FleetGuru has appointed Michael Mills as General Manager, Heavy Vehicle Innovation & Advocacy, as the company prepares to expand its focus on heavy vehicle compliance, maintenance intelligence and industry engagement.
The appointment comes as the heavy vehicle sector prepares for a significant regulatory transition. From mid-2026, the National Heavy Vehicle Accreditation Scheme (NHVAS) is expected to be progressively replaced by the new Heavy Vehicle Accreditation (HVA) scheme, subject to Ministerial approval, as part of reforms connected to the 2025 Heavy Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill.
For transport operators, fleet managers and fleet management companies, the change has practical implications. Accreditation is linked to operating requirements such as Higher Mass Limits, Performance-Based Standards approvals and related access rights. FleetGuru says the phased transition, which could run for up to three years, will require operators to understand their obligations and manage accreditation timelines carefully.
Eden Shirley, Managing Director at FleetGuru, said the appointment was designed to help the company respond to that shift with practical industry knowledge.
“The HVA transition isn’t a footnote; it’s a fundamental shift in how accreditation works in this country, and it’s happening now. We can see that the industry needs a thoughtful, human-centred solution, and only someone who has worked within complex compliance frameworks and understands what’s at stake operationally can grasp the problem and how to approach it. Michael is that person. His appointment is one of the most important things we’ve done as a company.”
Mills brings senior operational fleet experience to the role, including exposure to Chain of Responsibility obligations, NHVR compliance frameworks, fatigue management, roadworthiness standards and Performance-Based Standards vehicle requirements. In 2025, he was named AfMA Fleet Manager of the Year.
Michael Mills, General Manager, Heavy Vehicle Innovation & Advocacy at FleetGuru, said the role would allow him to contribute to the sector at both a strategic and operational level.
“I’m joining FleetGuru because the opportunity to shape what comes next in the heavy vehicle sector, with a leadership team that is genuinely values-driven and a clear sense of purpose behind what they’re building, is rare. This role lets me contribute in a way that is both strategic and hands-on, and that’s exactly where I do my best work. I’m here to help drive real momentum, for the business and for the industry.”
FleetGuru says the new role will sit at the intersection of platform strategy, industry advocacy and commercial development. Mills will work with the company’s product and technology teams to shape the heavy vehicle roadmap, with a particular focus on translating compliance requirements into usable platform capabilities for fleet operators and service providers.
The company’s own workshop member data points to growing demand from operators managing truck, plant and equipment assets through the FleetGuru portal. According to FleetGuru, the proportion of workshop members managing Truck, Plant & Equipment assets through the portal grew from 17% to 20% across four survey cycles in a single year.
The same survey data identified several areas where heavy vehicle and TPE users are seeking more support. FleetGuru said respondents asked for more job types and repair codes for heavy vehicles, faster approvals and authorisations, a dedicated portal section for plant and equipment, and service intervals measured in hours rather than kilometres.
Those requests highlight a practical challenge for many platforms in the fleet sector. Passenger and light commercial fleet workflows do not always translate neatly to heavy vehicles, plant or equipment, where maintenance scheduling, compliance documentation and authorisation processes can be more complex.
Mills will also represent FleetGuru in industry forums including AfMA, IPWEA, ATA, SCLAA and NHVR industry consultations. The company says part of his role will be to engage with regulators, government bodies, fleet management companies, transport operators and owner-operators as the HVA transition develops.
For fleet management companies managing multiple customers, accreditation modules and expiry dates, the transition could create a new layer of coordination and reporting requirements. FleetGuru is positioning its platform as an intelligence layer to support repair authorisations, maintenance insights and compliance-related decision making.
The appointment also reflects a broader shift in the fleet technology market, where platforms are being asked to support more than administration and transaction processing. As regulatory obligations grow, operators are looking for systems that can connect asset data, maintenance activity and compliance workflows in a way that reduces risk and improves visibility.
FleetGuru says Mills will represent the business at the 2026 AfMA Summit, where heavy vehicle compliance, fleet intelligence and the practical impact of accreditation reform are likely to be active discussion points.
