Product Overview

Summary: This Driver Fatigue Management Safe Operating Procedure provides a clear, practical framework for preventing fatigue-related incidents across your driving workforce. It helps Australian businesses manage driving hours, rest breaks, journey planning and reporting so that drivers, passengers and other road users are protected and operations remain compliant and reliable.

Driver fatigue is one of the leading contributors to serious road incidents in Australia, particularly for workers who spend long hours behind the wheel. This Driver Fatigue Management Safe Operating Procedure sets out a structured, evidence-based approach to planning, supervising and reviewing all work-related driving so that fatigue risks are identified early and controlled before they lead to harm. It translates legal and best-practice requirements into clear, day-to-day expectations for drivers, supervisors and managers, making it easy for organisations to embed safe driving behaviours across their operations.

The SOP covers the entire fatigue risk lifecycle, from pre-trip fitness-for-work checks and journey planning through to maximum driving hours, mandatory rest breaks, use of technology (such as telematics and in-vehicle monitoring), and incident reporting. It provides practical tools for managing remote and regional travel, shift work, early starts, night driving and long-distance haulage, all within an Australian WHS context. By implementing this procedure, businesses can significantly reduce the likelihood of fatigue-related crashes, improve driver wellbeing and retention, and demonstrate due diligence under WHS laws and Heavy Vehicle National Law where applicable.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of fatigue-related crashes, injuries and near misses across your driving workforce.
• Ensure compliance with Australian WHS laws and Heavy Vehicle National Law fatigue management requirements.
• Standardise how driving hours, rest breaks and journey planning are managed across all sites and teams.
• Improve driver wellbeing, morale and retention by setting realistic schedules and clear expectations.
• Provide defensible documentation to demonstrate due diligence in the event of an incident or regulator inquiry.

Who is this for?

• Fleet Managers
• Logistics and Transport Managers
• Operations Managers
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Site Supervisors
• Heavy Vehicle Drivers
• Light Vehicle and Company Car Drivers
• Bus and Coach Drivers
• Field Service Technicians
• Regional Sales Representatives
• Construction Project Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Driver fatigue leading to reduced alertness, slower reaction times and poor decision-making
• Vehicle collisions due to microsleeps or drowsy driving
• Night driving and low-visibility conditions exacerbated by tiredness
• Extended driving hours without adequate rest breaks
• Shift work, early starts and long commutes increasing cumulative fatigue
• Lone and remote driving with limited access to rest facilities or assistance
• Psychosocial stress from unrealistic schedules and time pressure

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Key Terms (Fatigue, Work-Related Driving, Heavy Vehicle, Remote Work)
• 3.0 Roles and Responsibilities (PCBU, Officers, Managers, Supervisors, Drivers)
• 4.0 Legal and Regulatory Obligations (WHS, HVNL, Chain of Responsibility)
• 5.0 Fatigue Risk Factors and Hazard Identification
• 6.0 Fitness for Work and Pre-Trip Requirements
• 7.0 Journey Planning and Scheduling Requirements
• 8.0 Maximum Driving Hours and Minimum Rest Breaks
• 9.0 Shift Work, Night Driving and Remote/Regional Travel Controls
• 10.0 Use of Vehicles, Telematics and In-Vehicle Monitoring Systems
• 11.0 Reporting Fatigue, Near Misses and Incidents
• 12.0 Emergency and Unplanned Event Procedures (Breakdowns, Delays, Extreme Weather)
• 13.0 Training, Competency and Communication
• 14.0 Recordkeeping, Monitoring and Review
• 15.0 Continuous Improvement and Audit Process
• 16.0 Supporting Tools and Templates (Journey Plan Form, Fatigue Self-Assessment, Checklists)

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory variants)
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory variants)
• Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) – Fatigue Management and Chain of Responsibility provisions
• National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) – Work and Rest Hours and Fatigue Management requirements
• Safe Work Australia – Guide for Managing the Risk of Fatigue at Work
• Safe Work Australia – Work-related Driving guidance material
• AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018 Occupational health and safety management systems – Requirements with guidance for use