Chain of Custody
Course Overview
In the Australian road transport industry, safety is everyone's responsibility — not just the driver's. The Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) and its Chain of Responsibility (CoR) provisions make every party in the transport supply chain legally accountable for heavy vehicle safety. That means drivers, operators, schedulers, loaders and employers all carry a primary duty of care — and a failure to meet it can result in significant penalties, regardless of whether you were behind the wheel.
This online Chain of Responsibility and Fatigue Management course is designed for transport and logistics workers who need a clear, practical understanding of their CoR obligations under Australian law. It covers the five core areas of CoR compliance — legislation, speed management, vehicle management, fatigue management and load management — and includes a state and territory selector so learners can review the laws and requirements specific to where they operate.
The course is aligned with the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL), the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) guidance materials, and applicable state and territory road transport legislation. It is suitable for heavy vehicle drivers, transport operators, logistics coordinators and anyone else whose work involves the movement of goods by heavy vehicle on Australian roads.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the course Participants will be able to:
- Introduction to Chain of Responsibility (CoR) — the legal framework that governs heavy vehicle safety across Australia, including the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) and state and territory specific legislation, the primary duty of care that applies to every party in the transport supply chain, and the practical steps required to manage and mitigate CoR compliance risks. The course includes a state and territory selector so you can review the laws and limitations specific to where you operate
- Speed Management — the physics of heavy vehicle speed and why the size, mass and momentum of a heavy vehicle dramatically increase the severity of crashes and the risk of fatality for drivers and other road users. You will learn the key forces that contribute to speed-related incidents — including braking distance, rollover risk and the effect of load — and the speed management strategies and compliance obligations that apply under the HVNL
- Vehicle Management — why the roadworthiness of a heavy vehicle is a legal obligation, not just a maintenance preference. You will learn what the Australian Vehicle Standards require, how to identify common vehicle defects and non-compliance issues, and why systematic inspection and maintenance processes are a CoR requirement in most states and territories as well as a practical measure for protecting both driver safety and the long-term condition of the vehicle
- Fatigue Management — the Australian legislative framework for managing driver fatigue, including the work and rest hour requirements, record keeping obligations and state and territory variations that apply under the HVNL. You will learn how to correctly complete a Driver Work Diary or Daily Sheet (where applicable to your jurisdiction), how to recognise the signs of fatigue in yourself and others, and the fatigue management strategies that reduce the risk of driving while impaired — for both the driver and everyone else on the road
- Load Management — the CoR obligations that apply to the loading, restraint and mass management of heavy vehicle loads, and why improper loading is one of the most common causes of non-compliance in the chain. You will learn how forces such as braking, cornering and road camber affect load stability and truck handling, the correct restraint techniques for a range of common load types, mass and dimension limits under the HVNL, and an introduction to Dangerous Goods classifications, compatibility requirements and segregation rules
Program Duration
The course is self-paced and takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete and Participants have 3 months to complete after enrolment.
Program Dates
The course is available immediately after the course fee payment and is fully online.
Program Cost
$86.74 per person
We can tailor a quote for your site for groups greater than 10 participants