Electronic Work Diary App: What You Actually Need for Australian Fatigue Compliance
Not every logbook app is a certified EWD, and not every driver needs one. Truck Me provides a digital driver logbook for Standard Hours compliance: trip records, rest break logging, GPS tracking, and export for roadside inspections. Here is what each option means and which one applies to you.
Drivalink was decommissioned in April 2026
Drivalink, one of Australia's main certified EWD providers, shut down in April 2026. Thousands of drivers using Drivalink for BFM and AFM compliance need a replacement. If you were a Drivalink user on BFM or AFM, you need to transition to another NHVR-approved EWD or use a paper work diary. Truck Me is not a certified EWD replacement for Drivalink. Check the NHVR EWD register at nhvr.gov.au for the current list of approved providers.
Certified EWD vs digital logbook: the difference that matters
The term "electronic work diary" is used loosely in the trucking industry to mean any digital logbook. In Australian law, however, an Electronic Work Diary has a specific meaning: it is a system that has been formally assessed and approved by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator under the Heavy Vehicle National Law. The NHVR publishes a register of approved EWD providers. Only those systems are certified EWDs.
Certified EWDs are required for BFM and AFM accredited drivers who choose to keep electronic records instead of a paper work diary. The systems must meet technical requirements covering tamper-resistance, offline operation, and record format. Because the approval process is rigorous, the number of certified providers is small.
A digital logbook app, by contrast, is any app that helps you record work and rest hours. These apps are useful and can satisfy Standard Hours record-keeping requirements, but they are not interchangeable with a certified EWD for BFM and AFM compliance. The distinction matters when you are talking to a roadside inspector or preparing for an NHVR audit.
Standard Hours, BFM, and AFM: which one are you on?
The Heavy Vehicle National Law provides three fatigue management options. Your option determines what records you must keep.
Standard Hours
The default option for all HVNL-regulated drivers who have not enrolled in a fatigue accreditation scheme. Standard Hours sets fixed maximum work windows and minimum rest periods within 24-hour and 7-day cycles. Drivers must keep a work diary recording work and rest periods. A digital logbook that captures the required fields, including Truck Me's logbook tier, is suitable for Standard Hours compliance.
Basic Fatigue Management (BFM)
Allows more flexible work and rest scheduling in exchange for an accredited fatigue management plan. BFM drivers who use an electronic system must use an NHVR-certified EWD. A general logbook app is not sufficient. Truck Me does not satisfy the BFM EWD requirement.
Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM)
The most flexible option, available to operators who have designed and had approved a custom fatigue management system. AFM drivers have the most complex record-keeping obligations. Electronic records must use an NHVR-certified EWD. Truck Me does not satisfy the AFM EWD requirement.
What Truck Me's logbook provides for Standard Hours drivers
Truck Me's logbook is integrated into the routing app. You do not run a separate app for navigation and a separate one for your diary. When you start a route, Truck Me can prompt you for logbook details at that moment, and record rest breaks during the trip with a single tap.
There are three tiers. The Off tier disables logbook features entirely for drivers who manage compliance another way. The Reminders tier prompts you at trip start and end and records the details you enter manually: work periods, rest locations, and finish time. The full Tracking tier records continuous GPS waypoints, captures rest break locations from GPS automatically, and stores a complete trip history that you can export.
Exports are available as PDF, readable on screen by a roadside officer, or as CSV for fleet compliance systems. Fleet operators can access records from the web portal without needing access to the driver's phone. Records are stored locally on the device first, so they are not lost if you lose mobile coverage mid-trip.
Truck Me is not a certified EWD. It is a digital logbook for Standard Hours drivers. If you are operating under BFM or AFM and need a certified EWD to replace Drivalink, check the NHVR EWD register at nhvr.gov.au for approved providers.
Logbook features in Truck Me
Every logbook feature is integrated with the routing app so records are captured automatically during normal use.
