The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator this week released its first series of podcasts and factsheets for the heavy vehicle supply chain as part of a national effort to boost safety for all road users.
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Darren Chester said the new education material for the heavy vehicle supply chain showed that road safety goes well beyond truck drivers.
"Whether you perform the tasks of a packer, loader, unloader, loading manager or an executive of an organisation that performs these tasks, you have a responsibility for heavy vehicle safety," Mr Chester said.
"There have been cases where poor business practices, delays with loading or incorrectly packing goods has led to pressure on drivers and increased the risk of an incident.
"This new material will help make sure that all parties understand their responsibilities and how to go about preventing breaches of mass, dimension, loading, speed, restraint and fatigue laws.
"The six factsheets and podcasts are steps towards ensuring all members of the supply chain recognise and fulfil their crucial role in heavy vehicle safety."
The factsheets and podcasts cover common breaches of the law, the responsibilities of anyone who has influence in the supply chain, such as schedulers, packers, managers, providers and low-cost steps to make an operation safer.
NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said earlier this month more than 60 frontline heavy vehicle operators and key parties in the logistics supply chain met with the NHVR to test proposed standards for compliance with Chain of Responsibility laws.
"These education tools are an important part of NHVR's Chain of Responsibility education program to be rolled out over the next 18 months," Mr Petroccitto said.
Access the new Chain of Responsibility fact sheets and podcasts here