The Mona Vale crash was a horrific historical landmark to truckies which also brought negligent trucking industry behaviour into the spotlight. Now more than 4 years after the crash even harsher Chain of Responsibility legislation is set to come into effect, ensuring that nobody is exempt from penalties when it comes to this type of negligent behaviour.

The Mona Vale crash happened when a truck driver ignored a road sign warning him to slow down and crashed into a power pole resulting in a fire which claimed the lives of 2 men in their seventies.

The truckie responsible was issued a 12 month suspended sentence, a 2 year licence suspension and a $1000 fine.

The company also lost millions of dollars in work and penalties after its fleet was grounded.

The harsher laws which come into effect at the middle of the year, will target new segments of the industry and those who put pressure on truck drivers to keep moving no matter what the dangers, including consignors, consignees and others at board room level.

Under new laws, corporations face charges of up to $3 million which may also include a corporate multiplier of up to 5 times the individual fines and a commercial gain of up to 3 times the value as determined by the court representing the commercial gains acquired from non-compliance.

Individuals will also face harsher penalties, with anyone found engaging in reckless conduct causing death or serious injury/illness susceptible to a $300,000 fine or a 5 year prison sentence.

In an article on industry website BigRigs.com.au Russell White, the founder of Australian Road Safety Foundation, said those in the boardroom had a responsibility to promote safe practices,

“As a company director, there’s a responsibility to make sure that everything that’s happening in your supply chain, under your watch, that you’ve got awareness of and that you’re doing everything to try and make that process as safe as possible,” he said.

If you’re a part of the supply chain, it’s crucial that you understand the changes to come. This includes staff, management, directors, owners or operators of businesses that either directly or indirectly receive, consign, pack, load, unload, transport, operate or schedule goods.

To learn more about Chain of Responsibility legislation visit www.chainofresponsibilityonline.com.au