While Chain of Responsibility legislature distributes responsibility across the board for members of the supply chain, many in the transport industry are unaware of their role and the responsibility they carry. According to police statistics 228 people died during June 2010-June 2011 from 201 crashes involving heavy vehicles. However truck drivers are not solely responsible for this high number. All members of the chain from consignors to drivers have a part to play in the chain of responsibility. In this post we will discuss the main priorities of each of the role players in the chain starting at the beginning.
1. The Consignor or dispatcher is responsible for dispatching goods for delivery. The responsibility of the dispatcher is to ensure they do not require the driver to transport goods that go beyond vehicle dimension or mass limits or secure the load inappropriately. They also must not require the driver to exceed the number of driving hours regulated or fail to make the minimum stops for rest. They should also not cause the driver to exceed the speed limits prescribed.
2. The Consignee or receiver is the person who orders or accepts the delivery of the goods. This person should not cause the driver to exceed the speed limit, fail to stop for rests, driver over the amount of hours prescribed by law, exceed weight and mass limits or knowingly encourage or reward these breaches.
3. The Loader or loading manager is in charge of loading goods onto the vehicle. This person must ensure the load does not exceed the mass or dimension limit of the vehicle as this can cause instability and the vehicle to crash.
4. Even the Packer who Packs goods to be loaded into the vehicle is held accountable for their actions in the chain. These people need to ensure that documentation provided of the load is accurate, not false or misleading and the weight and safety approval rating is not exceeded.
5. The person who schedules the transport of goods must not make the driver exceed the speed limit or maximum driving hours or require them to drive without stopping for the minimum rest periods.
6. The Operator or manager in charge of dispatching the goods is responsible for maintaining rosters that do not require drivers to exceed the permitted number of driving hours.
They are also required to keep accurate records of drivers’ activities, including driving, work and rest times and ensure vehicle speed limiters are functioning. This is a responsibility that many have been overlooking recently. They also need to ensure that loads do not exceed dimension or mass limits and are properly restrained using the proper equipment.
7. The Employer has to take all reasonable steps to ensure they do not encourage, reward or force drivers to drive whilst fatigued or breach speeding or rest regulations.
8. While the heavy vehicle driver does carry a lot of the responsibility, new chain of responsibility laws ensure that all members in the chain carry their weight and not just truck drivers. The truck driver must ensure that in his/her duty of transport the load to its destination they comply with all rules of the road. The vehicle needs to be within dimension and mass limits and the load must be properly restrained. Drivers also need to take the required number of rest breaks, at least a 15 minute break every 2 hours. Speed limits need to be adhered to whether or not there are strict time restraints that need to be met. Safe and responsible driving behaviour is demonstrated at all times regardless of the need to meet deadlines. Your basic requirements are:
- You adhere to the driving hours regulations (time spent driving and working)
- Take the required rest breaks
- Record your driving hours as required
- Your vehicle does not exceed mass limits
- Your vehicle and load do not exceed dimension limits
- Your load is appropriately restrained
- Do not exceed the speed limit
- Do not tamper with any equipment required to be fitted to the vehicle
