. Evidence

Present and Suitable

To be present and suitable, operators must have systems and controls that manage loading risks, including:

  • Documented procedures for load planning, loading and mass verification
  • Controls to ensure vehicles operate within permitted mass and dimension limits
  • Defined roles and responsibilities for loading and load checks
  • Use of appropriate methods to verify loads (e.g. weighbridges, onboard systems, calculations)
  • Recordkeeping to demonstrate compliance with mass requirements

Operating and Effective

To be operating and effective, operators must show that mass controls are consistently applied and effective in practice:

  • Loads are regularly checked and verified before and during transport
  • Staff follow established loading procedures and controls
  • Overloading risks are actively managed and minimised
  • Non‑conformances are identified, investigated and addressed
  • Data and performance monitoring are used to improve loading practices

Continuous improvement

  • Mass data (e.g. weighbridge records, load variances) is monitored
  • Patterns (e.g. repeated near-limit loads) are identified
  • Root causes of non-compliance are analysed
  • Loading methods, tools or instructions are updated where required
  • System changes are reviewed to confirm effectiveness

Alternative Compliance Accreditation for Fatigue

What it is

The Fatigue component ensures that drivers are fit for duty and that work is scheduled and managed to minimise fatigue‑related risks. It addresses how operators manage driver work and rest, recognising that fatigue is a critical safety risk in heavy vehicle operations.

Effective fatigue management supports driver wellbeing, improves safety outcomes and ensures compliance with work and rest requirements.

Fatigue requirements are found in Schedule 1 of the Safety Management System (SMS) Standard.

  1. Application
  2. Responsibility and accountability
  3. Scheduling and rostering controls
  4. Operating limits controls
  5. Technology-enabled controls
  6. Fitness for duty, health and wellbeing controls
  7. Workplace and vehicle conditions
  8. Training and competence
  9. Review and continuous improvement
  10. Evidence

Present and suitable

To be present and suitable, operators must have fatigue management systems appropriate to their operations, including:

  • Documented policies and procedures for managing fatigue
  • Systems for scheduling work that consider fatigue risks
  • Processes to assess and confirm driver fitness for duty
  • Training and guidance for drivers, schedulers and relevant staff
  • Recordkeeping for work and rest hours

Operating and effective

To be operating and effective, operators must demonstrate that fatigue risks are actively managed:

  • Driver work and rest hours are monitored and controlled
  • Schedules reflect fatigue risks and allow adequate rest
  • Drivers are supported to report fatigue and stop work when needed
  • Fatigue-related incidents, breaches and near misses are reviewed
  • Continuous improvement processes are used to strengthen fatigue controls

Continuous improvement

  • Fatigue data (work/rest records, breaches, feedback) is monitored
  • Trends and emerging fatigue risks are identified early
  • Incidents and near misses are reviewed for fatigue factors
  • Root causes (e.g. scheduling practices) are addressed
  • Policies, rosters and training are updated based on findings
  • Reviews occur periodically and in response to risk triggers