Legacy article
Chain of Responsibility explained: what every party in the supply chain needs to know
Originally published 11 February 2026
A practical explainer on how Chain of Responsibility duties apply across operators, schedulers, consignors, consignees, loaders, unloaders, loading managers, packers, employers, prime contractors, and executives.
What Chain of Responsibility means
Chain of Responsibility under the Heavy Vehicle National Law is not limited to the driver or operator. It applies to parties that control or influence a heavy vehicle transport task. The practical question is whether a person or business can affect fatigue, speed, mass, loading, vehicle standards, scheduling, contracting, or maintenance outcomes.
Who may hold duties
The old article explained that CoR can apply across several functions in the transport chain. A single business, and sometimes a single person, can hold more than one function depending on the work being performed.
- Operators, employers, and prime contractors
- Schedulers and loading managers
- Consignors, consignees, loaders, unloaders, and packers
- Executives and managers who influence resources, systems, and safety decisions
Why it matters operationally
CoR compliance works when risk controls are visible in daily operations. Delivery promises, loading decisions, maintenance timing, contractor controls, and driver management all need evidence that can be reviewed later.