Who is Responsible for Heavy Vehicle Incidents

Share This Post

According to Chain of Responsibility legislature truck drivers are not solely responsible for road freight safety, although they are the ones often blamed. All members of the chain from consignors to drivers have a part to play in keeping chain of responsibility laws.

The Consignor or dispatcher is responsible for dispatching goods for delivery and must ensure that the goods are not greater than the vehicles mass limits. They must also ensure they do not set unrealistic time lines which cause the driver to speed.

The Consignee or receiver is the person who orders or accepts the delivery of the goods and must not cause the driver to exceed the speed limit, fail to stop for rests, drive over the amount of hours prescribed by law, exceed weight and mass limits or knowingly encourage or reward these breaches.

The Loader or loading manager is in charge of loading goods and must not exceed the vehicles limitations.

The person who schedules the transport of goods and operator are also responsible in the chain. The operator must maintain rosters that do not require drivers to exceed the permitted number of driving hours.

The truck driver must drive safely and not endanger the lives of other road users. They should not speed, drink or drug drive, tamper with speed limiters or drive excessive hours without resting. They also need to ensure the vehicle doesn’t exceed mass and height limitations.

Everyone in the chain must do their part in ensuring road safety.

Share This Post
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Leave a Comment
Scroll to Top
Scroll to Top