Trip start and end prompts
Truck Me prompts you when navigation begins and when you arrive. Work start time, rest stops, and finish time are recorded with minimal taps during your actual trip.
GPS waypoint recording
The full tracking tier logs continuous GPS waypoints throughout the trip. Route history is stored against each logbook entry and exportable as evidence of where you were and when.
Rest break reminders
Under Standard Hours, Truck Me alerts you when a rest break is approaching based on recorded work time. Configurable to your chosen fatigue option.
Rest break recording
Log a rest break with a single tap. Start time, end time, and location are captured from GPS automatically so you are not manually filling in details while tired.
Export for audits and inspections
Export trip logs to PDF or CSV directly from the app. Roadside officers can view the PDF on screen. Fleet operators can pull records from the web portal without accessing the driver's phone.
Standard Hours fields
Truck Me records the fields required under Standard Hours: work periods, rest periods, rest locations, and driver and vehicle details. Three tiers let you choose the level of detail you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Truck Me a certified Electronic Work Diary?
No. Truck Me is not a certified EWD under the NHVR's Electronic Work Diary approval framework. A certified EWD is a purpose-built device or software system that has been formally assessed and approved by the NHVR. Certified EWDs are required for drivers operating under Basic Fatigue Management (BFM) or Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM) who choose to use an electronic system instead of a paper work diary. Truck Me's logbook tier is designed for Standard Hours compliance: it records work and rest periods, captures GPS waypoints, and exports trip logs for audits. If you are on BFM or AFM, you need either a paper work diary or an NHVR-certified EWD. Truck Me does not replace that requirement.
What happened to Drivalink?
Drivalink was one of Australia's main certified EWD providers. In April 2026, Drivalink was decommissioned, meaning the app ceased to operate and drivers relying on it needed to find an alternative. The NHVR maintains a register of approved EWD providers on its website. Drivers who were using Drivalink for BFM or AFM compliance need to transition to another NHVR-approved EWD or return to a paper work diary. Truck Me is not a certified EWD replacement for Drivalink. If you need a certified EWD, check the current NHVR EWD register for approved providers.
Do I need an EWD or a logbook?
It depends on your fatigue management option. Under Standard Hours, drivers are required to keep a work diary, but they can use a paper logbook or a digital record that captures the required fields. There is no requirement to use a certified EWD under Standard Hours. Under BFM or AFM, drivers who choose to use an electronic system must use an NHVR-approved EWD. If you are on Standard Hours and want a digital logbook that exports for inspections, Truck Me's logbook tier covers that. If you are on BFM or AFM, you need a certified EWD from the NHVR register.
What does the NHVR EWD approval process involve?
The NHVR assesses EWD applications against a set of technical and operational requirements specified in the Heavy Vehicle National Law. The system must accurately record work and rest entries, prevent backdating, operate without internet connectivity, and produce records in a format that authorised officers can read. The approval process involves formal assessment and testing. Only systems that pass are listed on the NHVR EWD register. This is why there are a small number of certified EWD providers compared to the number of general logbook apps on the market.
What records does Truck Me's logbook actually keep?
Truck Me's logbook records work start and end times, rest break start and end times with GPS-captured locations, the odometer-equivalent calculated from app distance, driver name, vehicle details, and the fatigue option set in your profile. On the full tracking tier, GPS waypoints are recorded throughout the trip and stored against each log entry. All records are exportable to PDF and CSV. These records are useful for Standard Hours compliance, roadside presentation, and fleet audits. They do not satisfy the certified EWD requirements for BFM or AFM drivers.
Does the logbook work in areas without mobile coverage?
Yes. Logbook recording is local to the device. Trip data is stored on the phone and syncs to the cloud when connectivity returns. GPS tracking continues without a data connection because it uses the device's location hardware, not a network connection. If you operate through areas with no signal regularly, your records are not lost.
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Digital logbook built into your routing app
Truck Me combines NHVR-approved route calculation with a Standard Hours logbook so your records happen automatically during every trip. Join the waitlist for early access.