What is Chain of Responsibility?
Short answer
Chain of Responsibility extends heavy-vehicle safety responsibility beyond the driver to businesses and people whose transport activities can influence safety.
Plain English
Under the HVNL, a person or business becomes a CoR party because of the transport function it performs, not simply its job title. The law identifies functions including employer, prime contractor, operator, scheduler, consignor, consignee, packer, loading manager, loader and unloader.
What this means operationally
Businesses that influence how heavy-vehicle transport is planned, contracted, loaded, scheduled or carried out may have safety duties even if they do not own a truck or employ a driver.
Who it applies to
Businesses and individuals performing one or more recognised Chain of Responsibility functions.
Example
A retailer that receives goods by heavy vehicle may be a consignee and therefore part of the Chain of Responsibility even though another company operates the truck.
Exceptions and traps
Driving alone is not a CoR function, although drivers have other HVNL duties. Owner-drivers are CoR parties because they perform the operator function.
Legal foundation
Heavy Vehicle National Law Part 1.3; Primary Duty provisions
Sources & primary documents
- www.nhvr.gov.au/safety-accreditation-compliance/chain-of-responsibility
- www.nhvr.gov.au/safety-accreditation-compliance/chain-of-responsibility/the-primary-duty/parties-in-the-cor
WWTG verification: NHVR
Frequently asked questions
Does Chain of Responsibility only apply to trucking companies?
No. Businesses elsewhere in the supply chain can become CoR parties because of the transport functions they perform.
Is a driver automatically a CoR party?
No. Driving itself is not a CoR function, although a driver can become a CoR party by performing another function such as operating or loading.