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What is Chain of Responsibility?

Find out who is affected by Chain of Responsibility (CoR) laws and how your business can stay compliant. Every day, Australian businesses face devastating fines of up to $3 million and executives risk 5 years in prison for Chain of Responsibility breaches. Yet many transport operators don't even know they're at risk. If your business uses trucks over 4.5 tonnes (or any commercial vehicle in WA), you're legally responsible for compliance – even if you don't own the trucks. 

Manage your risk

Chain of Responsibility laws in Australia and New Zealand make everyone in the supply chain legally accountable for transport safety and compliance – not just the driver. 

You're At Risk If You: 

  • Own or operate commercial vehicles 
  • Hire transport services or freight companies 
  • Load, schedule, or manage transport activities 
  • Influence transport decisions in any way

The 6 Critical Areas You Must Manage: 

  • Load Restraint – Securing cargo properly 
  • Weight Limits – Axle and gross vehicle weights 
  • Vehicle Dimensions – Height, width, length compliance 
  • Speed Management – Monitoring driver speeds 
  • Fatigue Management – Driver work/rest hours 
  • Vehicle Maintenance – Roadworthiness standards

Why Businesses Fail at CoR Compliance

"We thought our transport company handled everything" – This dangerous assumption has cost businesses millions. 

Common Costly Mistakes: 

  • Assuming you can contract out your legal responsibilities (you can't)
  • Only focusing on drivers instead of the entire supply chain
  • Reactive compliance instead of proactive management
  • No documentation to prove due diligence
  • Treating CoR as a "transport department" issue

The truth: Authorities can investigate CoR breaches even without an on-road incident. Your invoices, emails, and scheduling decisions can all be used as evidence against you. 

How CoRsafe Protects Your Business

  • Complete Chain of Responsibility Management

    Our software automatically manages your entire CoR compliance program across your business and supply chain partners. 

  • Proactive Risk Management

    • Real-time monitoring of all 6 CoR areas
    • Automated alerts before breaches occur
    • Digital audit trails for legal protection
  • Supply Chain Integration

    • Connect all partners in your transport chain
    • Shared responsibility tracking
    • Automated compliance reporting
  • Legal Protection

    • Court-ready documentation
    • Due diligence evidence
    • Expert compliance support
Hay trucks chain of responsibility

Who Needs CoRsafe?

Manufacturing & Distribution Companies Protect your business when shipping products across Australia 

Logistics & Transport Operators Ensure every job meets legal requirements automatically 

Construction & Mining CompaniesManage heavy vehicle compliance on every project 

Retail & E-commerce Businesses - Stay compliant when outsourcing deliveries 

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