Heavy Vehicle
Lawyer Sydney
NHVR Defence for Transport
Businesses & Truck Drivers
Has the NHVR Contacted You?
A letter from the NHVR, a Notice to Produce, an infringement notice or a Court Attendance Notice can look routine. It rarely is. What you say and send at the start can shape everything that follows.
Eric will review what you’ve received, explain where you stand and tell you what to do next — before you respond.
Request a Confidential Consultation
How Can We Help?
I Run a Transport Business
NHVR investigations, Notices to Produce, Chain of Responsibility, executive due diligence, improvement notices and enforceable undertakings.
Legal Help for Transport Businesses →
I’m a Truck Driver
Fatigue and work diary allegations, mass, dimension and loading offences, infringement notices and Court proceedings.
Legal Help for Truck Drivers →
Regulator Experience, Working for You
Eric Navea is a former Senior Prosecutor with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, where he led a team of NSW prosecutors, and spent seven years prosecuting for the NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, including as Acting Managing Solicitor. He knows how NHVR investigators build a case, what evidence they rely on and when a matter is likely to escalate.
- Senior Prosecutor, National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) (2022–2024)
- Solicitor, NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (2015–2022)
- Principal Solicitor, Litigation, SafeWork NSW (2025)
- Senior Solicitor, Litigation, Building Commission NSW (2024–2025)
That insight shapes the advice from day one: what a notice actually requires, when to negotiate, and when a matter should be defended in Court.
Eric runs every matter himself, from the first call to the final hearing.
How NHVR Enforcement Works
The NHVR’s Investigations team focuses on serious breaches of the Heavy Vehicle National Law, with a particular focus on the safety duties owed by businesses in the Chain of Responsibility.
On the road, mass, dimension, loading and fatigue breaches are graded by risk as minor, substantial or severe. Fatigue breaches have a fourth, highest category: critical.
An investigation can end in several ways, including no further action, education, an improvement notice, a supervisory intervention order, an enforceable undertaking or prosecution.
With an infringement notice, you can usually pay the penalty or elect to have the matter decided by a Court. Infringement amounts are set at 10% of the maximum Court penalty, and the more serious offences go straight to Court.
What Have You Received?
| You’ve received | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Infringement notice | An alleged offence with a set penalty. You can pay it or elect to go to Court. | Get advice before paying — payment ends your chance to challenge it. |
| Notice to Produce or request for information | A formal requirement to provide documents or information by a deadline. | Get advice on exactly what the notice requires before you send anything. |
| Contact from an NHVR investigator | An investigation is underway into your business or your role in it. | Speak with a lawyer before any interview or site visit. |
| Improvement notice | You must fix an identified issue. Not complying without a reasonable excuse is an offence. | Get advice on what’s required and the deadline. |
| Court Attendance Notice | The NHVR is prosecuting and you must attend Court. | Get legal representation before the first Court date. |
Heavy Vehicle Matters We Handle
NHVR Investigations
Legal advice for transport businesses, directors and drivers facing NHVR investigations, requests for information, interviews and potential enforcement action.
Find Out MoreNotice to Produce
Legal advice for businesses and individuals who have received an NHVR Notice to Produce, including advice about deadlines, legal obligations and the documents required.
Find Out MoreChain of Responsibility (CoR)
Advice and defence for businesses, operators, directors, executives and other parties facing allegations under Chain of Responsibility provisions.
Find Out MoreWork Diary & Logbook Offences
Defence for work diary and record-keeping allegations, including incorrect entries, missing information, false or misleading records and other National Driver Work Diary breaches.
Find Out MoreFatigue Offences
Defence for fatigue-related allegations, including breaches involving work and rest hours, Standard Hours, Basic Fatigue Management (BFM) and Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM).
Find Out MoreMass Offences
Defence for heavy vehicle mass breaches, including axle, axle group and gross mass limit allegations.
Find Out MoreDimension Offences
Defence for heavy vehicle dimension breaches involving height, width, length, over-dimensional vehicles, permits and access conditions.
Find Out MoreLoading and Load Restraint Offences
Defence for loading and load restraint offences, including insecure or improperly restrained loads and other loading requirement breaches.
Find Out MoreTraffic Offences
Defence for traffic offences involving heavy vehicle drivers, including speeding, licence and negligent driving charges.
Find Out MoreRecent Heavy Vehicle Results
Multiple Overmass Offences — Liverpool Local Court
Maximum penalty $200,950.
Result: $12,000 total fines.
Severe Overmass — Parramatta Local Court
Maximum penalty $75,100.
Result: $7,500 fine.
Failure to Comply With Notice — Sutherland Local Court
Maximum penalty $41,250.
Result: $1,000 fine plus costs.
False or Misleading Work Diary Entry — Parramatta District Court Appeal
Fine reduced from $2,250 to $350.
