Countdown to CoR changes – Tip #9 for transport and logistics operators

As those in the transport and logistics industry would know, changes to the chain of responsibility provisions in the Heavy Vehicle National Law will commence on 1 October 2018.

That means transport operators have limited time left to be ready.

This week we are up to the ninth in our series of ten tips to help with your last-minute preparations.

Tip #9 – CoR compliance audits

CoR compliance is an active and ongoing process. It is not enough to simply publish CoR policies and procedures and assume that your employees and subcontractors will comply with those policies and procedures.

To discharge your primary duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of your transport activities, you need to:

• ensure that relevant staff and contractors are trained in your policies and procedures;
• monitor compliance with your policies and procedures and take action in the event of any non conformances; and
• review the effectiveness of your policies and procedures and modify your policies and procedures as required.

One way to do this is to regularly audit your own records and the records of your subcontractors. You should inspect documents to verify:

• evidence of induction and training;
• the currency of licences and registrations;
• evidence of roadworthiness, servicing and maintenance of heavy vehicles used to provide transport services;
• compliance with your policies and procedures; and
• compliance with the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

Any audits that you undertake should be documented and non-conformances should be acted upon.

Watch out for tip #10 next week – Accident/emergency response planning.