The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) highlighted an essential point in their March 2017 booklet, Chain of Responsibility – Your Role:
“Our road laws generally address the actions of drivers and operators, but breaches of these laws are often caused by other parties in the transport supply chain.
Under Chain of Responsibility (CoR), all parties who have control or influence over the transport task are deemed responsible for complying with and for breaches of these laws. All parties must take reasonable steps to prevent breaches of mass, dimension, loading, speed, and fatigue laws. In 2018, this will expand to include vehicle standards and maintenance.
Under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), multiple parties may be responsible for offences committed in heavy vehicle operations. A person may be a party in the supply chain in more than one way, and legal liability can apply to their actions, inactions, and demands.”
What Are the ‘Reasonable Steps’ I Should Be Taking?
The NHVR outlines several reasonable steps that all parties in the supply chain should take to comply with CoR obligations:
Build Systems and Processes
- Identify, assess, and control risks in your supply chain.
- Clearly define the responsibilities of all parties under CoR.
Manage Fatigue and Vehicle Compliance
- Develop systems to manage driver fatigue.
- Maintain heavy vehicles to ensure they meet required standards.
- Check vehicle dimensions and weights regularly.
Incorporate Compliance in Operations
- Include compliance and assurance conditions in commercial agreements.
- Seek legal advice on CoR obligations to ensure you’re meeting requirements.
- Collaborate with supply chain partners to eliminate risks.
Promote Safer Practices
- Question requests that may lead to breaches of the law.
- Establish and adhere to safe policies, procedures, and workplace practices.
- Properly pack, place, and secure loads.
- Adopt safer loading and unloading procedures.
- Ensure vehicles and drivers comply with speed limits.
Train and Educate
- Train staff and partners on their CoR obligations to foster a culture of compliance.
How Australian Onsite Training Can Help
At Australian Onsite Training, we offer the nationally accredited unit of competency: TLIF0009 Ensure the Safety of Transport Activities (Chain of Responsibility).
Our goal is to provide up-to-date and practical information on the duties and responsibilities of each party in the supply chain. This year alone, we have delivered this course to professionals across industries such as:
- Mining
- Construction
- Project Management
- Manufacturing
- Warehousing
- Transport
The training sessions are tailored to address how the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) applies to your specific role or job. Participants consistently find value in discussing real-world scenarios and solutions relevant to their responsibilities.