What is Chain of Responsibility?

Find out who is affected by Chain of Responsibility (CoR) laws and how your business can stay compliant.

 
 
 

About CoR

The aim of CoR is to make sure everyone in the supply chain shares responsibility for ensuring breaches of the Heavy Vehicle National Law do not occur. Under CoR laws if you are a party in the chain of responsibility and you control or influence any transport task (or have the capacity to do so), you have a responsibility to ensure the Heavy Vehicle National Law is complied with.

 

Who is affected by CoR?

CoR affects everybody involved in the operation of commercial transportation.

The concept of CoR now exists in all Australian States and Territories except the Northern Territory. The concept also exists in in New Zealand.

What is the impact of CoR on my business?

The impact of CoR is to spread the responsibility for truck safety and compliance in a supply chain from the truck driver alone to all parties in the supply chain that have influence over the truck activity.

Why is CoR important to my business?

In every affected business, the aim is to strive to make every load on Australian roads a safe load.

Failure to comply with the CoR system can lead to fines, legal action, and damage to the business’s reputation.

When do we need start managing CoR?

If you own or operate a truck, or you are a business that outsources activities requiring truck movements, then your business and you personally can be held accountable if you are not proactively managing the CoR risks arising from your transport activities.

CoR Responsibilities

 

Applicable Gross Vehicle Mass

CoR laws apply to the use of commercial vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) of over 4.5 tonne Gross, except in Western Australia where there is no minimum GVM.

Responsibilities Cannot Be Contracted Out

Authorities can “brush aside” any attempt to outsource CoR responsibilities to a third party.

Road Transport Components:

  • Load Restraint

  • Axle and Gross Weights

  • Dimensions

  • Speed Management

  • Fatigue Management

  • Equipment Maintenance & Roadworthiness

  • and, in New Zealand, Operator Licencing.

2018 CoR Reforms

In October 2018, governments implemented a number of reforms to road transport laws.

In particular, these were to:

  • Align CoR responsibilities to those required by OHS/WHS laws.

  • Enable authorities to investigate CoR breaches even if there is no on-road incident.

  • Massively increase maximum fines to up to $3 million for businesses and up to $300,000 and 5 years jail for individuals within offending businesses.

A CoR management system needs to:

 

Reach out to all parts of your business and to your supply chain partners.

Your Head Office, each of your internal sites, domestic / international suppliers, outsourced sites, carriers engaged by you directly and distributors.

Address two key requirements, that is, your business and its supply chain partners:

  • Understand their duties for managing CoR.

  • Implement and monitor business practice in compliance with these duties.

Want to learn more?

Fill in the form and we'll contact you to discuss how we can help manage your CoR obligations.