Case outcomes depend on the individual facts and circumstances of each matter. Past results do not guarantee or predict future outcomes.
See All Results →
What Happens When You Contact Us
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Review What You’ve Received
We review the letter, notice or Court documents and explain what they mean.
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Advice Before You Respond
You’ll understand what’s required, the deadlines and the risks before you reply.
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Assess Everyone’s Exposure
We consider the position of the business, its executives and its drivers, and advise if separate representation is needed.
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Deal With the NHVR
Where appropriate, Eric communicates with investigators and prosecutors on your behalf.
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Build the Strategy
We test the evidence, identify the issues that matter and look at every available outcome, including alternatives to prosecution.
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Represent You in Court
If proceedings start, Eric appears for you at every stage, from mentions to defended hearings.
Related Heavy Vehicle Matters
Related Guides
Practical guides from Eric Navea, written for transport businesses and truck drivers in NSW.
Latest Articles
Practical guides from Eric Navea, written for transport businesses and drivers.
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What Clients Say
“I am an interstate truck driver, facing 4 charges of making a false log book entry. … Eric did a truly brilliant job explaining in detail to the judge my personal circumstances … my remorse, training courses, phone apps … I received a $1,000 fine and $500 court costs, I was truely delighted I highly recommend Eric's legal services and expertise.”
“Eric had been very professional, courteous and diligent in his advice for our matter. His knowledge, expertise and dedication are paramount. No doubt we recommend his services to any prospective client.”
“Very professional and helpful throughout my traffic offence matter. He explained everything clearly, kept me informed, and made the whole process much less stressful. I really appreciate his support and would definitely recommend his services to anyone needing legal assistance.”
“I had a great experience working with my lawyer Eric. He is very professional, knowledgeable, and handled my case really well. He explained everything clearly, kept me informed throughout the process, and made what could have been a stressful situation much easier to manage.”
Reviews are shown as written by clients on Google, shortened in places to remove personal details. Every matter is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Speak With Eric
About Your NHVR Matter
Send through what you've received. Eric will review it, explain where you stand and advise what should happen next.
Call Eric 0401 937 269Request a Confidential Consultation
Heavy Vehicle Lawyer FAQs
Do you represent truck drivers, transport operators and others in the chain of responsibility?
Yes. Eric acts for truck drivers, owner-drivers, transport operators, fleet owners, directors and managers, as well as prime contractors, consignors, loaders and schedulers who are named in NHVR matters. See how he helps truck drivers and transport businesses.
Do you focus on the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) or general traffic law?
Heavy vehicle law is the main focus of the practice. Eric works with the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) every day, including fatigue and work diary offences, mass, dimension and loading breaches, Notices to Produce and Chain of Responsibility duties. He also handles traffic matters for drivers who need them.
Have you defended NHVR matters like mine before?
Yes. Eric is a former Senior Prosecutor at the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), so he knows how NHVR cases are investigated and built. He now defends drivers and operators against the NHVR. You can read recent outcomes for heavy vehicle operators and truck drivers.
What are the maximum penalties, and is there a risk of a supervisory intervention order?
Maximum penalties depend on the offence and how serious the breach is, and for companies they can be many times higher than for individuals. One of Eric's clients faced a maximum of $200,950 for multiple overmass offences. If someone is convicted, the court can also make a supervisory intervention order, which requires them to take steps at their own cost to improve compliance for up to a year, or a prohibition order for systematic or persistent offenders.
What are my options, and what outcome can I expect?
Options can include pleading guilty with strong mitigation, negotiating to have charges withdrawn or reduced, or defending the charges at a hearing. No lawyer can promise a result, but once Eric has seen the evidence he will give you an honest best-case and worst-case view and recommend the option that suits your situation.
Are you a solicitor or a barrister, and who will work on my file?
Eric is a solicitor admitted in New South Wales who appears in court himself. He handles your matter personally from the first call to the final hearing. It is not handed to a junior lawyer. He appears in Local and District Courts across NSW and in Queensland.
How long will my heavy vehicle matter take, and how will you keep me updated?
Some matters are finalised within a few weeks, while defended hearings can take several months. Eric will explain the likely timeline at the start and update you after each court date and whenever something important changes.
How are your fees structured? Will I get a costs agreement?
Your first call is free and takes about 15 minutes. If you go ahead, you get a fixed fee quote before any work starts and a written costs agreement to review and sign only if you agree. There are no hidden costs and no lock-in contract.
What is the most important thing I should do right now?
Don't answer NHVR questions, attend an interview or respond to a notice until you have advice, and don't miss the deadline on your notice or court papers. Keep every document, work diary and record you have, then contact Eric or call 0401 937 269.
This page is general information only and does not replace legal advice about your specific matter. It was last reviewed in October 2026. The NHVR may update the law, penalties and policies from time to time, so check the NHVR's official publications at nhvr.gov.au.